Junior Programme Support Assistant

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a UN specialized agency dedicated to defeating hunger and achieving food security globally. Its Bangladesh Representation, established in 1978, supports national efforts in agriculture, food, forestry, fisheries, livestock, rural development, and climate change. Bangladesh faces significant challenges including population growth, resource scarcity, natural disasters, and climate change. The RAINS project, supported by GAFSP and IFAD, aims to enhance food and nutrition security resilience for rural households through climate-sensitive production and improved off-farm opportunities.

Job Purpose

The Junior Programme Support Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting the RAINS project by facilitating key activities such as training, coordination, and market linkage initiatives. A primary focus will be on empowering women and youth, and improving nutrition outcomes. The incumbent will also contribute significantly to project monitoring, data capture, communication efforts, and provide essential overall project management support. This role is vital for the effective implementation of project components aimed at enhancing agricultural production, market access, and socio-economic development for vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

Support RAINS project Components 1 (Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Production) and 2 (Market Linkage and Off-Farm Diversification) by assisting in the organization of meetings, workshops, and training sessions for farmers, with a focus on women and youth. Prepare materials to enhance knowledge on nutrition and socio-economic status of women, and promote tailored off-farm income-generating activities. Coordinate with the RAINS Project Management Unit. Assist in Component 3 (Management and Coordination) by supporting monitoring and evaluation tasks, capturing data and lessons learned for policy engagement, and assisting with project communications, including activities for the "International Year of the Woman Farmer." Provide technical assistance for nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions, develop and deliver nutrition education materials, and support nutrition-related assessments and documentation. Strengthen nutrition-sensitive value chains through capacity development and training. Assist in preparing policy briefs and knowledge products. Support the McGovern-Dole School Feeding Programme by conducting surveys, monitoring, and documenting Little Agriculturist Club (LAC) activities, including nutrition KAP and dietary diversity assessments. Collect case stories and good practices for reporting and learning. Perform other assigned tasks.

Work Experience

A minimum of one year of professional experience in agriculture, food science, or a closely related field is required. This experience should complement a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Food, or a relevant discipline. Proficiency in English at a working level (Level C) is essential.

Skills

Proficiency in Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement. A working knowledge of Bangla is preferable. Essential computer skills include proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), email, and internet usage. Experience in supporting project management activities is also required.

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