Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind.
FAO’s Small Grant Programme (SGP) was endorsed by the GEF CEO on 14 November 2025, the first SGP Agency to reach this major milestone in its Eighth Operational Phase Tranche II. FAO as a new SGP Implementing Agency will facilitate countries’ access to complementary expertise, bring new institutional and organizational strengths, and support new opportunities for innovation and engagement. 
As an SGP Implementing Agency, FAO will work within the SGP partnership building on its comparative advantages and lessons learned from prior SGP investments to deliver SGP interventions under the Eighth Operational Phase (OP8) of the GEF Small Grants Programme (Tranche II), across 13 participating countries, including Marshall Islands. FAO will ensure that community-based and civil society organizations are financially and technically supported to design and deliver locally-led initiatives that address complex socio-ecological challenges to foster resilience, enhance livelihoods and deliver global environmental benefits.
The National Coordinator will be based in co-executing entity of the SGP in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and support the overall implementation of the SGP in the respective country.  

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator (SRC) for the Pacific Islands; supervision of Better Environment- Module Lead; closely with the Global Project Management Team (GPMT), National Steering Committee (NSC), designated SGP focal points in FAO SAP and will be the main counterpart for SGP grantees and other stakeholders in RMI.

Technical Focus

The National Coordinator (NC) will be the main country focal person for effective coordination and support the implementation of Small Grant Programme in the RMI.  

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Lead the national SGP affiliate personnel where applicable, assist in building their capacity and track the team performance 
•     Ensure efficient liaison with the GPMT and close coordination with the country program stakeholders including but not limited to the members of the National Steering Committee, local partners and the relevant FAO officials. 
•     Provide support to the NSC during the entire project cycle processes during the selection and award phases, during the reviews, meetings deliberations, monitoring and reporting.  
•     Establish the Annual Work Plan, including details of the strategic and innovative activities to be undertaken during the year. A detailed project budget for the activities to be implemented during the year should also be included together with all monitoring and supervision activities required during the year.  
•     Coordinate the design and implementation process of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS), along with NSC, and coordinate its regular review and update. Also, ensure a continuous monitoring of the national environmental challenges as well as socio-economic conditions relevant to the GEF SGP programme and its focal areas and advise on its impact on the country’s SGP Programme implementation.  
•     Pre-screen SGP proposals and assist CSOs/CBOs in their application process as applicants and during the incubation and acceleration process as grantees to ensure that their proposals/projects align with the SGP OP8 procedures and targets, including the Programme’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
•     Provide day-to-day support and guidance to the SGP grantees
•     Overseeing and managing the overall country SGP allocation and its efficient deployment in line with FAO Code of ethical conduct and financial integrity. 
•     Assist SGP grantees to understand and comply with the terms of the Beneficiary Grant Agreements including by conducting proper due diligence and financial verifications prior to awarding instalments of SGP grants to select grantees. 
•     Provide adequate oversight and quality assurance of the SGP portfolio implementation at country level during the design, implementation and reporting stages. 
•     Ensure regular monitoring of the in-country SGP portfolio including through adequate communication with the grantees and reality-check through field visits
•     Liaise on a need basis with the GPMT to report on the programme’s implementation status and progress
•     Actively assist in the preparation and roll out of the M&E plans, provide all necessary support to the Mid Term Review and Terminal Evaluation implemented by FAO, reporting and required coordination with the programme stakeholders. 
•     Document and report on the programme’s lessons learned, identify best practices and knowledge generated throughout the programme implementation phases, foster cross-learning and inform the design and delivery of future grants as well as share knowledge with the SGP programme stakeholders. 
•     Enhance synergies between the GEF-SGP and other related projects in the country and enable collaborations with the private sector, other donor and development partners for project upscaling, co-financing and other opportunities. In addition, ensure advocacy campaigns for the SGP and continuously explore collaboration opportunities to mobilize additional resources to complement GEF SGP funding.  
•     As the main SGP focal point at country-level, the NC shall engage various SGP stakeholders by organising regular dialogues and communication sessions with national/local CSO, CBOs, local communities and any other relevant stakeholders including potential SGP applicants, to showcase the programme and its contributions to finding local solutions to global environmental problems.
•     Perform any other tasks as required to ensure proper functioning of the SGP programme in the RMI

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•     University degree in environmental management, environmental sciences, agriculture science or related field
•     5 years of relevant experience in the management or coordination of national projects related to above field
•     Working knowledge of English 
•     National of Marshall Island

FAO Core Competencies

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION