Project Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is a specialized agency 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. In Sierra Leone, FAO collaborates with various UN agencies, including UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, to implement the Joint United Nations Nutrition Programme, which focuses on improving climate resilience, food security, and nutrition.

Job Overview:
The Project Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting the effective implementation of FAO-led components of the Joint United Nations Nutrition Programme in Sierra Leone. This position requires close collaboration with government counterparts, UN partner agencies, implementing partners, and NGOs. The Project Assistant will provide integrated operational, administrative, and coordination support to ensure timely implementation of project activities, effective delivery of outputs across districts, compliance with FAO procedures and donor requirements, and strengthened coordination among stakeholders. The role is vital for tracking progress against project outputs, assisting in the preparation of work plans, and facilitating communication between field teams and central project management.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including supporting the implementation of project activities across targeted districts in line with approved work plans, tracking progress against project outputs, indicators, and timelines, and contributing to the preparation and monitoring of annual, quarterly, and monthly work plans. The incumbent will liaise with government institutions, implementing partners, NGOs, and UN agencies to facilitate coordinated implementation, support the organization of coordination meetings and technical workshops, and facilitate communication between field teams and central project management. Additionally, the Project Assistant will initiate and follow up on procurement and administrative actions, assist in the preparation and review of procurement documentation, track procurement processes, support budget monitoring, collect and validate data on project activities, prepare high-quality reports, maintain project documentation, draft meeting minutes, and support planning and organization of trainings and workshops.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Project Management, Business Administration, Development Studies, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in project/programme support, preferably in agriculture, food security, or development projects, is required. Additionally, candidates must have a working knowledge (Level C) of English and must be nationals of Sierra Leone. FAO core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Agricultural Economics, Project Management, Business Administration, or Development Studies. It is important that the degree is obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in project or programme support, with a preference for candidates who have experience in agriculture, food security, or development projects. Experience in project implementation and coordination in multi-stakeholder environments is also essential, along with familiarity with nutrition-sensitive agriculture and climate resilience programmes.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English (Level C) is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

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 must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. The appointment is subject to security clearances. For additional employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website.