Programme Assistant

	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
	Vacancy Announcement No: FAO/28/2014
Issued on: 30 July 2014
Deadline For Application: 12 August 2014
Position Title:		Programme Assistant	Grade Level:   SC6
CONTRACT TYPE:		National Personnel Project	Duty Station: Nairobi
Organizational Unit:		FAO-Somalia	Duration:          5 months
Eligible Candidates:		Kenyans	Anticipated start: Immediately

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TASKS AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Officer-in-Charge, and Coordinator for Cash Based Interventions, the Programme Assistant is responsible for providing and contributing to the coordination of, and providing management support to Cash Based Interventions programmes and projects. S/he will liaise with programme and project teams to ensure that thematic, programme and project implementation is carried out in line with FAO’s corporate goals and strategic focus, as well as with FAO-Somalia’s internally agreed quality standards. In particular, the incumbent will:

·         Develop CFW reporting tools to be used by implementing partners in reporting the progress of project activities in the field and for reconciliation with FAO project coordination office in Nairobi.

·         Consult with all key implementing partners of CFW activities on a regular basis and coordinate the project activities with the partners and their on-going programs.

·         Support the identification, design and execution of cash based interventions for FAO Somalia operations

·         Ensure effective communication among field staff and facilitate proper/effective coordination of all the infrastructure activities with the unit head.

·         Closely supervise the work of implementing partners on the ground while ensuring that project activities are running smoothly in order to ensure timely implementation and accomplishment of the planned CFW project activities.

·         Review all reports on CFW activities submitted by the partners against the LOA/PA targets and liaise with them to ensure proper utilization of project funds.

·         Compile all relevant and required documents from the field and initiate payments based on the CFW activities undertaken in the field.

·         Assist project managers in reviewing project proposals, ensuring links with the overall objectives as outlined in the FAO-Somalia’s strategic and action plans.

·         Assist in drafting of tendering documentation for IPs selection including Evaluation and due diligence.

·         Provide support in drafting the Letters of Agreement (LoAs) for the selected IPs.

·         Inception Training of IPs on contractual obligations, voucher system and MV relationships.

·         Reception and management of inception files, liaising with IP s and relevant colleagues from Information Management Unit (IMU), Finance Unit, other as applicable.

·         Reconciliation of financial reporting against DAs commitments as released by Finance Unit.

·         Review monitoring reports to assess interim impact and causes of potential bottlenecks in implementation, and report major findings through structured weekly, monthly and final narrative and financial reports.

·         Draft of briefs for FAO HQs, FAOSO senior management, others as applicable.

·         Prepare consolidated final project reports in accordance with approved reporting formats and submit to the Cash based interventions Unit coordinator for review and submission to the respective donors.

·         Liaise with the Finance unit by preparing Disbursement authorization (DA) payment requests for processing instalments of beneficiaries bi weekly payments, Service Providers fees, as well as the closure of the LoAs.

	key performance indicators
Minimum requirements: Education: Secondary school education or equivalent commercial school. Bachelor’s degree in BSC in Information Science, Project Management or related science will be an advantage. Work Experience:                          At least five years of experience in Project M&E, monitoring methods, data processing and analysis.                Significant Project experience especially on Cash based Interventions including Cash for Work and Cash relief will be an advantage Languages: Working knowledge (level C) of the FAO official language used for communication within the country (English, French or Spanish) and working knowledge of the local language(s) is required. IT Skills: Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Exchange) etc. Ability to use accounting software and other information systems and databases to insert data, make enquiries, retrieve/define ad hoc reports and analyses and edit results in appropriate format. Office Management Skills: Systematic, well structured and efficient approach to work assignments. Analytical ability, accuracy and consistency. Exercise diligence and care in dealing with records and expenditures. Interpersonal Communications and Teamwork Skills: The incumbent must possess a cooperative spirit, flexibility and openness to work in an international environment. Tact and courtesy. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural background.  ____________________________________________________________________________________________ TO APPLY: Send your application to:         Candidates are requested to submit a covering letter quoting the Position Title and Vacancy Announcement No. FAO/28/2014 along with their current/detailed Curriculum Vitae and FAO Personal Profile Form (PPF) available http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/. E-mail is the preferred means of receipt and the application should be sent to HR-Somalia@fao.org Applications must be received by the deadline.  Late applications will not be considered. Only short listed candidates meeting all essential qualifications will be contacted.