National Project Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for RAP is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. The UN-REDD Programme is the United Nations collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD ) in developing countries. The Programme was launched in 2008 and builds on the convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UN-REDD Programme assists developing countries to prepare to implement REDD , including the development of National REDD Strategies, following guidance issued by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). As part of the Technical Assistance component of the UN-REDD Programme, the Government of Norway requested the partner agencies, coordinated by FAO, to develop and implement an initiative on Addressing Forest Crime through Improved Governance in the Lower Mekong Region (LMR), covering the countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The overall impact of the UN-REDD Mekong Initiative will be to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable management of forests across the LMR, by tackling forest crime, improving forest governance and boosting legal and sustainable trade and investment in wood products across the LMR and China. The UN-REDD Mekong Initiative is part of a portfolio of investments under the Norway International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) to reduce forest crime and illegal trade in forest products across Asia.

Reporting Lines

The National Project Assistant reports to the Forestry Officer in RAP on a daily basis. The incumbent operates independently and takes decisions on work priorities and exercises initiative for dealing with cases without precedents. Supervision received is focused on the quality of work outputs.

Technical Focus

The National Project Assistant coordinates and performs the full range of office support, management support and administrative tasks, providing for the smooth and efficient running of the Thailand activities of the UN-REDD Mekong Initiative. The incumbent's work impacts directly on the timely and efficient delivery of the UN-REDD Mekong Initiative as part of the Global UN-REDD Technical Assistance Programme in Asia-Pacific.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative (DRR) for Asia and the Pacific, under the technical supervision of the responsible Forestry Officer, Lead Technical Officer and the Regional Project Coordinator at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), with guidance from Government of Thailand focal points within the Royal Forest Department (RFD) and Department of National Parks (DNP), and in coordination with the REDD regional advisor for UNEP in Asia-Pacific, the National Project Assistant will be responsible for the overall support and administration of activities under the UN-REDD Mekong Initiative in Thailand, specifically as below.

• Collect and compile data on programme activities to support reporting on programme delivery;
• Provide information on programme expenditures and status of programme budget;
• Process, format and proof-read reports, documents, publications and correspondence related to the work of the unit from draft texts;
• Review and direct correspondence, calls and queries to appropriate contacts; provide for background information; respond to routine enquiries;
• Make arrangements for meetings, seminars and events: implement logistics, prepare correspondence, compile and distribute documents, make administrative arrangements;
• Initiate and follow up on administrative and financial actions related to staff management, non-staff support, travel, payments, and procurement;
• Perform other duties as required.
• Facilitate project operations and administrative services including project scheduling, processing necessary protocol with government offices, procurement processes, processing contractual documents for approval following due FAO and UNEP processes;
• Assist in project budget management for activities under Thailand, following up with LoA and SSFA service providers;
• Assist in organization of meetings and workshops – budgeting, scheduling, identifying venues, liaising with participants, etc.;
• Provide casual translation of Thai materials into English and vice-versa;
• Undertake any other relevant tasks assigned by FAO in the context of the UN-REDD Programme.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Communications, Public Relations, Political Sciences, International Relations or other related fields
• Four years of relevant experience in office and management support or working directly with the government
• Thai National.
• Working knowledge of English and Thai
• Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Very good knowledge of communication and documentation standards
• Very good knowledge of corporate computerized financial / travel / human resources systems and administrative procedures and policies
• Very good knowledge of the organizational structure
• Good knowledge Corporate Computerized Systems (eg GRMS, FPMIS, Coin, iMis).

• Knowledge of a second UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Russian, Chinese or Spanish)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION