Assistant FAO Representative (Programme)
Organizational Context
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country offices are dedicated to assisting governments in developing policies, programmes, and projects to ensure food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition. They also champion the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, alongside the responsible use of environmental and natural resources. This specific position is based within the FAO Representation in Abuja, Nigeria.
Job Purpose
This role focuses on programme development, management, coordination, and operational support, leveraging knowledge of local conditions, culture, language, and institutions. The key objective is to ensure the effective and efficient management and coordination of technical and operational support for the programme and project activities of the FAO Representation. The incumbent will liaise with government authorities and various institutions, promote FAO's mandate and activities, coordinate country data collection and policy monitoring, and contribute to policy studies and development frameworks. Additionally, the role involves participating in programme/project formulation and implementation, identifying and resolving operational constraints, and supervising junior programme staff.
Responsibilities
Liaise with and assist government authorities, local, national, and international institutions, and UN agencies, representing FAO at interagency meetings as needed. Promote FAO's image and mandate through advocacy, communication tools (website, press releases, publications), and support for implementing regulatory frameworks like Codex Alimentarius. Coordinate the collection, consolidation, and maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries, including external aid information, and monitor national agricultural policy changes. Participate in producing technical, economic, and policy studies, and contribute to developing country-level frameworks such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and UNSDCF. Engage in the identification, formulation, and preparation of programme and project proposals, monitoring their implementation to ensure alignment with work plans and project documents, and proposing corrective actions for operational issues. Provide guidance, training, and supervision to junior programme staff, ensuring adherence to procedures and quality of work.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience is required. This experience should be in the public and/or private sectors, focusing on programming, planning, and technical cooperation within the food and agriculture domain, or in project implementation related to FAO's activities in the country. Experience should demonstrate a strong understanding of the sector and the ability to manage and coordinate programmes effectively.
Skills
Essential skills include extensive and relevant experience in programme/project development and management, and a demonstrated understanding of technical programme functions, operational guidelines, and project management procedures, preferably within UN or FAO systems. Experience in policy analysis related to food and nutrition security, agriculture, and rural development, or in collecting country data on agricultural sectors, is highly valued. Proficiency in identifying, formulating, and preparing programme and project proposals, as well as monitoring and reviewing their implementation, is crucial. Intermediate knowledge (Level B) of one or more local Nigerian languages (Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba) is desirable.