National Project Coordinator - Emergency Flood Response

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• 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 FAO country office is headed by an FAO Representative, and its main aim is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition. In Guyana, the office plays a major role in providing technical and other assistance towards the development of the agricultural sector. In mid-May 2021, Guyana began experiencing intense rainfall that led to extensive flooding in several regions within the country including the major agriculture production regions. Heavy rains intensified by a Tropical Wave embedded within the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continued across Guyana in June. The current weather systems affecting the country indicate that heavy rainfall events can continue over the coming months.

To support livelihoods recovery of the most affected and vulnerable farmers, FAO is mobilizing a Sub-Regional Emergency Technical Cooperation Project (TCP-E) that will provide emergency response and early recovery support to smallholder farmers most affected by the 2021 Floods in Guyana and Suriname (TCP/SLC/3807 (E)). It has the following objectives: 1. Provide the most vulnerable households in Guyana and Suriname with the agriculture inputs, skills and capacities to reactivate their productive activities and increase their resilience to future flood events and shocks; and 2. Enhance the technical and institutional capacities of the Guyana and Suriname Ministries of Agriculture, local governments and NGOs, and local implementing partners to provide emergency and recovery assistance, and prepare for future emergencies.

Reporting Lines

The TCP/SLC/3807 (E) project will require the engagement of a National Project Coordinator - Emergency Flood Response who will be based in Guyana and will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative. The incumbent will receive technical guidance from the FAO Guyana team and the Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Emergency Focal Point/Lead Technical Officer/Consultant (LTO/C) in the Barbados Sub-regional Office.

Technical Focus

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the technical implementation of the project and undertake the general administrative requirements, including project management and budget execution for efficiency and timely execution of project activities for achievement of quality outputs.

Tasks and responsibilities

• In consultation with the project management team and the lead technical unit, prepare a detailed work plan and arrange for its technical implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
• Coordinate timely and quality implementation of all project components, provide technical support and ensure appropriate linkages are established across the components and among consultants and concerned actors;
• Facilitate and provide support where necessary for the successful execution of training activities, awareness sessions and procurement/distribution of agriculture inputs.
• Coordinate logistical arrangements with national stakeholders for the various activities under the project;
• Convene, organize, mobilize and provide required administrative services of all project meetings, including following up with agreed action points of meetings;
• Make all necessary local arrangements and provide logistic support for the various project activities according to the agreed upon work plan and time schedule, including distribution of agriculture inputs and national travel for project staff;
• Hold meetings as often as agreed with the Lead Technical Officer, among stakeholders, to provide updates on progress and address potential difficulties for the effective implementation of the project;
• Coordinate the project operational arrangements through contractual agreements with consultants;
• Liaise with the LTO and Sub-Regional Office to maintain the FPMIS systems up-to-date;
• Any other related duties assigned to support the implementation of the project;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree agriculture/livestock/fisheries and/or related subjects
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in climate change capacity development, mainstreaming and programming
• Knowledge of the Agriculture sector and use of natural resources in Guyana as it relates to the effects of climate change about adaptation /resilience and mitigation.
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of one of the following French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian.
• National of Guyana or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations with various target audiences.
• The selected candidate would be expected to have a creative, energetic but pragmatic approach to problem-solving and an appreciation of the respective roles of the public and private sectors and civil society in climate change adaptation/ resilience and mitigation planning.
• Experience in facilitating participatory consultation processes with a wide range of stakeholders and target audience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

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