National Assistant Project Manager

National Assistant Project Manager (Agronomist)

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, TCEO, the technical supervision of the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service (AGPS) as Lead Technical Service (LTU) and other concerned technical services at FAO Headquarters and the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok (RAP), the general supervision of the FAO Representative for Indonesia and the Rehabilitation Support Coordinator for Indonesia, the direct supervision of the International Project Manager, in close cooperation with the International Operations Officer for Indonesia (based in Banda Aceh) and other FAO international and national consultants in the country, the National Assistant Project Manager (Agronomist) will:

- Assist the International Project Manager in implementation of the project, including all aspects of the day-to-day running of the office, human resources, financial, administrative and operational management and ensure that activities are carried out in a timely manner as set out in the project agreement;

- Liaise with the district and provincial government authorities, NGOs, UN agencies and other bodies involved in relief and rehabilitation in the agricultural sector in the NTT province to avoid overlaps in programme implementation;

- In collaboration with the NGO Implementing Partners (IP) and local government authorities, verify and confirm project target areas and beneficiary groups;

- Obtain and collate crop calendar and agro ecological conditions of the project area and plan project activities accordingly;

- Under the guidance of the International Project Manager, draft and finalize technical specifications for the procurement of agricultural inputs including all administration support for the preparation of documentation strictly following FAO procedures and approval mechanisms, ensuring that technical specifications meet or exceed Quality Declared Seed (QDS) standards.

- Liaise with government officials to identify and have approval on the crop varieties to be distributed in the project area.

- Prepare a distribution plan for the inputs to be delivered under the project and ensure proper and timely procurement, transport, storage, distribution of project inputs to the IPs for eventual distribution to beneficiaries;

- Investigate the potential local sources of seed/planting materials, fertilizers and other equipment to be procured under the project;

- Closely monitor the distribution activities carried out by the IPs and provide technical support whenever needed to ensure that activities are performed by the IPs as set out in the Letter of Agreement.

- Monitor crop prospects and report on development in the cropping situation likely to influence production, yields and areas harvested;

- Provide support to visiting FAO technical experts deployed in response to the project through monitoring of activities, information sharing and review;

- Provide technical support to the NGO implementing partners and government authorities in conducting training and extension activities for beneficiary farmers;

- Provide necessary project activity information to the Reporting and Information Officer and assist in the preparation of project progress and final reports;

- Assist in the preparation of future concepts complete with budgeting, work plan, beneficiary numbers, location and number and type of agricultural inputs required to support continued FAO programming in the province of NTT;

- Perform any other duties as requested by the Rehabilitation Support Coordinator for Indonesia.

Duty Station:

Atambua, Belu District, West Timor, NTT, with travel to other project sub-districts and to other regions of NTT as deemed necessary by the RSCU Coordinator

Duration of assignment:

7 months (September 2006 – March 2007)

Reporting:

Assist the International Project Manager in the preparation of project monthly status reports, progress reports and final project report. The progress and final reports will be submitted to ECHO as per project agreement through Chief, TCEO. The consultant should also prepare an end-of-mission report articulating achievements, difficulties encountered and recommendations.

Qualifications:

advanced university degree in agriculture, fisheries or economic sciences or a field relevant to the work of the organization, a minimum of three years experience in delivery of agricultural humanitarian relief programmes. Familiarity with FAO work and procedures in emergency and rehabilitation assistance and knowledge of the language of the project area (Tetun) and of farming systems in NTT would be an asset. Experience in dealing with institutional partners and donors essential.

Essential skills:

excellent command of written and spoken English. Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills. Able to provide strong leadership and foster a team environment. Knowledge of UN operations preferred.