Project Support Specialist

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.