National Project Coordinator - Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities Project

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advances the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. This effort promotes better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and enhanced livelihoods, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies and projects that drive the transformation of food, agriculture, and rural development. It also fosters and maintains relationships with subregional institutions.

The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

The Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities project (GCP/KIR/009/GFF) is a five-year initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in partnership with FAO and the Government of Kiribati. FAO serves as the Implementing Agency (IA), providing technical support to the Kiribati Government. Key executing partners include the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agriculture Development (MELAD), the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFMRD), and Island Councils. The project collaborates with public and private sector stakeholders, as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), to enhance biodiversity conservation and landscape-level management. Ultimately, it aims to strengthen socio-ecological resilience against climate variability and change.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands (SRC) and the direct supervision of the Technical Adviser, in close collaboration and consultation with the Kiribati GEF Operational Focal Point (OFP) and relevant government ministries, the Project Coordinator will perform the following tasks.

Technical Focus

The main technical focus of the Project Coordinator position is to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the project in Kiribati. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination, monitoring, and reporting of project activities, ensuring compliance with GEF guidelines and the achievement of project objectives.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support the implementation of the project and in organizing the project steering committee (PSC), project management committee (PMC) and other site-specific and project-related meetings;
•    Provide assistance and technical support on procurement related matters for the project;
•    Support Chief Technical Advisor to ensure the implementation progress of the programme.
•    Liaison with the MELAD, MCIA, MFMRD and other stakes at different levels with the aim to maximize Government engagement and ownership in all programme related issues and activities to ensure fast programme delivery, and sustainability of programme outputs;
•    Coordinate the overall hiring plan for hiring of national and international affiliate workforce. 
•    Develop and/or review Terms of Reference of affiliate workforce and ensure compliance with current standards and regulations. 
•    Coordinate and manage the publication of calls to attract candidates for vacancies related to national and international affiliate workforce, ensuring proper dissemination to attract qualified talent. 
•    Oversee day-to-day implementation of the project in line with the work plans; assure quality of project activities and project outputs; monitor and supervise the work of the consultants as far as possible, ensure timely and responsive delivery of contracted outputs;
•    Provide assistance and support, to international staffs/ consultants/ missions visiting or engaged in assignments of the project, including preparing itineraries, appointments and assisting with travel and other logistical arrangements;
•    Prepare brief monthly updates on the project progress and draft project interim and final reports as required;
•    Prepare/update annual work plans and budgets and periodical quarterly, six monthly and annual reports and other reports as per the project mandate;
•    In consultation with the FAO management, government implementing partners and other stakes determine dates, agendas, budgets and participation of Monthly meetings, workshops/ Seminars/ Consultation Meetings, etc., and upon approval organize and facilitate those;
•    Responsible for convening meetings, drafting agendas, compiling minutes and assembling and preparing materials for consideration by the PMU;
•    Assist in developing overall plans for training/ capacity building to be performed under each component of the programme and reviewing and finalization of project’s total Results-based Work plan;
•    Ensure adequate communication of national activities to all stakeholders, including government, private sector and NGOs; invite and encourage the participation of non-co-financing stakeholders, particularly local groups, in national activities and consultations when appropriate.
•    Represent the project in relevant meetings and conferences seeking to facilitate coordination and integration where appropriate beneficial to the achievement of the Project’s objectives;
•    Establish working relations with appropriate national and regional agencies and groups to ensure effective implementation of project supported activities under his/her responsibility at the national and regional level;
•    Oversee preparation and implementation of M&E framework; oversee preparation and implementation of Project communication and knowledge management frameworks;
•    Liaise with government agencies and regularly advocate on behalf of the Project; Coordinate project interventions with other ongoing activities, especially those of co-financers and other GEF projects; Regularly promote the project and its outputs and findings on a national, and where appropriate, regional stage.
•    Other relevant tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

•    Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Fisheries, Agroforestry, Rural Development, Science, or a related field.
•    Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in environmental, fisheries, or agricultural fields, with a focus on project management and implementation, particularly in environmental management, fisheries, agroforestry, or integrated natural resource management.
•    Experience in managing or coordinating international, regional, or national projects related to agriculture and the environment.
•    Working knowledge of English and Kiribati.
•    Must be a national of Kiribati.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Efficiency, competence and integrity as well as negotiating skills, tact and diplomacy are essential.
•    Able to work with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural project partners at regional and international level;
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
•    Extent of knowledge of FAO standard operational rules and procedures and project/programme administrative management procedures
•    Extent of knowledge of FAO’s corporate systems and database, or knowledge of other accounting or financial modules or applications relevant to accounting procedures or project budget management would be considered an asset.
•    Demonstrated analytical and judgment skills and ability to apply rules and regulations in the subject field.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION