Project Support Specialist

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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 Members 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 FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

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

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on 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 actively engaging in UN country level repositioning for SDG achievement, participating in the negotiation and formulation, as well as in the annual updates, of Common Country Assessments (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF). In this context, the Organization, under the technical leadership of the Economic and Social Development stream and in close coordination with other headquarters technical units and regional offices, is implementing a mechanism for scaling up the needed human resource analytical and technical expertise in support of the CCA/UNSDCF process at country level. The mechanism will leverage ongoing processes and initiatives already identified within the Organization and draw upon the most sophisticated tools available, including advanced geo-spatial modeling and analytics. The effort will draw upon FAO’s specialized tools and analytical methodologies, including sectoral, to propose specific solutions tailored to the country needs and potentials, to ensure a robust UNSDCF Theory of Change.

As part of FAO's Analytical Support Mechanism for Agrifood System Country Programming and Evidence (SCOPE) it is identified that support is needed to streamline processes, ensure consistency and quality of reporting and communication, contribute to data management and analysis, and provide operational assistance for the effective delivery of the mechanism.

Reporting Lines

The Project Support Specialist reports to the Programme Support Officer.

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Support Officer and in close cooperation with the Senior Global Coordinator- SCOPE, the specialist will support the global coordination and management of SCOPE project. The incumbent will support strategic planning, facilitate operational execution and process streamlining, ensure the quality and consistency of technical outputs through editing, and contribute to economic research and policy analysis in collaboration with selected regional and country teams. The Project Support Specialist will be based in the Chief Economist's Office. The specialist’s duties will include the following tasks:  

Tasks And Responsibilities

•    Support coordination and management of internal reporting frameworks and workflows to enhance operational efficiency, including the consolidation and maintenance of information management systems for knowledge sharing and coordination across workstreams. 
•    Edit, proofread, and format technical reports, briefs, and related documentation to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with FAO editorial and branding guidelines.
•    Provide advice on the use of tools and methodologies to enhance collaboration among technical specialists, including systems mapping, joint timelines, and participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning, and facilitate their use..
•    Liaise with stakeholders and assist in the preparation and dissemination of progress updates, technical study results, and other communication materials for internal and external audiences; support the management of information-sharing platforms to ensure coherent and targeted messaging.
•    Provide support to economic and policy analysis, including data compilation, modelling, and country-level analytical work, in coordination with the SCOPE regional team.
•    Assist with the organization of missions, workshops, and capacity-building events, including logistical and administrative support.
•    Carry out other tasks as assigned by the supervisor in line with contractual objectives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in in economics, agricultural economics, management, statistics, or a related field. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience
•    At least one year of relevant experience in project management, communication, reporting, or analysis.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English

Fao Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Ability to manage internal reporting frameworks and information management systems to support process streamlining and coordination
•    Good analytical skills with ability to organize, compile and present data clearly.
•    Good drafting and communication skills (written and oral).
•    Strong proficiency in the use of standard office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for data management, reporting, and presentation. 
•    Demonstrated ability to organize, analyze and visualize data using Excel functions, pivot tables, and charts; familiarity with additional visualization or analytical tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, Stata, R) is considered an asset.
•    Strong drafting, editing and proofreading skills to ensure clarity, accuracy and alignment of reports, briefs and communication materials with FAO guidelines. 
•    Capacity to compile, validate, and analyze data, and to present findings through tables, charts and concise written analysis.
•    Working knowledge of descriptive statistics and basic econometric methods, with proficiency in Excel for data management and visualization; familiarity with statistical software such as R, Stata or SPSS is desirable.
•    Knowledge of major data sources relevant to agriculture, food systems and socioeconomic indicators, and ability to use them for analytical and reporting purposes.
•    Experience supporting the organization of workshops, missions and events, including preparation of materials and logistical arrangements.
•    Ability to prepare and disseminate communication products for diverse audiences, ensuring targeted and consistent messaging.
•    Familiarity with agrifood systems and their role in national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda.
•    Demonstrated teamwork, adaptability and organizational skills to work across units, coordinate multiple workstreams, and ensure timely delivery of outputs.
•    Excellent command of English, both oral and written; knowledge of another FAO official language is an asset.
 

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

Additional Information

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ 
• For more information, visit the FAO employment website
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

How To Apply

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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