Technical Assistant

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.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

·    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
·    provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
·    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
·    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems   transformation; and 
·    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The position is located in Mandaluyong City, Philippines (with field missions to Isabela and Cagayan Province).

Reporting Lines

The Technical Assistant will directly report to the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and will work in close collaboration with the Community Resilience and Emergency Response Adviser, Project Team Coordinators and the Programme Management Specialist.

Technical Focus

The Technical Assistant will be assigned under the FAO Philippines Country Programming Framework Outcome 1, specifically, under the Anticipatory Action and Livelihood Restoration Programme. He/She will provide technical support in project coordination and in the implementation of Anticipatory Action and Livelihood Restoration projects.  

Tasks and responsibilities

Support to Project Coordination and Implementation Support

•     Support the overall coordination of all projects related to anticipatory action and livelihood restoration. 
•     Assist in the preparation, updating, and tracking of project workplans, activity schedules, implementation matrices, and related coordination tools to support timely delivery of project outputs and activities.
•     Coordinate with Project Team Coordinators, Field Coordinators, technical specialists, consultants, implementing partners, and relevant FAO personnel to consolidate updates on activity progress, implementation issues, required follow-up actions, and emerging operational needs.
•     Provide day-to-day implementation support by helping monitor the status of planned activities, tracking pending actions, following up on deliverables, and ensuring that responsible teams are informed of deadlines and required inputs.
•     Support the preparation and conduct of coordination meetings, technical discussions, planning sessions, field activities, workshops, consultations, trainings and missions, including the preparation of agendas, background materials, concept notes, terms of reference, logistical arrangements, minutes, action points and other required documentation.
•     Support the monitoring of progress of key administrative and operations tasks contributing to timely delivery of project works and activities.

Support to Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Coordination

•     Support the coordination and engagement with government counterparts, implementing partners, local government units, community representatives, and other relevant stakeholders involved in anticipatory action and livelihood restoration projects.

Event Management and Logistical Support

•     Support the planning, preparation, and conduct of project-related events, including workshops, trainings, consultations, coordination meetings, field missions, and community-level activities.
•     Assist in preparing event requirements such as concept notes, agendas, participant lists, invitations, confirmation trackers, briefing materials, presentation inputs, and other supporting documents.
•     Coordinate logistical arrangements for in-person, virtual, and hybrid activities, including venue coordination, travel, accommodation, meals, transportation, supplies, equipment, and related service requirements.
•     Support the preparation and processing of administrative and operational requirements for events, including procurement requests, travel authorizations, service arrangements, payment documents, and other supporting documents, in coordination with relevant FAO units.

Technical and Knowledge Management Support

•     Provide support in documenting project activities, field experiences, stakeholder discussions, and community-level practices to contribute to learning, reporting, and knowledge sharing.
•     Assist in maintaining organized FAO repositories of project documents, technical references, reports, meeting materials, photos, activity outputs, and other knowledge resources to ensure easy access and retrieval by the project team.

Support to Monitoring, Reporting and Data Management

•     Help maintain monitoring tools, progress trackers, implementation matrices, action point trackers, and other data management systems to support timely follow-up and informed decision-making.
•     Assist in preparing project progress updates, briefing notes, inputs to donor reports and other internal reports, activity reports, and other reporting requirements by consolidating inputs and ensuring consistency of information.
•     Support the documentation and verification of activity outputs, attendance records, field reports, photos, feedback forms, distribution records, and other means of verification required for reporting and audit purposes.

Financial and Resource Management Support

•     Assist in monitoring the utilization of project funds, ensuring that planned activities and expenditures are aligned with approved budgets, workplans, timelines, and FAO procedures.
•     Support the preparation, consolidation, and tracking of budget-related information, financial updates, expenditure summaries, and resource requirements for project activities.

Support to Communication and Information Management

•     Assist in drafting and formatting official correspondence, briefing notes, meeting materials, activity updates, presentations, and other communication documents related to project coordination and implementation.
•     Perform other communication and information management tasks within his/her technical competence as may be required by FAO.

Carry out other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as requested by FAO.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING:

Minimum Requirements   

·    University degree in agriculture, climate change and development, environmental management, disaster risk reduction and management, agricultural development, rural development, community development and other sustainable development related studies.
·    At least 5 years of relevant experience in providing technical support in climate change, agriculture, humanitarian, preferably within development, and/or related UN projects.
·    Full proficiency / working knowledge (level C) of English 
·    National of the Philippines

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

·    Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
·    Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Filipino.
·    Excellent writing, and report writing skills in English and Filipino.
·    Willingness to travel to project sites as required.
·    Intermediate to advanced computer skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION