FAO Provincial Coordinator - Sudurpashchim Province

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established to lead international efforts to defeat hunger. Founded in 1945, FAO has grown to include 195 members, comprising 194 countries and the European Union. The organization operates in over 130 countries worldwide, focusing on achieving security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensuring that people have regular access to sufficient high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to eradicate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, promote sustainable agriculture, and enhance the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises. The organization provides policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity development to countries, facilitating partnerships and resource mobilization to support agrifood systems transformation. FAO Country Offices work under corporate guidance and align their operations with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), ensuring effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Job Overview:
The FAO Provincial Coordinator for Sudurpashchim Province will be based in the Provincial office of the FAO Nepal Country Office and will play a crucial role in supporting the field implementation of various projects in the region. This position serves as the primary focal point for project activities at the provincial level, ensuring effective planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The Provincial Coordinator will work closely with provincial and local government authorities, implementing partners, community stakeholders, and FAO Nepal to facilitate stakeholder engagement, strengthen partnerships, and support the development and execution of work plans. The role requires monitoring progress against agreed targets, identifying and addressing implementation bottlenecks, ensuring compliance with project requirements and donor obligations, and organizing meetings and capacity development activities. Additionally, the Provincial Coordinator will contribute to knowledge management, documentation, and reporting, while providing strategic and technical support to align project interventions with provincial priorities and enhance local ownership. The ultimate goal is to ensure the timely achievement of project outcomes and sustainable impact across Sudurpashchim Province.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Provincial Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating provincial-level planning and implementation of ReFAME activities in accordance with the project document and approved annual work plans. This includes ensuring disaggregated planning by year, district, and budget headings. The Coordinator will support the Project Management Unit (PMU) in executing project activities effectively, including the finalization of Letters of Agreement (LOA) and contracts in consultation with the PMU, while maintaining close coordination with the FAO Nepal Country Office. Regular field monitoring visits will be conducted to track progress, address implementation bottlenecks, and ensure quality and timely delivery of project outputs. The Coordinator will also maintain strong working relationships with various stakeholders, including the PMU, Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Division Forest Offices, Provincial Ministries, Local Governments, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure harmonized and sustainable interventions. Leading and supporting capacity-building initiatives will be a key responsibility, which includes training human resources hired by the Operational Partner, government counterparts, community institutions, and project beneficiaries. The Coordinator will develop concept notes and detailed budget estimates for project activities, integrating considerations of gender equality, social inclusion, and climate resilience. Furthermore, the Coordinator will support and monitor the implementation of related FAO projects in Sudurpashchim and the western region of Lumbini Province, ensuring quality of implementation and synergy among projects. The role also involves facilitating visits from FAO CO, RAP, HQ, government counterparts, and other stakeholders, representing FAO Nepal at provincial and local coordination meetings, workshops, and technical forums, and applying accountability and quality assurance mechanisms. Periodic review and reflection meetings will be organized, and progress reports will be prepared in line with project, OPA, and donor requirements, documenting lessons learned and good practices. The Coordinator will provide coordination support to short-term consultants and undertake additional technical, coordination, or operational assignments as requested by the FAO Country Office to ensure effective achievement of project results.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in agricultural science, international development, natural resource management, climate change, or any other related field. Additionally, a minimum of five years of progressive professional experience in the implementation, coordination, and management of agriculture, agrifood systems, rural development, climate resilience, natural resource management, or development programmes is required. Candidates should have a working knowledge of English at level C and must be nationals of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal or residents of the country with a valid work permit. FAO Core Competencies include a focus on results, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement, as well as technical and functional skills relevant to the position.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as agricultural science, international development, natural resource management, climate change, or any other related discipline. It is essential that candidates have obtained their higher educational qualifications from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), which is updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of progressive professional experience in areas related to agriculture, agrifood systems, rural development, climate resilience, and natural resource management. Experience in coordinating projects at the provincial level, field implementation, and stakeholder engagement is crucial. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a strong background in project planning, monitoring, reporting, budgeting, capacity development, and coordination of service providers or operational partners.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at level C is mandatory for this position. While English proficiency is essential, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the local context and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview meetings, and processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates should be aware that appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. The position may involve full-time engagement, and candidates should be prepared for potential international travel as part of their responsibilities.