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. 
 
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition. 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.

With funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, FAO as a GEF agency was endorsed to implement a project titled Resilient Communities, Land Restoration, and Sustainable Ecosystems Management in Central and Southern Zambia under the GEF8 cycle. FAO will engage an Operational Partner to execute the project.

The main objective of the project is to enhance climate change adaptation in local communities, reduce land degradation and enhance biodiversity conservation through an integrated climate-resilient natural resource management approach in the Central and Southern Provinces of Zambia.

The project will be implemented in selected sites the Central and Southern Provinces of Zambia. The project focus is on environmental restoration, climate change and biodiversity conservation. The Climate-resilient ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management in the Central and Southern Provinces of Zambia project will address the barriers to sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation at six project sites in two provinces (Central and Southern Province).

The project has four components. Component one will support the development of an enabling environment for climate change adaptation that will also support reduced ecosystem degradation and strengthened biodiversity. Component two will focus on restoring the ecological integrity of the degraded natural environment in the proposed project sites, mainly riding on the provisions of natural resources and environmental management, land management, water resources management, agriculture, and climate change frameworks. Component three is focused on promoting Gender-responsive, climate-resilient natural resource-based livelihoods. It will aim to support sustainable agricultural production practices that will reduce the negative impacts associated with bad livelihood practices, such as charcoal production and unsustainable agricultural practices. Component four will focus on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning ensuring that lessons and learning from the project are captured, developed, reported and disseminated to relevant stakeholders.  The Project will generate global environmental benefits and contribute substantially to revenue generation, employment and sustainable rural livelihoods.

The Project Coordinator will provide technical guidance to the Partner that will be executing the GEF8 Project and promote synergies with other ongoing and potential climate change initiatives in the FAO Representation in Zambia.

Reporting Lines

The Project Coordinator will work in the FAO Representation in Zambia under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Zambia and direct supervision of the AFAOR Programmes and technical guidance of the LTOs/Sub-regional Office for the Southern Africa (SFS) and other Technical officers in the Regional office for Africa and FAO Headquarters.

Technical Focus

The Project Coordinator will be expected to work closely with and support the Programme team in delivery of country-level programmes, projects and interventions related to resilience building of ecosystem and vulnerable communities against the impact of climate change. He/she will specifically coordinate and support the implementation of the GEF 8 projects as well as contribute to the formulation and development of new project proposals contributing to this priority area. She/he will contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions within the agriculture, forestry and sustainable natural resource management sectors in line with priorities set forth by current FAO Zambia’s Country Programme Framework (CPF) (2023-2027).

Tasks and responsibilities

The Project Coordinator will perform following tasks:

•     Provide General Guidance, Technical leadership, backstopping and supervisory Management of the GEF8 project, ensuring achieving technical results and milestones in a timely manner.
•     Support the FAO Representative in the supervision and management of the Operational Partnership Agreement, ensuring compliance to the agreement including implementation of risk assurance measures.
•     Contribute to, and lead as appropriate, the development and strengthening of operational partnership implementation capacity through the design and delivery of training workshops, briefings, guidance to FAO staff and Operational Partner’s staff
•     Providing quality control support to Partners in all areas including Reviewing and verifying Partners work plans and reports, preparation of progress and Annual Project Implementation Reports 
•     Ensure coordination support with FAO Sub regional Office for Sothern Africa, Regional Office for Africa the FAO-GEF Unit for coherent designing and development of projects. 
•     Support engagement and communicate regularly with Government and other stakeholders at National, Provincial and District level (Government Ministries/institution, CSOs NGOs and private entities) to obtain their inputs to inform design and delivery of projects ensuring regular communication with Government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders 
•     Support and contribute to the policy processes in the areas of climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainable natural resource management.
•     Support in the coordination and implementation of other on-going (National, Regional and Global) climate change related projects and programmes in the areas of Agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management under the funding windows of GEF, GCF, and FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme
•     Assist and support to formulate new concept notes and detail project proposals in the areas of climate change and natural resource management contribute to resource mobilization.
•     Coordinate and facilitate the organization of policy dialogues, workshops and consultation meetings in close consultation with programme team, government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders.
•     Prepare plan for project periodic reviews, field monitoring and supervision missions and participate in different mission programs.
•     Contribute to the preparation of various written outputs on climate change related specific topics, e.g., draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications and background material for the FAOR and AFAOR (Programme) including meeting minutes.
•     Provide technical inputs for development of appropriate communication and knowledge products related to climate change and sustainable natural resource management
•     Support in the collection, compilation and consolidation of climate related country data and information.
•     Act as country focal point for Climate change and natural resource management
•     Provide technical inputs for preparation of policy briefs, studies, and assessments
•     Assist in identifying windows for and mobilizing extra-budgetary resources from climate financing windows such as GCF, GEF and other bilateral windows to support the implementation of relevant priorities of CPF, FAO’s pipeline projects and programmes related to the climate change.
•     Perform any other duties as assigned

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree in Environmental Management, Climate Change, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture or related fields.
•     At least 10 years of professional experience in environmental related projects or climate change or sustainable agriculture/development.
•     Working knowledge of English.
•     National of Zambia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

•     Familiarity with government processes, institutions and policies of relevance to sustainable natural resources management;
•     Proven capacity to conduct fieldwork and ability to work in teams and establish working relationships with central and local government institutions and civil society organizations;
•     Excellent planning, facilitation, writing and communication skills;
•     Experience with stakeholder engagement;
•     Knowledge and experience on GEF projects or other Climate Change or Sustainable Development related projects;
•     Knowledge of current global issues related to climate change impacts, disaster risk, adaptation or mitigation, trends, constraints, and research needs related to the management and conservation of aquatic resources and ecosystems;
•     Familiarity with resource mobilization processes;
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION