National Operations Specialist

FAO Bangladesh assists the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (GoB) to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) and the FAO Bangladesh is going to implement a Global Environmental Facility’s (GEFs) least developed countries fund (LDCF) project entitled, Community-based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh (GCP/BGD/055/LDF). The Project will attempt to remove key barriers to effective adaptation to climate change in the fishery and aquaculture sector by integrating climate resilience in its policy reform and enhance resiliency of the fishery sector through capacity development of the fishery officials and the communities depending on fisheries.

The poor and smallholders in the project areas will benefit from project interventions both socially and financially, including capacity development to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. The coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems of this project (covering an area of about 4,790 km2) will be under climate resilient plans and management practices. The long-term sustainability of the project will be promoted by adoption of strategy that promotes up scaling and replication of climate resilient adaptations across Bangladesh, and capacity strengthening of DoFs, partner organizations and local communities on climate change implications and resilient adaptation options.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial, administrative leadership of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and Budget Holder of the project, technical supervision of LTO and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), National Operations Specialist, coordination of the PMU and project personnel the incumbent will be responsible for general technical and operational oversight and management of the Project. His/her main tasks will be, but not limited to the following.

The Project will address contradictions and gaps in the policy framework with the view to harmonize aquaculture and fisheries related issues, and enhance resilience of the sub-sector through national capacity development and incorporation of adaptation priorities to cope with climate change. It will strengthen awareness and knowledge of local fishers and fish farmer’s communities, and enhance local adaptive capacity through transfer and adoption of appropriate site-specific climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture intervention technologies and approaches, which will be underpinned by effective knowledge management (e.g. use of ICT-based climate and disaster information services) ensuring wider dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.

• Support PMTSU, supervise and coordinate project activities to ensure its results are in accordance with the Project Document (ProDoc) and the rules and procedures are established;
• Coordinate day-to-day project administrative management, assume budget holder’s responsibilities, budgeting, planning, general monitoring and ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders;
• Support PMTSU in ensuring adherence to the project’s work plan, prepare revisions of the work plan, if required;
• Support and assist in inception/ stakeholders’ workshops and contribute to the preparation of IW report and project implementation plan; support and ensure effective and timely allocation of funds and resources as per the ProDoc;
• Provide overall technical and management supervision of the PMTSU in close consultation with the NOO and the NPC;
• Ensure proper handling of logistics related to workshops and events; prepare GEF quarterly progress reports, ToR for national and international consultants and sub-contractors;
• Ensure timely submission of regular project progress and implementation reports (technical, financial and administrative) required by FAO, GEF and GoB and prepare Final Report according to FAO standards and procedures, including project follow-up reports;
• Ensure smooth communications, information sharing and networking with the PMTSU (FAO), PIU (DoF), field offices, GEF, and resource persons involved in the project implementation;
• Develop and ensure timely implementation of the detailed work plan and budget using a log frame analysis, including targets to be met, resources to be allocated based on objectives, results and activities as per the ProDoc, and ensure effective technical and financial delivery;
• Along with the Finance and Accounts Support Officer monitor the expenditure, commitments and balance of funds under the project budget lines, and draft project budget revisions; assume overall responsibility for meeting financial delivery targets set out in the agreed AWP, reporting on project funds and related record keeping;
• Assume overall responsibility for reporting on project progress vis-à-vis indicators in the log frame;
• Perform a secretarial role for PSC/ PIC meetings, PMTSU meetings, PIU meetings, support national steering committee meetings as required and organize technical workshops/ consultation meetings/ conferences, local and overseas training programmes, etc. including identification/ mobilization of resource persons;
• Provide technical support to project Consultants in coordinating and conducting different project activities (trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, arrangements of study tour, etc.);
• Keep regular contact with project experts/ Consultants to inform them about the project technical details and changes and also review the reports and other documents for technical content;
• Carry out other activities as instructed by the PMU/ or the FAOR.

• Masters/Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/ Accounting/ Commerce or Fisheries/ natural resources management/ Environmental Science from a recognized university.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bangla, and well computer literate in both languages.
• Minimum 3 years of experience
• National of Bangladesh

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proven experience with development partner funded integrated and multi-subject project/ programme implementation and management is essential; must be able to fluidly handle on a daily basis the political, technical and HRD and management challenges that may arise during project implementation;
• Strong interpersonal, communication, reporting and presentation skills is essential;
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines; coordinate and monitor effectively while organizing occasional project events.
• Must have experience of organizing, facilitating and management of workshops/ conferences/ consultation meetings/ training programmes;
• Adaptable to multicultural and multidisciplinary team of experts and willing to undertake intensive field works in the coastal/ wetland areas of Bangladesh as when needed.