2 Job Positions at FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization: (Deadline 29 December 2023)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (“FAO” or “Organization”) is an intergovernmental organization with more than 194 member nations. Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition, and the pursuit of food security – defined as the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life. To achieve its goals, FAO cooperates with thousands of partners worldwide, from farmers’ groups to traders, from non-governmental organizations to other UN agencies, from development banks to agribusiness firms (further and more detailed information on FAO can be found on the internet site: http://www.fao.org).
The main aim of FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programs, and projects to achieve security and reduce hunger and malnutrition to help develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forest sectors, and use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

Within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), with the functional, administrative, and overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, (who is the project budget holder), with the supervision of the Senior Animal Health Officer/ ECTAD Global Programme Coordinator (NSAH), the direct supervision of the Head of Operational and Finance Unit at FAO Rwanda, in close collaboration with ECTAD Team at FAO Rwanda, the technical backstopping of the ECTAD Regional program Assistant for Eastern and Southern Africa, in line with program management guidance from the Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Budget Holder (OER), in collaboration with the Coordinator of the Laboratory Unit (NSAH), and the relevant Animal Production and Health Officers:

Technical Focus

The technical focus of the work of the National operations Specialist will support the FAO ECTAD Team in following up and planning with the various FAO units and partners in the delivery of the project/program, especially compilation of the annual and quarterly project plans, procurement, LoAs, and travel plans and are monitored and updated for all ECTAD projects within the FAO’s broader country program under the FAO Representation.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The incumbent will specifically:

•    Support the FAO ECTAD Team in following up and planning with the various FAO units and partners in the delivery of the project/program.
•    Assist in the follow-up of requests for services to be provided in line with the FAO rules and regulations.
•    In collaboration with the FAO ECTAD Team, support the collation and compilation of the annual and quarterly project work plans, procurement, LoA, and travel plans.
•    In collaboration with the MEAL unit and the technical officers, follow up on project periodic reports and submit to Operations for final submission and uploading into the system.
•    Ensure timely submission of Staffing action requests and supporting documents to the Operations Team for processing.
•    Follow up with the operations and travel units to ensure timely submission of Travel Authorizations, LTECS, and BTORS timely processing.
•    In collaboration with the operations/budget team, ensure projects’ transactions are continuously mapped in FPMIs.
•    Maintain offline records of planned project expenditure projections and commitments
•    Track procurement requests and follow up with the operations unit to ensure timely delivery in the field
•    Maintain an asset register for all project-related assets and ensure proper handover of assets in liaison with the Asset manager
•    Maintain an up-to-date register of all contracts and LoAs/MoUs/Memos
•    Review the adequacy of financial reports provided by Service Providers and in collaboration with the operations and Finance units, ensure timely payments and closures of POs.
•    Support resource mobilization efforts at FAO Rwanda.
•    Provide detailed end-of-the-assignment report to the ECTAD Country Team Leader and head of operations and Finance Unit at FAO Rwanda.
•    Performs other related duties as required;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

•    Master’s degree or equivalent qualification in accounting or finance for international standard or a related field is required.
•    Minimum 5 years of experience in budgeting, accounting, and reporting procedures of the International Organization (preferably UN).
•    National of Rwanda
•    Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, and ability to engage effectively with policy and decision-makers;
•    Hands-on experience in setting up and running a project financial management and accounting information system in accordance with best international practice.
•    Broad experience in budgeting, accounting, and reporting procedures of the International Organization (preferably UN).
•    Ability to present financial information in a clear, concise manner and in formats suitable to FAOR.
•     Experience in training staff of local counterparts and subcontractors in disbursement procedures and in accounting theory and practice.
•    Computer literate; familiarity with Windows-based programs such as Word and Excel, PowerPoint, Accounting programs, and other MIS.
•    Ability to exercise a high level of judgment, and personal initiative, communicate effectively with people at all levels, and collaboratively work as a member of a team.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (“FAO” or “Organization”) is an intergovernmental organization with more than 194 member nations. Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition, and the pursuit of food security – defined as the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life. To achieve its goals, FAO cooperates with thousands of partners worldwide, from farmers’ groups to traders, from non-governmental organizations to other UN agencies, from development banks to agribusiness firms (further and more detailed information on FAO can be found on the internet site: http://www.fao.org).
The main aim of FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programs, and projects to achieve security and reduce hunger and malnutrition to help develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forest sectors, and use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

