Field Programme Support And Monitoring Officer

Organizational Setting

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

FAO Subregional Office for Central Africa (SFC), is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Africa, RAF.

The position is located in the Subregional Office for Central Africa (SFC), in Libreville, Gabon.

Reporting Lines

The Field Programme Support and Monitoring Officer reports to the Subregional Coordinator and receives technical guidance from the Project Support Division (PSS) through the Senior Field Programme Officer in the relevant regional office, who provides oversight.

Technical Focus

Field programme development and management, coordination, operational support. Monitoring and reporting based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language and institutions of the country of assignment.

Key Results

Contribution to the effective and efficient management and coordination of the operational support of the programme and project activities of the Regional/Subregional Office.

Key Functions

• Monitors the progress of both pipeline and ongoing projects at country and regional/subregional levels and prepares relevant reports and briefs according to pre-established formats.
• Identifies projects/programmes facing problems, draws them to the attention of responsible officers/units concerned and follows up with budget holders on projects/programmes flagged in PSS' high-level quarterly monitoring reports.
• Contributes to programme development (including identification of new projects/programmes in the region/subregion) and project formulation processes in accordance with the relevant procedures and in conformity with the relevant Country Programming Framework (CPF), regional priorities and Strategic Framework.
• Cooperates with the funding liaison units and other units in the Regional/Subregional Office in the mobilization of resources required for technical assistance projects.
• Ensures close oversight of project appraisal and approval processes in line with the revised Project Cycle guidelines, and undertakes necessary follow-up actions with relevant units.
• Provides support to the budget holders of national and regional/subregional projects in ensuring the provision of scheduled inputs including experts, consultants, equipment, fellowships, training and sub-contracts, and technical backstopping, and monitors their timely execution, in line with project work plans.
• Monitors timely action relating to preparation of delivery estimates, pipeline reviews and preparation of project related reports (progress and terminal reports).
• Participates in the analysis of technical and operational backstopping requirements for the field programme in collaboration with the respective budget holders.
• Reviews, updates and maintains the field programme related information and data in the FPMIS (Field Programme Management Information System),'trains staff in FPMIS use and data maintenance and serves as focal point for FPMIS-related requirements for the region/subregion.
• Acts as focal point, oversees and coordinates the collection and storage of (sub)regional and country-related information and documents.
• Provides guidance and advice to project budget holders in the region/subregion on procedural issues relating to project operations.
• Monitors the completion of field projects and follows up with budget holders to ensure the timely submission of terminal reports and operational and financial closure of projects.

Specific Functions

• Ensures monitoring of risk management related activities.
• Supports the implementation of projects evaluation recommendations.
• Oversees the implementation of post audits action plans.
• Supports the monitoring, evaluation and learning functions.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of the country of assignment.
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries or any other field related to the work of the Organization.
• Five years of relevant experience in agricultural development and/or project planning/formulation/implementation in an area of FAO's activities in the country.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of French and of the local language and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of English.

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project development (including formulation and analysis) and management (implementation).
• Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical programme, operational guidelines and project/programme management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO, which would be considered an asset.