Organizational Setting

FAO opened the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response Program in early October 2017 with funding from SFERA under Government Bangladesh official authorization and no objection. Since this time the program has grown in scope, supporting both Rohingya refugees in the camps and host communities. FAO has taken on a significant role in the Inter-Sectoral Coordination Group (ISCG) structure, now known as the Rohingya Coordination Platform (RCP). Since this time, FAO continues to support both Refugees and host communities adapt to the new context of an extended Refugee Response in Cox’s Bazar district and is in addition providing emergency assistance following natural disasters, following especially Cyclones and Floods and addressing emergency agricultural and livelihoods needs. FAO is leading in several multi-sectoral projects and co-chairs the Food Security Sector the Energy and Environment Network.

FAO Cox’s Bazar maintains two primary programme units, the Agricultural Livelihoods Unit and the Natural Resource Management/Disaster Risk Management Unit. Both units are staffed with technical specialist implementing multi-year programming in coordination with government partners, UN agencies, civil society and private sector partners.   While part of the overall emergency response, the FAO Cox’s Bazar programme works across the Humanitarian -Development-Peace Nexus, bridging emergency programmes with development objectives, ensuring all programming contributes to the Government of Bangladesh development priorities and protecting development strategy gains.

Reporting Lines

This is a SC-6 level position. The Programme Coordination Assistant – will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh with direct supervision of the Emergency Resilience Programme Coordinator in Cox’s Bazar and in close collaboration with the National Programme Coordinator and NRM Specialists.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for activity implementation, i.e. for planning, coordination, and implementation of watershed management and disaster risk reduction activities under the NRM and DRR workstream in Cox’s Bazar including, but not limited to, biological land stabilization, reforestations, landslide risk mitigation, watershed management, and disaster risk reduction and management.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Assist in delineating, prioritizing, and zoning watersheds using field assessments, maps (slope, drainage, erosion, LULC), and hazard data for floods and landslides. 
•     Support participatory identification and design of watershed treatment measures, including slope stabilization, erosion control, drainage improvement, and rainwater harvesting interventions. 
•     Promote an integrated ridge-to-valley watershed management approach, linking upland slope stabilization with downstream flood mitigation. 
•     Coordinate closely with relevant government counterparts and represent FAO in national and sub-national technical forums to ensure strategic alignment of watershed and DRR interventions. 
•     Support rehabilitation of degraded catchments contributing to landslide and flood risks through nature-based and community-led solutions. 
•     Facilitate community engagement and capacity-building initiatives on watershed management and disaster preparedness. 
•     Contribute to project development on watershed and DRR initiatives, including concept notes, proposals, technical inputs, budgeting, and donor reporting. 
•     Support organization of technical workshops, joint field visits, and review meetings with partners, ensuring documentation of lessons learned and best practices. 
•     Collect, compile, and analyze landslide and flood risk data, and support activation of early warning protocols to enable timely anticipatory actions. 
•     Support development of hazard-specific preparedness plans, community awareness, and risk-informed interventions. 
•     Promote inclusive programming by integrating Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), gender equity, and protection considerations into planning and implementation. 
•     Contribute to preparation, implementation, and monitoring of project work plans, activity schedules, and budgets in coordination with programme and operations teams. 
•     Support systematic collection, organization, and management of field data for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL). 
•     Coordinate and supervise field-level implementation with implementing partners, service providers, and community groups, ensuring the timely and high-quality delivery of watershed and DRR activities. 
•     Support fine-tuning of the Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) in collaboration with technical experts to strengthen field functionality and response readiness. 
•     Carry out any other tasks assigned by the FAO Representative or Supervisor, consistent with programme objectives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Environmental Science, Agroforestry, Zoology, Disaster Management, and Geography or related discipline. 
•     Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience in supporting programme and/or project implementation, quality assurance, monitoring and reporting.
•     Previous experience working with UN agency/International Organization is an asset
•     Working knowledge of English is essential
•     A Bangladesh national.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Knowledge on group formation, mobilization, conflict resolution and facilitation for the activity of NRM and DRR including biophysical, socio-economical and institutional - using scientific and participatory tools and methods. 
•     Knowledge of NRM and Disaster Risk Management, Forest Landscape Restoration, Human Wildlife Conflict. 
•     Proven track record of successful teamwork, good presentation/facilitation skills.
•     Familiarity with local dialect will be an added advantage 
•     Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook)
•     Familiarity and prior with digital data collection and mapping tools such as Kobo Toolbox, GPS-based data collection, and basic GIS/Google Earth for field monitoring and mapping
•     Experience in UN Agencies is preferred.
•     Ability to perform in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary context.
•     Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. 
•     Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision;
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION