National Project Coordinator

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

FAO Sub-Regional Office for Central Asia (SEC) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing strategies for addressing food security, agriculture and rural development priorities in the sub-region; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Organization’s technical assistance includes institution building, development of knowledge and competencies, and exchange of experience among countries facing the challenges of transition.

FAO is implementing a project “Support the transformation of the Economic Cooperation Organization Food Security Coordination Centre (ECO-RCC) from a programme-based organization to a self-sustainable institution in the Economic Cooperation Organization" which aims to strengthen the capacity of ECO-RCC. ECO-RCC is a specialized agency of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) established in 2014 with the aim of supporting its member countries in identifying, planning and implementing priority actions to address key impediments to food security. The National Project Manager will lead the implementation of the activities in close communication with ECO-RCC, ECO and national government of member countries.

Reporting Lines

The National Project Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Central Asia (SRC, SEC), under the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the ECO-RCC Project, in close cooperation with other international and national consultants in the project, Field Programme Unit (FPU), FAO Turkey Partnership Programme (FTPP) Liaison Officer and the relevant national authorities.

Technical Focus

• Analyze economic, social, environmental and institutional information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues
• Produce a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents
• Participate in a multidisciplinary team, and lead coordination of the team with other agencies and governments
• Promote knowledge sharing and good practices at meetings, conferences, websites

Tasks and responsibilities

The Project Manager will perform the following tasks;

• Take the lead in implementing the daily activities of the project, including preparing regular activity reports, communicating with technical consultants and project stakeholders, facilitating meetings and conferences, establishing and maintaining the contact with stakeholders including ECO member country focal points, and updating project related activities to relevant websites regularly.
• Support the ECO-RCC in preparing a detailed project work plan in cooperation with ECO-RCC, LTO and FAO Field Programme Unit.
• Support the ECO-RCC in monitoring the progress and achievements of the project and in reporting them regularly though progress reports, ECO-RCC’s website and activity bulletins.
• Assure all administrative and logistical arrangements for project activities, including regular project meetings, Steering Committee Meetings, training workshops and study visit in close coordination with ECO-RCC, FTPP Liaison Officer, LTO and FAO Field Programme Unit.

In particular, the incumbent will:

• Prepare detailed Project Implementation Strategy and annual work plans in line with project budget, objectives and outcomes in collaboration with stakeholders, and make necessary arrangements for their successful implementation in a timely manner
• Draft project progress reports in accordance with the Guide to the FAO Project Cycle Management;
• Monitor progress of implementation in relation to annual work plan in particular timeliness, achievement of project objectives and impact, and implement corrective measures when required
• Lead, coordinate and ensure that project team and project experts/consultants achieve project outputs
• Manage, with the guidance and coordination with FPU, the project budget and lead project reporting duties according to the FAO principles
• Coordinate the organization of the project’s final evaluation
• Build a network of regular and sustained communications and coordination actions (e.g. workshops, meetings, field trips, skype/telephone conferences, emails) with project team, stakeholders and partners in the project intervention area and the country
• Assume overall responsibility for the proper handling of the logistical arrangement related to project workshops and events
• Facilitate the flow of information to stakeholders by regular meetings and emails
• Lead the project team, with guidance from the FAO Communications Specialist, in the design and implementation of a communications work plan for the project and supervise the delivery of communication products
• Reflect stakeholder-approved changes in revision of budget in a timely manner
• Perform other related tasks and duty travel as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree (advanced university degree preferred) in social science, political science, public administration, economics, development studies, agriculture, rural development or other related fields.
• 5 years of relevant experience in project/programme management and implementation, capacity building, coordination with national/regional government structures and international/regional organizations.
• Working knowledge of English and Turkish.
• National of Turkey.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated capacity to plan, advise and guide planning processes
• Demonstrated capability to manage and coordinate implementation of capacity building and knowledge management activities
• Demonstrated ability to liaise with multiple stakeholders including national governments and regional organizations, effectively building an understanding and partnership with them
• Excellent communication skills in English, both orally and in writing, and ability to draft technical reports in English
• Working knowledge of Russian language is desirable