Programme Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services. 
(iii)    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation. 
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation. 
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Nepal, FAO projects focus on technical capacity building, policy development, enhancing Agri production, strengthening food systems, promoting agri-value chain development and agri-business entrepreneurship, fostering digital agricultural innovation, improving food & nutrition security, gender empowerment and mainstreaming, enhancing resilience to disasters and impacts of climate change as well as threats posed by zoonotic diseases to human health through the One Health approach. FAO also contributes to the coordination of humanitarian assistance/relief and transition to livelihoods recovery within the agriculture sector, under the framework of the food security cluster.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Nepal and the direct supervision of Assistant FAOR (Programme).

Technical Focus

Provide needful Programme Specialist support to the FAO country programme/office in Nepal to carry out tasks as envisioned in the Terms of Reference (TOR).

Tasks and responsibilities

The Programme Specialist will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:

•     Support in the coordination, formulation and implementation of FAO country programmes/projects in Nepal (including regional and global projects with country components), in close consultation with government, development partners, donors, FAO RAP and FAO HQs.
•     Assist in carrying out programme/project operational responsibilities in line with the project agreement and FAO programme cycle management guidelines and administrative procedures and propose timely corrective measures to overcome operational constraints.
•     Coordinate and support the preparation of progress reports, financial statements, instalment requests, budget revisions, work plan of the projects and facilitate project closure, in close coordination with the Lead Technical Officer and Funding Liaison Officer.
•     Assist in organizing project related events, trainings and workshops, in close consultation with government and other relevant organizations/partners.
•     Prepare field visit plan, facilitate and participate in project monitoring, technical backstopping and supervision missions and field visits.
•     Participate in relevant meetings, workshops, seminars as assigned.
•     Support the preparation of concept notes, project documents and briefs, and ensure that required information and data are properly reflected.
•     Contribute to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g., draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications and background material for the FAOR and AFAOR (Programme) including meeting minutes on a variety of topics, as required.
•     Support in the collection, consolidation, and maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries as well as project/programme related information.
•     Support project monitoring by maintaining current registers and controlling tools on the status of projects at various stages; review inputs, expenditures and time frames according to work plans; make necessary abstracts and computations; detect inconsistencies.
•     Support in liaising with relevant government ministries, donors, and implementing partners, for FAO activities and project implementation, as required.
•     Carry out other programmatic tasks for the FAO office in Nepal, as well as for FAO programmes/ projects in Nepal as required, and
•     Perform any other duties as needed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Master’s degree in relevant fields/sectors such as Agricultural and Rural Development, Food Security and Nutrition, Climate Change, Natural Resources Management, and/or International Development. 
•     Five years of relevant experience in supporting the formulation and implementation of development and emergency projects in the relevant fields/sectors mentioned above
•     Working knowledge of English and Nepali 
•     National of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Programme/Project formulation and implementation (development & emergency).
•     Capacity building and policy support.
•     Agricultural production, food systems, and nutrition security.
•     Agri-value chains, agribusiness, and digital innovation.
•     Gender empowerment and social inclusion.
•     Resilience to climate change, disasters, and zoonotic diseases (One Health approach).

Selection Criteria

•     Proven experience in programme/project management, including formulation, implementation, monitoring, and closure.
•     Knowledge of FAO/UN procedures, donor requirements, and financial management (budgets, reports, revisions).
•     Strong skills in organizing events, trainings, and field missions.
•     Ability to draft concept notes, reports, and analytical documents.
•     Experience in data collection, analysis, and project monitoring tools.
•     Strong coordination and liaison skills with government, donors, and partners.
•     Excellent communication, analytical, and multitasking abilities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION