National Project Coordinator (Agrifood Systems)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advances the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. This effort promotes better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and enhanced livelihoods, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies and projects that drive the transformation of food, agriculture, and rural development. It also fosters and maintains relationships with subregional institutions.

The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

About the Sustainable transformation of domestic agrifood systems project in Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands. 
This project, funded by the Delegation of the European Union (EUD) to the Pacific with a duration of three years, aims to foster resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands by enhancing domestic crops and livestock production. 
The project is working towards the following three outputs: 
Output 1: Strengthened policy and institutional environment in support of national agrifood systems transformation agenda 
Output 2: Strengthened sustainable and community-based production systems 
Output 3: Strengthened capacities for sustainable agrifood systems 

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific and the direct supervision of the Technical Adviser (Agrifood Systems), who is the project team leader based in Suva, Fiji, the National Project Coordinator will perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

Technical Focus 

•    Strengthening of national agricultural policy and institutional ecosystem to enable agrifood system transformation 
•    Sustainable enhancement of crop and livestock production in the Pacific region 
•    Establishment of agribusiness incubator in the country 
•    Enhancing capacities of the civil society organisations, farmers groups, intermediaries and other stakeholders for 
enhanced domestic agricultural production and productivity, value addition and healthy food consumption 
•    Effective knowledge sharing

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Under the guidance of the Technical Adviser, provide effective leadership for the in-country project implementation, ensuring the achievement of project objectives within the allocated budget and timeline.
•    Diligently work towards successful implementation of the project in the country by studying and internalising the project background, its objectives as they align with the dynamic national agrifood systems goals and stakeholder aspirations, and through collaborative team effort 
•    Take full ownership for the delivery of the project Output 1 in the country, and oversee the delivery of Outputs 2 and 3 by organizing and managing agreements with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other collaborators.
•    Lead the consultations on workplan implementation for the country, in consultation with the Technical Adviser, Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and the key national stakeholders and support the Technical Adviser in obtaining the Project Steering Committee (PSC) approvals for changes to the workplans. 
•    Coordinate, monitor and periodically report on project implementation from both technical and administrative perspectives in the country.
•    Proactively respond to the evolving policy needs in the country. Build national capacities to develop and maintain an enabling policy environment for agrifood system evolution.
•    Work effectively with the FAO SAP operations and administration teams and take ownership of drafting the agreements, selecting the service providers, signing and executing Letters of Agreement (LoA) with relevant project partners and ensuring effective implementation of the agreements.
•    Proactively plan and follow through on all project procurement-related matters in a timely manner.  
•    Work closely with government ministries and other value chain actors to enhance domestic food production, value addition, improve trade and marketing ecosystems to promote affordable and nutritious food consumption. 
•    Facilitate technical coordination and collaboration among government counterparts, national technical officers, international consultants, and project partners.
•    Provide in-country technical backstopping and ensure the quality and effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities. Assist in organizing periodic project meetings.
•    Assist in developing and implementing an effective communication and knowledge-sharing strategy for the project.
•    Assist in the development and timely submission of quarterly, annual, and final reports (both technical and financial).
•    Support the organization of project evaluation in consultation with the FAO Evaluation Office, Project Task Force (PTF), and PSC, ensuring effectiveness and timeliness.
•    Perform any other duties deemed necessary by the project management team for the successful execution of the project.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

•    University degree in agriculture - Specialization in livestock management, agronomy, agricultural economics, agribusiness management, policy, rural development or a related field is an advantage.
•    Five years of relevant experience in agriculture project management roles.
•    Working knowledge of English and Solomon Islands Pijin.
•    National of Solomon Islands.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Efficiency, competence and integrity as well as negotiating skills, tact and diplomacy are essential.
•    Able to work with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural project partners at regional and international level;
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
•    Extent of knowledge of FAO standard operational rules and procedures and project/programme administrative management procedures
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience liaising between diverse project stakeholders.
•    Extent of knowledge of FAO’s corporate systems and database, or knowledge of other accounting or financial modules or applications relevant to accounting procedures or project budget management would be considered an asset.
•    Demonstrated analytical and judgment skills and ability to apply rules and regulations in the subject field.

Selection Criteria

•    Demonstrated experience in managing communication strategies, developing branding materials, and coordinating multimedia content for regional or international projects.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION