Organizational Setting

According to the State Emergency Service (SES), Ukraine has become the most mined country in the world. Thirty percent – 160,000 square kilometres of Ukraine’s territory – may be contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, presenting an imminent threat to lives and livelihoods. For the over 30,000 smallholder Ukrainian farmers and for local producers, access to land and productive assets is a quintessential means of survival, and they will require humanitarian assistance until their land is demined. Whilst the imperative for the Government of Ukraine is to ensure that basic services are restored, there is an urgent need for people to return to productive livelihoods.
As a response to this situation, FAO, in cooperation with WFP, is supporting the Government of Ukraine with land clearance of agricultural lands including demining and follow-up support for smallholder farmers and producers in affected areas.
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Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office/Designated Responsible Officer/Budget Holder, direct supervision of the FAO International Project Manager and technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer and in close coordination with the National Agronomist and Community Liaison Specialists, the National Programme Assistant (Kharkivska) will be responsible for providing administrative and logistic support to the project “Restoring livelihoods and revitalizing rural communities affected by mines and explosive remnants of war”. The assistant will support the overall implementation of the project, which is focused on land clearance and livelihoods assistance in parts of three oblasts (Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv) that are now free of conflict and need agricultural livelihoods urgently restored.

Technical Focus

The National Programme Assistant (Kharkivska) will play a pivotal role in providing administrative support to the Mine Action programme and supporting FAO programme in Kharkiv. This position involves contributing to the effective implementation of the project’s Phase 1: Prioritization of focal areas and Phase 3: Assistance to Rural Households and Small-scale Farmers in Kharkivska. The incumbent will manage administrative tasks, engage with stakeholders, and ensure smooth communication between the project team and the implementing partners as well as local communities.

Tasks and responsibilities 

Administration

•    Monitor and maintain relevant information and databases on training, workshops, missions and seminars;
•    Follow up on a broad variety of administrative and logistical actions necessary for the timely implementation of the project activities in Kharkiv, including arranging the training and workshops, FAO missions, briefing schedules
•    Maintain local inventory records (shelter, and office) and ensure documentation is updated in the Programme repository.
•    Ensure updated documentation of logistics and finance (petty cash) for project activities.
•    Facilitate registration of farming households into the State Agrarian Registry (SAR) of Ukraine.
•    Support organization of FAO missions in Kharkiv

Stakeholder engagement

•    Facilitate the gathering of stakeholders, including local government, community groups, farm associations, and affected community members.
•    Co-lead with the World Food Programme Community Based Participatory Planning activities and report on them.
•    Support the Programme Coordinator in preparing Joint Targeting Teams (JTTs) in the oblast.
•    Participate in local events, meetings, and forums to enhance the visibility and understanding of the FAO programme.
•    Facilitate donor’s visits in Kharkiv region.

Communication

•    Work closely with the project team based in Kyiv and Mykolaiv to ensure accurate and timely communication of project activities in Kharkiv.
•    Assist with interpretation support during meetings, workshops, and events in Kharkiv.
•    Engage in outreach activities to communicate project objectives and benefits to local communities.
•    Upon request, share updates on the FAO programme in Kharkiv, fostering positive relationships with implementing UN agencies, Mine Action Operators, local authorities, community leaders, and stakeholders.
•    Perform other related duties as required by FAO.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    A university degree in business administration or related fields;
•    At least 3 years of experience in programme/administration;
•    Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc);
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Ukrainian, as all the duties will have to be performed in English.
•    National of Ukraine.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Rigor and demonstrated attention to detail.
•    Quality of both oral and written communication skills
•    Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously.
Selection Criteria

•    Previous experience in the agriculture sector is considered an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION