Programme Development Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization Of the United Nations

Vacancy ID: 2102290
Organizational Unit:  FRNIR
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Duration: 6 months, with possible extension

Organizational Setting

• The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
• The incumbent will work in the FAO Representation in Nigeria and will be expected to support the implementation of FAO Nigeria Country Programme Framework with emphasis on programme development, resource mobilization and reporting.

Reporting Lines:

• The Programme Development Specialist reports to the FAO Representative (FAOR) and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes) and in close collaboration with the Programme Leads.

Technical Focus:

• Identify resource partners in development, humanitarian and resilience building, grow and expand the FAO Nigeria portfolio of programmes.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Identify concept ideas and initiate and lead the formulation of project proposals and concept notes, in particular relating to:
  • Trust Fund (TF) Projects with Donors,
  • Unilateral Trust Funds (UTFs) with Federal and State Governments;
  • South-South Cooperation (SSC TrC)) programme and
  • TCPs in the areas of Agricultural digitization; Youth Agri-entrepreneurship; Biosafety and Food safety and Agricultural Extension/Research uptake
• Build network of collaboration with governmental and organizational counterparts to facilitate programme coordination and promotion;
• Review of relevant national documents, strategic and development plans/frameworks, namely; economic Sustainability Plan, National Policy on Food and Nutrition and National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition, National Livestock Transformation Plan and Nigeria Agricultural Technology and Innovation Plan (NLTP), EU’s multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 with a view to identifying key entry points for FAO Nigeria to enhance/strengthen its resource mobilization drive.
• Support project leads in work-planning, implementation, reporting and project coordination with stakeholders, initiate actions to be taken with relevant partners, Agencies, institutional and stakeholders on issues related to projects management to enhance effective implementation of programmes;
• Contribute in promoting FAO positions and capacities in collaborative activities with external counterparts (co-implementing entities);
• Lead in preparation and drafting of project terminal reports related documents/reports (work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Work with technical units in FAO Nigeria and relevant divisions in HQ, Regional office and sub-regional office for West Africa to lead phases 1-3 of the Project Cycle including: identification, formulation, appraisal and approval;
• Ensure alignment of new projects with the Government humanitarian and development goals, the FAO Nigeria Country Programme Framework, FAO’s Strategic Objectives, and corporate Results-Based Management (RBM) and Project Cycle Management (PCM) guidelines;
• Maintain updated soft and hard pipeline project databases, project tracking and maintain an information database and update monitoring tools;
• Provide regular oral and written updates/brief at Management meetings, monthly donor and staff meetings and monitor (and provide alerts regarding) programme funding opportunities;
• Serve as lead for the preparation of briefs, leaflets and terminal reporting regarding the FAO Nigeria projects, ensuring liaison with relevant technical units for technical quality of CNs, project documents and project terminal reports; and initiate assessments to provide evidence-based for formulating new projects;
• Participate in formulating regular progress reports, final reports, briefs and comprehensive reports for ongoing emergency/rehabilitation/development projects as well as correspondence with recipient governments and donors;
• Support in briefing and capacity building of programme assistants and other lower level programme staff with regards to aspects of FAO project cycle management: budget/work plan preparation, budget revision, project closure and opening and corporate platforms (FPMIS, iMIS, COIN etc)
• Perform other related duties as required.

Candidates will be Accessed Against the Following
Minimum Requirements:

• University Degree in Programme Development, International Cooperation for Development, Development Economics or a related field .
• 3 years relevant experience in programme development and management, fundraising, negotiations, public relations/advocacy, preferably in the areas of food and agriculture;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian).

FAO Core Competencies:

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

Technical / Functional Skills:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English;
• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills;
• Readiness to carry out visits to project sites and duty travel as required;
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in emergency situations with tight deadlines;
• Experience in a liaison function;
• Excellent team-building and cross-cultural skills;
• Thorough knowledge of FAO’s PCM guidelines and requirements;
• Sound knowledge of FAO’s procedures and guidelines
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the on-going emerging policy issues in the areas of Agriculture, Food Security, Rural Development and Poverty Eradication;
• Strong knowledge and background in Agriculture sector marketing and Value chain in Nigeria;
• Experience in designing, monitoring and evaluating development projects is an asset;
• Experience working with the SDG1 and SDG2 in Nigeria at the national level;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience in working with a wide range of individuals at high levels in government, private sector and civil society;
• Experience in preparing high quality policy briefs and guidance notes for use by senior policy makers;
• Experience of working with the government counterparts, national or international financial institutions, private sector/ civil society in the field of economic and social development in Nigeria;
• Familiarity with the agricultural system of different geographical regions, their products and potential internal and external marketing systems.