Programme Associate

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Position Title: Programme Associate
Location: Rome
Country: Italy
Deadline Date:

Job Details

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, and to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development. The Office of Innovation (OIN) within FAO plays a crucial role in driving and coordinating innovation across the organization, ensuring that FAO remains at the forefront of addressing global food and agriculture challenges.

Job Overview:
The Programme Associate is a pivotal role within the Office of Innovation (OIN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This position is responsible for coordinating various program and project support services, which includes a wide range of activities related to program planning and budgeting. The incumbent will engage in in-depth analysis and interpretation of relevant policies, procedures, and practices to ensure effective program delivery. The Programme Associate will provide procedural guidance to managers and staff, ensuring that all programmatic activities align with FAO's strategic objectives. The role requires a high degree of initiative and independent judgment, as the Programme Associate will work autonomously while also collaborating closely with the Programme Officer and other stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Programme Associate include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating the preparation, submission, revision, and follow-up of the Divisional/Office/Centre budget, ensuring accurate monitoring and reporting on its implementation.
• Reviewing and analyzing Periodic Budgetary Reports as necessary to provide insights into financial performance.
• Assembling and synthesizing data from corporate and office databases to facilitate comprehensive analysis of programs, projects, or activities, and drafting periodic or ad hoc management reports.
• Monitoring projects and maintaining a systematic approach to the retrieval of programming reference materials, documentation, data, and information.
• Consolidating and monitoring various reports related to human resources planning, expenditures, non-staff resources, communication and publishing plans, IT plans, and travel schedules.
• Screening incoming correspondence to identify critical issues requiring further attention and drafting appropriate responses.
• Supporting knowledge building and sharing across the Division/Office/Centre by training staff and briefing budget holders on administrative, budgetary, planning, programming, and financial procedures.
• Reviewing current processes and making recommendations for improvements in program/project administration procedures.
• Performing other functions as required to support the office's mandate and objectives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of secondary school education. Additionally, they should have at least five years of experience in administrative, financial, planning, programming, or budgeting activities. A strong understanding of corporate information systems, program and budget processes, and common administrative and financial rules and regulations is essential. Candidates should also demonstrate effective communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships within the organization and with external stakeholders.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is secondary school education. However, higher education qualifications in relevant fields such as business administration, finance, or public administration may be advantageous and could enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in administrative, financial, planning, programming, or budgeting activities. Candidates should have a proven track record of successfully managing program support services and demonstrating initiative in their previous roles. Experience in a UN or international organization is desirable but not mandatory.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of one of the other working languages of the Organization, which include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. Proficiency in additional languages, particularly those used within FAO, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's competitiveness for the position.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the General Service Staff category, and candidates must be nationals of Italy or possess an existing visa/work permit to be eligible for recruitment. The role is based in Rome, and candidates should reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of application. The position may involve full-time work commitments, and the successful candidate will be expected to engage actively in the office's programmatic activities and contribute to the overall mission of FAO.