Programme Coordination Assistant

Organizational Setting

FAO opened the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response Program in early October 2017 with funding from SFERA under Government Bangladesh official authorization and no objection. Since this time the program has grown in scope, supporting both Rohingya refugees in the camps and host communities. FAO has taken on a significant role in the Inter Sectoral Coordination Group (ISCG) structure. Since this time, FAO continues to support both Refugees and host communities adapt to the new context of an extended Refugee Response in Cox’s Bazar district and is in addition providing emergency assistance following natural disasters, following especially Cyclones and Floods and addressing emergency agricultural and livelihoods needs. FAO is leading in several multi-sectoral projects and co-chairs the Food Security Sector the Energy and Environment Network. FAO is also an active member of the Head of Sub-Office level decision making group. 

FAO Cox’s Bazar maintains two primary programme units, the Agricultural Livelihoods Unit and the Natural Resource Management/Disaster Risk Management Unit. Both units are staffed with technical specialist implementing multi-year programming in coordination with government partners, UN agencies, civil society and private sector partners.   While part of the overall emergency response, the FAO Cox’s Bazar programme works across the Humanitarian -Development-Peace Nexus, bridging emergency programmes with development objectives, ensuring all programming contributes to the Government of Bangladesh development priorities and protecting development strategy gains. 

The Programme Coordination Assistant position will be responsible for ensuring synergies and complementarities between the programme units and supporting harmonized strategic field activities across the Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management actions. This will also include the corporation of DRM principles and actions across the programme unit and ensuring FAO representation and leadership in DRM primarily at the district level, however also at national events as required. The Specialist will also work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) unit which closely monitors all areas of programme performance and regularly provides evidence to inform programme direction and adjustment.

Reporting Lines

This is a SC-6 level position. The Programme Coordination Assistant will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh with direct supervision of the Emergency and Resilience Programme Coordinator in Cox’s Bazar and in close collaboration with the National Programme Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The Programme Coordination Assistant will focus on building FAO Emergency Preparedness and Response across programmes, including the implementation and further development of Anticipatory Action (AA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Initiatives, as well as support linking Anticipatory Action and Shock-Responsive Social Protection including cash preparedness and AA capacity building. The position will also assist with collaboration efforts both with key partners and potential donors and support project documentation, communication efforts and evidence-based advocacy efforts. The position will support FAO staff currently seconded within the Inter-Sector Coordination Group of the Humanitarian Response. 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Assist the management of projects and staff working at the field level to coordinate and maintain liaison among FAO, DAE, DLS, DoF, BMD etc as and when required for smooth implementation.
•    Coordinate with Food Security Sector (FSS) and Emergency Preparedness and Response and Disaster Risk Management unit (EPR/DRM) of the Intersectoral Coordination Group (ISCG).
•    Conduct community risk assessment to identify risks to agriculture and food security, priority areas and livelihoods – this includes conducting the annual Landslide Inventory and the preparation of Susceptibility Mapping for use with partners in risks and hotspot identification.
•    Ensure synergies between Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management actions, identifying efficiencies and opportunities for innovation. 
•    Undertake Agricultural Hazard and Vulnerability Mapping, incorporating elements of livelihoods and DRM. 
•    Support hazard monitoring and risk profile analysis for anticipatory action, emergency response and recovery aim to enable impact-based forecasting, humanitarian decision making and improved delivery of resources.
•    Consolidate early warning information on the priority risks and support the selection of key indicators for primary climate risks.
•    Assist operational and timely implementation of actions at country level by conducting field missions, advising on appropriate actions and operational arrangements as well as supporting resource mobilization initiatives.
•    Liaise with social protection and cash preparedness expert to design humanitarian assistance and beneficiary targeting following Sphere Standard.
•    Working with sectoral partners, identify and establish early warning triggers, i.e. the risk level thresholds beyond which financial resources should be rapidly allocated to prevent and mitigate the impact of a forecast hazard on agriculture and food security – strong emphasis on furthering the existing Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
•    Represent the Organization at inter-agency coordination meetings, task forces and working groups as required.
•    Support various pilots to test, evidence generation, capacity building, and advocacy to improve the effectiveness of emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts to retain development gains.
•    Represent FAO in the local forum(s) related to the project activities and report back to FAO Country Office, MoDMR Anticipatory Actions Task Force, Food Security Cluster, Needs Analysis Working Group, amongst others.
•    Contribute timely with well-written reports for project - monthly, half yearly, annual and terminal as and when required internally or by donors and stakeholders.
•    Undertake community level training and conduct Emergency Response Simulation Exercises to contribute to preparedness agenda.
•    Support coordinated anticipatory action implementation in ground by strengthening collaboration for joint initiatives of actors, partnerships and inter-agency efforts.
•    Support FAO CXB in the preparation and organization of meetings, seminars and workshops, attend coordination meetings and represents FAO in knowledge and information management platforms.
•    Any other task assigned by the FAO Representative & Supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Management or Natural Sciences, Agro-Forestry or related field. 
•    Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience in programme and/or project planning, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
•    Working knowledge of English.
•    A Bangladesh national. 

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong analytical and reporting skills.
•    Previous experience working with UN agency/International Organization is an asset.
•    Deep understanding of the ongoing emergency response and relevant stakeholders, including UN agencies, government, civil society and donors.
•    Knowledge of FAO agricultural programme implementation from relevant sectors.
•    Demonstrated understanding of global best practices, stakeholders and innovations in ERP/DRM. 
•    Adept in networking, negotiation, persuasion and advocacy for mainstreaming new concepts and approaches. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION