Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 through FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 by supporting transformations to a more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food system, for a Better production, Better nutrition, Better environment and a Better life, leaving no one behind.

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) leads FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with offices, centres and divisions at the headquarter, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. In its programme delivery, in addition to the achievements of the 2030 SDG agenda, RAF supports FAO’s work in Member countries, develops and maintains strategic partnerships with continental organizations, and supports countries in developing strategies, policies, regulatory frameworks regional and country policy dialogues that sustain efficient and inclusive agricultural and food systems. RAF also facilitates partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders, including development partners, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

The RAF has identified Animal production systems and One Health platforms and actions (APSOH) as one of its Programme Work Areas (PWA) under the regional thematic priority, Sustainable agrifood production systems, which corresponds to the Better Production of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31.

From FAO, the RAF is the designated office to implement the regional Pandemic Fund project “Strengthening One Health-based PPR in the Greater Virunga Landscape (SOHPPRGVL)” as one of the implementing entities (IEs). Other IEs in this project are WHO and UNICEF. RAF in addition to its IE role will also provide overall coordination support to the project.

Reporting Lines

The Project Coordinator (PC) will report primarily to the Senior Animal Production and Health Officer for the FAO Regional Officer in Africa who is also the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the project. The PC will work under the overall administrative supervision and guidance of the Budget holder of the Project, the Assistant Director General and the Regional Representative for the FAO Regional Office in Africa. S/he will be implementing the project in close collaboration with other IEs (WHO & UNICEF) and the IPs (GVTC, WWF, Gorilla Doctors), the Sub-regional Animal Production and Health Officers for the FAO Sub-regional offices in Central and Eastern African regions and FAO Representatives in each of the selected countries (DRC, Rwanda, Uganda).

Technical Focus 

Coordination and communication, Leadership to multisectoral team; Project cycle management; Disease surveillance, diagnoses and response; One Health in agrifood system; Laboratory capacity and networking; Monitoring and evaluation; Wildlife ecosystem; Community-based approach; Inclusivity and diversity

Tasks and responsibilities

Project work planning
•    Prepare detailed SOHPPRGVL project annual work plans in consultation with other IEs, IPs, and other key stakeholders referred to the implementation and coordination modalities above and submit them to the LTO and Budget Holder’s nominee for clearance.
•    Prepare SOHPPRGVL project procurement, travel, and recruitment plans and submit them to the LTO and Budget Holder’s nominee for clearance
•    Formulate/ facilitate the signing of any contracts related to the project implementation with implementing partners.
•    Review and support IPs in developing specifications, ToRs for goods and services contracts required by the project and supervise activities of consultants, IPs and companies that would provide the goods and services.

Project implementation monitoring and reporting
•    Make necessary arrangements for implementing the project using the pass-through implementation modalities namely Operational Partners Implementation Modality (OPIM) and Letters of Agreement (LoA) to ensure implementation by the IPs.
•    Coordinate and supervise implementation of the project activities contracted to IPs to ensure coordinated attainment of project results.
•    Make sure that the IPs submit the results in time and use them to prepare and submit the half-yearly and annual reports to the Pandemic Fund.
•    Monitor the implementation of planned SOHPPRGVL activities on a day-to-day basis and provide weekly, monthly and six-monthly updates to the LTO.
•    Monitor Ips’ contract performance regularly and give feedback to the LTO including recommended corrective measures where necessary.
•    Supervise the day-to-day activities of the national project liaison officers.
•    Be the Secretary to the project Taskforce (PTF), conduct PTF meetings twice a year and when advised by the LTO, and prepare and keep records of the PTF meeting proceedings.
•    Coordinate among IEs and IPs and make sure that the project results are received timely and incorporated into the Result and Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks of the project.

Coordination/collaboration and synergy building
•    Lead and participate in all coordination meetings of the projects including the Pandemic Fund Secretariat, FAO NSAH-CJW and the IPs.
•    Liaise and coordinate with other pandemic fund projects being implemented in the selected countries for more efficient use of the project resources and avoid potential duplications.
•    Collaborate and build effective and innovative synergies with other SOHPPRGVL IEs and stakeholders to ensure coordinated implementation of project activities and attainment of project results using the One Health approach.

Leadership
•    Provide technical leadership to the project implementation and ensure timely accomplishment of the set targets and milestones and eventual achievement of the quality results in time.
•    Manage/supervise human, material and financial resources allocated to the SOHPPRGVL project for efficient and timely deployment and utilization.
•    Identify and act on constraints and issues if any that need timely resolutions and corrective actions.
•    Ensure that SOHPPRGVL activities are implemented and managed as per the FAO and Pandemic Fund guidelines and procedures.
•    Identify and escalate critical issues related to SOHPPRGVL project implementation such as delays, gaps, risks, and major changes to the attention of the LTO to initiate actions for timely resolution.

Other
•    Assist the Senior Animal Production and Health Officer in resource mobilization and project formulation to ensure the sustainability of the project results in the selected countries and potential scaling up.
•    Perform any other related duties as may be required by the LTO.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum

Requirements

•    University Degree in Veterinary medicine, animal science, wildlife, One Health, Epidemiology, biomedical sciences or any other relevant disciplines.
•    At least five years of professional experience in the management of multisectoral, multicounty projects under the international framework, using the One Health approach.
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of French and intermediate knowledge (Level B) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Communication
•    Teamwork
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in the planning and management of projects related to animal health, wildlife, community development and One Health in the Agrifood systems.
•    Demonstrated ability to write technical and communication documents in both English and French.
•    Excellent communication skills.
•    Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.Selection Criteria

•    Demonstrated track record of successfully strategic planning and leading project implementation in the agriculture, public health, wildlife, community engagements and/or the environment sectors
•    Experience with the development of monitoring and evaluation plans.
•    Familiarity with FAO’s work, especially in the African region and UN agencies will be considered as an asset.