Within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), with the functional, administrative, and overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, (who is the project budget holder), under the supervision of the Senior Animal Health Officer/ ECTAD Global Programme Coordinator (NSAH), the direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at FAO Rwanda, in close collaboration with ECTAD Team at FAO Rwanda, the technical backstopping of the ECTAD Regional MEAL specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa, in line with programme management guidance from the Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Budget Holder (OER), in collaboration with the Coordinator of the Laboratory Unit (NSAH), and the relevant Animal Production and Health Officers.

Technical Focus

The technical focus of the work of the National MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning) specialist will maintain and update ECTAD program monitoring databases and ensure that all monitoring and evaluation data, routine records keeping (means of verification) and log frame monitoring are updated for all ECTAD projects within the FAO’s broader country program under the FAO Representation.

•    Support work planning and implementation of national, regional and global ECTAD projects and initiatives including technical support areas.
•    Coordinate and participate in MEAL field monitoring missions of ECTAD programs.
•    Liaise with/backstop ECTAD technical officers concerning timely collection and reporting; collate and assure the quality of information required for reporting on the assigned projects.
•    Support resource mobilization efforts at FAO Rwanda

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will specifically:

•    Maintain and update ECTAD program monitoring databases and ensure that all monitoring and evaluation data is updated for all ECTAD projects within the FAO’s broader country program under the FAO Representation.
•    Conduct routine record keeping (means of verification) and log frame monitoring.
•    Handle regular and ad-hoc data and information requests.
•    Support work planning and implementation of national, regional and global ECTAD projects and initiatives including technical support areas;
•    Support training and uptake of MEAL objectives, knowledge and practices by the ECTAD team and recipient-relevant counterparts within the Government
•    Coordinate and participate in MEAL field monitoring missions of ECTAD programs.
•    In collaboration with the FAO ECTAD MEAL team, develop tools for routine data collection for log-frame monitoring purposes.
•    Support implementation of M&E and learning case studies by working closely with national, regional, and global ECTAD teams to ensure adherence to quality standards.
•    Liaise with/backstop ECTAD technical officers concerning timely collection and reporting; collate and assure the quality of information required for reporting on the assigned projects and programme-level indicators; analyze data and generate M&E and narrative reports in prescribed formats.
•    Support the FAO MEAL team and program staff in the production of various country-level MEAL reports and other information products (infographics, dashboards, etc.) as required.
•    Conduct MEAL and progress reporting for ECTAD ensuring timeliness and quality data reporting; consolidate inputs from team members for regional and programme-level reporting.;
•    Contribute to the preparation of project reports as required by the Governments, FAO, and donors.
•    Support resource mobilization efforts at FAO Rwanda.
•    Provide a detailed end-of-the-assignment report to the ECTAD Country Team Leader.
•    Performs other related duties as required;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    A bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Agricultural Economics, Economics or Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or other related fields.
•    At least 5 years of professional experience related to project MEAL, planning and implementation of M&E systems, M&E methods and approaches, data analysis, and knowledge of statistical data
•    National of Rwanda
•    Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Proven capacity to create good relationships with a diversity of stakeholders including government institutions, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions, and local communities, and conduct fieldwork.
•    Previous experience working on international donors’ projects is highly preferable.
•    Systematic and efficient approach to work on assignments, good judgment, and analytical ability. Ability to manipulate large data sets, and Excellent attention to detail.
•    Good contextual knowledge of local issues in Cross River State, community priorities, social and cultural constraints, and realities.
•    Previous knowledge of information analysis and report writing is an advantage.
•    Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills in English.
•    Ability to effectively use standard MS Office software, especially experience with Excel, MS Access, database, and SPSS.
•    Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Internet); and
•    Capable to work independently and perform under tight deadlines.
•    Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, and ability to engage effectively with policy and decision-makers;

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION