GEF Project Coordinator

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of the Regional Initiatives based on the priorities as identified by the European Regional Conference (ERC). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities through the Regional Initiatives. REU also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. REU develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs) as well as Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector.

FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) works with Member Governments and other partners for the eradication of food insecurity, malnutrition and rural poverty, and to ensure that agriculture contributes its full potential to each country’s national economy and well-being under 3 Regional Initiatives: Empowering Smallholders and Family Farms in Europe and Central Asia, Improving Agri-food Trade and Market Integration and Sustainable Natural Resource Management under a changing climate.

Since 2017, FAO is implementing in Ukraine a project funded by the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) entitled “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Degraded Landscapes in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones of Ukraine”. The objective of the project is to promote restoration of degraded landscapes in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of Ukraine through upscaling of integrated natural resources management (INRM) practices. To remove barriers to scaling up, the project has been designed around three components that will: (i) create an enabling environment for INRM in Ukraine at national and sub-national level; (ii) restore the productivity and resilience of production landscapes through INRM; and (iii) ensure learning and sharing of lessons learned through effective project monitoring and evaluation and adaptive management.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Representative and of the de-facto Head of the Office/Budget Holder, the direct supervision of the Head of Office/Programme Officer in Ukraine, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer and in close collaboration with other staff and other projects.

Technical Focus

The International Consultant (GEF Project Coordinator) will be responsible to ensure the technical quality of activities implemented under the project funded by the GEF as well as coordinating daily implementation of the project.

Key Results

Provision of technical expertise to ensure quality of project activities and outputs implemented under the FAO GEF-funded project in accordance with project outcomes and its results framework.

Tasks and responsibilities

1. Research and analyze technical-related issues on the development, the implementation and evaluation of project GCP/UKR/004/GFF;
2. Ensure the review of relevant documents and reports for LTO clearance and produce a variety of technical information, data, statistics and documents as well as technical inputs for reports and web pages;
3. Provide technical support/analysis to assessments, studies conducted in the framework of the project and conduct technical support missions to field activities;
4. Prepare Terms of References for the technical service providers (TSPs), prepare Letter of Agreement (LOA) for Service Providers and monitor the LOA implementation, reporting and payments.
5. Oversee and facilitate the preparation of annual work plans and budgets and verify the content of standard project reporting documents prior to internal clearance; ensures the standard quality of FAO-GEF reporting documents and submission deadlines.
6. Write Project Terminal Report and ensure the quality and deadlines of report writing and submission including 6-month Project Progress Reports.
7. Act as Secretary to the Project Steering Committee (PSC), facilitate and strengthen the collaboration between national project’s stakeholders and regional/international partners to ensure smooth implementation and delivery of project’s activities; coordinate project interventions with other ongoing activities, especially those of co-financers;
8. Ensure knowledge management to build the capacity and knowledge of national counterparts; promote the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the project for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information
9. Update work plan of the project and reports, monitor progress and, where necessary, identify corrective measures to overcome operational constraints in coordination with LTO and with the BH to ensure that the budget is properly monitored;
10. Supervise national project consultants, ensure that they fully understand their roles and tasks and supports them in their work;
11. Support the establishment of the project as an umbrella for SLM/INRM in Ukraine and encourage regional/international partners to support this initiative;
12. Regularly promote the project and its outputs and findings on a national, and where appropriate, regional stage; coordinate and participate in technical and international meetings;
13. Facilitate and support/participate in the regular FAO’s project supervision/oversight mission and Mid-Term Review and Terminal Evaluation of the project in close cooperation with Monitoring and Evaluation expert.
14. Support the Program Coordinator in strengthening effective working relationships with national, regional and international partners, including appropriate liaison and synergies with GEF Operational Focal Point, Ministries, UN agencies, International Financial Institutions in the country, and other local institutions.
15. Support FAO Ukraine in strategic approach for resource mobilization and development of Project Identification Form (PIF) for GEF-8 and Concept Notes.
16. Promote strategic partnerships with relevant UN partners and potential resource partners for FAO Ukraine
17. Work with FAO Ukraine to organize the consultation workshop/meetings where information can be presented by relevant ministries and other key potential partners regarding their main baseline programs as related to the key elements of GEF-8. Provide guidance as to what kinds of information should be presented to facilitate the most productive discussions possible that will lead to GEF-8 and PIFs.
18. Support program development and resource mobilization in Ukraine as required
19. Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in natural resources management, climate change, agriculture or related fields
• Minimum three years of relevant experience in the sustainable natural resources management under a changing climate in Ukraine.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) for Consultants. Working knowledge of English for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in project management and in running large-scale projects, preferably on sustainable natural resources management, climate change, and sustainable and resilient agriculture;
• Knowledge of international conventions, internationally accepted best practice and relevant agreements on natural resources management, climate change and sustainable agriculture;
• Ability to develop and implement capacity development programs and activities, including training events at national and regional level;
• Capacity to adopt new approaches and practices as well as demonstrated commitment in promoting participatory and bottom-up approaches;
• Familiarity with the environmental and social safeguard requirements of the GEF

Additional Selection Criteria

• Knowledge of the national context in Ukraine is considered a strong asset
• Experience in the region of Europe and Central Asia is considered as an advantage

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency