National Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established to lead international efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition. The organization is committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework, which aims to transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. FAO operates in numerous countries worldwide, assisting governments in developing policies, programs, and projects aimed at achieving security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and reducing hunger and malnutrition. The organization focuses on sustainable management of agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors, as well as environmental and natural resources. FAO's mission is to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against hunger, food insecurity, and rural poverty, particularly through initiatives like the United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection Phase III in Zambia.

Job Overview:
The National Coordinator will play a pivotal role in overseeing the implementation of the United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection Phase III in Zambia. This position involves strategic planning, technical and administrative oversight, and ensuring effective collaboration among various stakeholders, including government entities, technical institutions, and project beneficiaries. The National Coordinator will be responsible for aligning the program's activities with national priorities and the Country Programming Framework (CPF), fostering partnerships with national institutions, and ensuring that the objectives and outcomes of the program are achieved collaboratively. The role requires a strong focus on monitoring and evaluation, as well as effective communication of the program's progress and results.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Coordinator will undertake a comprehensive set of tasks, including: coordinating the Social Protection Joint Programme Phase III activities; ensuring alignment with the Country Programming Framework and national priorities; fostering partnerships with national institutions such as the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the Ministry of Agriculture; coordinating the implementation of social protection food security programs; establishing collaborations with other social protection partners; continuously monitoring the program's progress; overseeing administration and operations, including Letters of Agreement and procurements; ensuring timely planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting of activities; supporting monitoring and evaluation tasks; communicating program progress through FAO Zambia's communication office; producing internal reports; and performing any other assigned tasks.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in Development Studies, Project Management, Socio-Economic Development, Social Policy, Sociology, or closely related fields relevant to the FAO mandate. Additionally, candidates should have at least seven years of relevant experience in areas such as Social Protection, Management Information Systems, Social Policy, Project Management, and transformative livelihood programming. Experience working with government entities, UN agencies, and agrifood-system development policies is essential. Candidates must also have a working knowledge of English and be nationals of Zambia.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced degree in fields such as Development Studies, Project Management, Socio-Economic Development, Social Policy, Sociology, or other closely related disciplines that align with the FAO's mission and objectives. It is important that candidates have obtained their higher educational qualifications from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in the fields of Social Protection, Management Information Systems, Social Policy, Project Management, and transformative livelihood programming. This experience should include working with government agencies, UN organizations, and in the development of agrifood-system policies and programs.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, although it is not explicitly stated as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates should be aware that appointment is subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. For further employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website. It is also important to note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications from institutions recognized in the WHED.