Project Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The organization also focuses on ensuring that the agricultural sector is resilient to climate change and other environmental challenges.

Job Overview:
The Project Assistant (PA) will play a crucial role in supporting the National Project Manager (NPM) and the Project Management Unit (PMU) in the implementation of the project aimed at strengthening sustainability in commodity and food systems in Indonesia. This position involves a variety of tasks that include planning, reporting, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge management. The PA will be responsible for compiling and summarizing project-related data, assisting in the formulation of work plans, coordinating with service providers, and ensuring compliance with relevant rules and procedures. The role requires a proactive approach to support the project’s objectives and to facilitate communication among various stakeholders, including government ministries and strategic partners. The PA will also assist in documenting project progress and outcomes, ensuring that all activities align with the project’s goals and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Assistant will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities that include:

• Planning Aspects: Compiling and summarizing project data, supporting the formulation of annual and quarterly work plans, building communication with service providers, reviewing project documents for compliance, and coordinating with relevant ministries.
• Reporting Aspects: Collecting and analyzing data related to project implementation, assisting in the production of project reports, maintaining filing systems, and ensuring the quality of project documentation.
• Project Implementation Aspects: Supporting the preparation and implementation of project activities, analyzing project expenditures, and ensuring adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Aspects: Developing tools for project monitoring, tracking project activities and expenditures, providing inputs for progress reports, and advising on project management.
• Knowledge Management Aspects: Identifying opportunities for knowledge sharing, supporting the organization of workshops and training, documenting project experiences, and contributing to knowledge networks.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Livelihoods, Development Management, Integrated Landscape Management, or other relevant fields. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project management, particularly in agriculture or rural development, is required. Candidates should have a working knowledge of English and Bahasa Indonesia, and must be nationals of Indonesia. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate competencies in results focus, teamwork, communication, and building effective relationships. Technical skills in organizing meetings, project planning, monitoring, and reporting are essential, along with a commitment to ethics and integrity.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Livelihoods, Development Management, or Integrated Landscape Management. Candidates with advanced degrees or additional certifications in related areas may be preferred, as they can bring additional expertise to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project management, with a preference for candidates who have experience in agriculture or rural development projects. Familiarity with government and UN/FAO/UNDP procedures is desirable, as is experience working on GEF-funded projects. Candidates should demonstrate strong project management support skills and the ability to draft correspondence and reports related to budget and project activities.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge of written and spoken English and Bahasa Indonesia. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but is not mandatory for this position.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and involves project management support duties. FAO does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must have their educational qualifications recognized by the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to medical fitness certification, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.