Project Field Coordinator

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; and 
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

FAO Philippines is participating in a Joint Programme (UNJP/PHI/086/UNJ) on “Zero Hunger Accelerator – Catalysing Local Investments for Agrifood System Transformation and Green Transition” under a Joint SDG Fund. The Zero Hunger Accelerator is a joint program which aims to strengthen inclusive, climate-resilient food systems in the Philippine by mobilizing innovative blended financing solutions aligned with national and local priorities. Anchored in institutional markets such as school meals and social protection programmes, the initiative blends public funding, concessional capital, de-risking instruments, to enhance private investment pathways to address longstanding access barriers for finance inclusion for value chain actors, particularly small holder farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives, and women-led enterprises. It introduces nano credit products tailored to smallholders’ needs and bundled with climate-responsive insurance, deployed through local financial institutions. To further reduce lending risks in fragile and underserved contexts, the programme operationalizes a Zero Hunger Facility, offering first-loss guarantees to attract domestic and international investors to local food systems.

The position is located in Isabela Province, Cagayan Valley, Philippines.

Reporting Lines

The Field Coordinator will directly report to the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).

Technical Focus

The field coordinator will support the field implementation, coordination, monitoring, and facilitation of project activities related to the project, “Zero Hunger Accelerator-Catalysing Local Investments for Agrifood System Transformation and Green Transition” in Isabela and target LGUs, ensuring timely delivery, community engagement, and adherence to gender, inclusion, and safeguards requirements.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Coordinate day-to-day field activities with LGUs, communities, and local partners as well as personnel of JP participating agencies.
•     Support conduct of participatory assessments (value chain and market access, profitability, productivity, gender dimensions in production, resilience, and access to financing).
•     Facilitate social preparation activities, focus group discussions, dialogues, and community consultations.
•     Organize and provide logistical support for trainings, workshops, and field missions.
•     Serve as field focal point for LGUs, cooperatives, farmer/fisherfolk groups, women-led groups, and IP communities.
•     Mobilize participants and ensure inclusive engagement of women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
•     Conduct regular field monitoring and gather updates on project implementation.
•     Collect, verify, and consolidate sex-, age-, and group-disaggregated beneficiary data.
•     Prepare field reports, documentation, minutes, and updates and communicate them to the Project Coordinator.
•     Support identification of capacity gaps and development of capacity-building plan for farmer cooperatives and producer groups.
•     Facilitate implementation of capacity-building activities for climate-resilient and inclusive production practices as guided by technical specialists.
•     Ensure adherence to FAO safeguards, gender equality, IP engagement, and GRM requirements.
•     Report field issues, risks, and challenges affecting implementation.
•     Support case study documentation, knowledge products, and visibility efforts within FAO and in coordination with the JP team.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     University degree in the field of Agriculture and Rural Development, Community Development/Organizing, Development Studies or other related fields.
•     At least five (5) years of relevant experience agriculture/rural development sectors, programme management and implementation, capacity building, and coordination with national/regional government structures, NGOs and private sector and the UN agencies.
•     Full proficiency / working knowledge (level C) of English
•     National of the Philippines

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
•     Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
•     General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION