Project Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (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 plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable management of natural resources and addressing climate change issues.

Job Overview:
The Project Assistant position is integral to the implementation of the UNCCD national reporting process, which is vital for effective planning and implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification. The role involves providing operational and administrative support to ensure smooth coordination between technical, logistical, and financial activities. The Project Assistant will work closely with the Assistant Representative of FAO Brazil and the global expert team of the project, contributing to the overall efficiency and institutional delivery of the Better Environment portfolio. The position requires a proactive approach to support the organization of meetings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations, as well as assisting in compiling and organizing national data related to strategic objectives. The Project Assistant will also play a key role in monitoring deadlines and tracking deliverables from technical experts, ensuring that the reporting process is comprehensive and accurate.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Supporting the implementation of the approved Work Plan and reporting schedule.
• Assisting in organizing meetings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, and technical briefings.
• Preparing meeting minutes, summaries, and follow-up matrices.
• Monitoring deadlines and supporting the tracking of deliverables from technical experts.
• Compiling and organizing national data related to strategic objectives.
• Liaising with the global technical team through regular meetings.
• Supporting the organization and basic processing of spatial datasets and related documentation.
• Assisting in consolidating draft sections, indicator tables, and annexes.
• Formatting reports in accordance with FAO and UNCCD templates. 1
• Supporting quality control by checking consistency between narrative sections and indicator tables. 1
• Supporting logistical arrangements and documentation for project activities. 1
• Assisting in monitoring budget execution and financial documentation. 1
• Maintaining organized project records and correspondence. 1
• Providing administrative support for procurement and contracting processes when required. 1
• Providing operational and technical assistance to other initiatives under the Better Environment Technical Area as needed. 1
• Contributing to knowledge management, documentation, and reporting across projects within the portfolio. 1
• Undertaking any other related tasks as agreed with FAO supervisors.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in environmental sciences, geography, natural resources management, environmental engineering, public administration, or related fields. Additionally, candidates should have at least three years of professional experience in project support, environmental initiatives, reporting processes, or development cooperation. A working knowledge (level C) of English and Portuguese is also required, along with Brazilian nationality. Candidates should demonstrate core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in fields related to environmental sciences, geography, natural resources management, environmental engineering, or public administration. The degree must be obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires at least three years of professional experience in relevant areas such as project support, environmental initiatives, reporting processes, or development cooperation. Candidates should have practical experience supporting spatial data organization, monitoring systems, or environmental reporting processes, which is highly desirable.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Portuguese, with a working knowledge (level C) required in both. Additionally, knowledge of Spanish will be considered an important asset, enhancing the candidate's profile for this role.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates should note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from accredited institutions recognized in the WHED. The appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. This position may involve full-time engagement, and candidates are encouraged to visit the FAO employment website for additional opportunities.