Technical Advisor

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved the “Integrated Agro-ecosystem approach for enhancing Livelihoods and Climate Resilience in Tuvalu” with GEF total budget of USD 2.64 million and total co-financing of USD 6.6 million. This project will be implemented by FAO in partnership with the Government of Tuvalu, executed and coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government and Agriculture (MLGA), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment, Labour, Meteorology and Disaster (MPWIELMD), Ministry of Fisheries and Trade (MFT), Ministry of Finance (MOF), and Ministry of Health, Social Welfare & Gender Affairs (MHSWGA).
The main objective of this project is to reverse land degradation, enhance local livelihoods and increase climate resilience through integrated agro-ecosystem (IAE) approach in all the islands of Tuvalu. The IAE approach emphasises a systems approach to local food production to reduce land degradation and improve the health of agro-ecosystems while ensuring socioeconomic benefits. This overall Objective will be achieved by:
• Strengthening enabling framework for implementation of integrated agro-ecosystem approach (Component 1).
• Implementing integrated agro-ecosystem approach in all the islands (Component 2).
• Ensuring project implementation is supported by an M&E strategy based on measurable and verifiable outcomes and adaptive management principles (Component 3).

FAO in partnership with the Government of Tuvalu will set up a Project Management Unit within MLGA and will recruit a Project team, international consultants and national specialists (long and short term appointments) to co-ordinate and support project implementation. The Technical Adviser will provide overall technical support to the PMU and Project team.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of Lead Technical Officer and overall guidance FAO Sub-regional Coordinator (SRC) for the Pacific, in close consultation with the National Project Coordinator, and working closely with the LTO, NPC, FLO, FAO-GEF Coordination Unit, FAO officers at Headquarters, the Regional and Sub-regional offices and relevant Ministries, the Technical Adviser will perform the following tasks:

Technical Focus

Support to the overall leadership of the project and all technical matters, including the planning, development and implementation activities mentioned within the project document. (S)he shall be responsible for the implementation of activities, development and submission of period reports. In addition, the incumbent shall also act as a focal point for all discussions with the relevant counterparts and stakeholders in Tuvalu.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Prepare detailed draft Annual work programme and Budget (AWP&B) to be reviewed and approved by the Project Steering Committee (PSC);
• Design and oversee the project M&E system;
• Prepare in close collaboration with the NPC and executing partners, progress and financial reports as specified in the Project Document;
• Ensure adherence to the Implementing Agencies’ administrative, financial and technical reporting requirements;
• Ensure that financial allocations and expenditures are in accordance with UN financial rules and regulations;
• Clear for approval administrative and financial reports, external communications and travel requests;
• Provide guidance and supervision to the work of the staff of the PMU including with regard to the implementation of all activities specified in the Project Document, and ensure their timely completion;
• Provide technical advisory services and support to the Technical Advisory Group;
• Organize workshops, meetings, field visits including arranging logistics and providing reports as directed by the PSC;
• In consultation with NPC and LTO, establish, Terms of Reference for Letters of Agreement, sub-contractors and consultants;
• Monitor the work of the consultants and sub-contractors, based on their Terms of Reference, and evaluate the quality of the outputs;
• Provide technical inputs into project planning and implementation processes;
• Following the guidance of the PSC, liaise with Lead Agencies regarding the implementation of components and activities and with donors involved in the project;
• Facilitate the implementation of the project and promote exchanges of information among project participants;
• Ensure, as far as practical, full participation of partners and stakeholders in the project, and prepare a strategy for strengthening partner and stakeholder participation; facilitate finalization and distribution of the project outputs and other documents;
• Seek as required direction, and strategic guidance from the PSC regarding project implementation and execution of agreed activities over the entire period of the project;
• Seek as required direction, and strategic guidance from the PSC regarding the establishment of timelines and milestones for provision of agreed outputs;
• Prepare as required working documents to be submitted to meetings of the PSC and to FAO;
• Review all documents prepared by third parties for submission to the PSC and FAO to ensure they meet the appropriate technical, scientific and English standards;
• Prepare the draft agenda and draft annotated agenda for the PSC meetings in accordance with the rules of procedure of those bodies;
• Liaise with other relevant GEF and non-GEF projects with focus on those referred to in the Project Document;
• Provide general leadership in terms of coordination of activities with other programmes and projects at global, regional and where feasible national, levels;
• Oversee the allocation of funds in accordance with the directions of the Project Steering Committee;
• Prepare in close consultations with all partners and executing agencies the annual Project Implementation Review (PIR) reports and 6 monthly Project Progress Reports (PPR) for transmission to FAO and the GEF; and
• Assist the Evaluation and Oversight Unit as required in arrangements for the terminal evaluation.
• Work closely with the project management team in facilitating the smooth handover of execution functions to the MLGA.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree from University or equivalent Institution in environmental management, environmental sciences, agriculture/horticulture science or related fields;
• A minimum of 7 years of working experience, with at least 5 years of experience in the management or coordination of international, regional or national projects related to the environment;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/ functional Skills

• Computer literacy required;
• Knowledge of the UN system and procedures preferred;
• Efficiency, competence and integrity as well as negotiating skills, tact and diplomacy are essential;
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency