Project Coordinator

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 a mission 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. The organization operates in over 130 countries and employs thousands of staff members worldwide, working collaboratively to improve agricultural productivity, enhance nutrition, and promote sustainable management of natural resources. The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) plays a crucial role in addressing regional priorities for food security, agriculture, and rural development, ensuring that FAO's strategic framework aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. RAF is responsible for the planning and implementation of priority activities in the region, fostering partnerships, and supporting capacity development initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Project Coordinator position is integral to the successful implementation of the SSTC Sahel Project, which aims to enhance irrigation, water management, and land restoration capacities across Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania. The role involves providing overall coordination and technical support to ensure that project activities are delivered coherently and effectively across the participating countries. The incumbent will work closely with various technical units, country offices, and regional coordination mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and alignment within the project governance structure. The position requires a strong focus on project oversight, quality assurance, and the harmonization of methodologies to ensure consistent reporting and effective communication among project teams. The Project Coordinator will also be responsible for consolidating regional technical inputs and drafting contributions for various reports, thereby playing a key role in the project's success and impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Project Coordinator include: coordinating and tracking the timely delivery of Sahel project activities across participating countries; harmonizing methodologies and standardizing reporting tools for consistent use across the project; providing technical backstopping and quality review to strengthen the accuracy of country-level outputs; consolidating regional technical inputs and drafting contributions for quarterly, annual, and donor reports; facilitating cross-country collaboration and alignment within the Sahel project governance and coordination architecture; supporting the coordination of all technical and operational aspects of the Sahel project; ensuring alignment of national implementation activities with regional project frameworks and FAO standards; serving as a technical coordination focal point between RAF, PSTD, UNOSSC, and FAO Country Offices; supporting quality assurance processes for methodologies, mission reports, and technical deliverables; facilitating structured communication flows and information exchange among project teams; coordinating project implementation across Sahel countries; providing technical backstopping to national consultants and FAO teams; leading quality assurance of methodologies, reports, and guidance materials; supporting the harmonization of tools and reporting frameworks regionally; reviewing and consolidating technical submissions for reporting; identifying operational challenges and proposing corrective actions; facilitating virtual technical exchanges and cross-country learning; and ensuring adherence to FAO visibility and quality standards.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, natural resource management, water management, irrigation and water management agriculture, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, development studies, or a related field. Those with a bachelor's degree are required to have two additional years of relevant professional experience. Additionally, candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in international development, water resources management, technical coordination, or backstopping roles. A working knowledge of English at level C is mandatory, while intermediate knowledge of French at level B is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in fields related to agriculture, natural resource management, water management, irrigation, environmental engineering, civil engineering, or development studies. Candidates with a bachelor's degree must have additional professional experience to qualify. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of the projects and the technical requirements involved in the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in international development, particularly in areas such as water resources management, technical coordination, or backstopping roles. Candidates should demonstrate strong experience in multi-country coordination and technical oversight, as well as familiarity with monitoring, reporting, and results-based management frameworks. Experience in irrigation, water management, or land restoration is advantageous, as is knowledge of FAO/UN project implementation procedures.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position, with a proficiency level of C. Additionally, intermediate knowledge of French at level B is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication and collaboration with stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Accra, Ghana, and involves full-time engagement with responsibilities that require a high level of coordination and collaboration across multiple countries. The role may involve tight deadlines and the need to deliver quality outputs consistently. Candidates should be prepared to work in a dynamic environment that requires adaptability and effective communication skills. The organization values diversity and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of their background.