Organizational Setting

FAO is one of the top Global Environment Facility (GEF) partner implementing agencies worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300 projects valued at more than USD 1.7 billion leveraging more than $12.9 billion in co-finance for more than 382 projects. FAO supports eligible countries in accessing resources from the GEF family of funds comprised of: GEF Trust Fund (TF), the Least Development Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). To do this FAO helps countries to identify and prepare project proposals and oversee their implementation under GEF priority focal areas, including biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), land degradation, chemicals and waste, international transboundary waters.
FAO brings to the GEF partnership extensive knowledge and expertise in sustainable agri-food systems transformation, including sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, ecosystem restoration. It draws on its strong field presence and in-depth understanding of GEF policies and procedures to assist member countries in accessing GEF financing. The synergies between GEF and FAO priorities and the importance of FAO’s thought leadership and contribution in the above areas to our member countries have resulted in more countries choosing to work with FAO and the subsequent growth of the FAO-GEF portfolio and partnership (FAO GEF webpage).
The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and the Environment (OCB) works across FAO to help countries and stakeholders respond to challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, keeping food and agricultural sustainability high on the agenda through FAO’s seven core functions and by enabling countries to access climate and environment financing from the GEF and other funds. OCB is home to the FAO/OCB-GEF Coordination Unit.
FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, together with the Sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) in Samoa supports member countries in meeting their national priorities in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, agri-food systems, nutrition, and rural development and in accessing GEF financing to meet these priorities. The FAO member countries in the Pacific include the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Under this assignment, the GEF project coordinator will report to SAP Better Environment Module Leader and closely with the SAP and RAP Lead Technical Officers (LTO), RAP-GEF Regional Lead Coordinator, OCB GEF Coordination Unit and country offices and partners in the Pacific to ensure that GEF projects are meeting the delivery targets and are implemented with the highest technical quality.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands (SRC) and direct supervision of the SAP Better Environment Module Leader and LTO, the GEF Project Coordinator will perform following tasks.

Technical Focus

The main technical focus of the Project Coordinator position is to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of GEF-funded projects in the Pacific Islands. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination, monitoring, and reporting of project activities, ensuring compliance with GEF guidelines and the achievement of project objectives.
S/he will also be responsible for ensuring the Project execution as per the Operation Partner agreement, supporting OPs in timely submission of technical and financial reports, timely disbursement of funds by FAO providing the GEF project management advises to OPs on project cycle management, etc.

Tasks and responsibilities

Project Coordination and Management

•    Coordinate the planning, implementation, and monitoring of GEF projects in the Pacific Islands.
•    Develop detailed project work plans, schedules, and budgets.
•    Ensure the timely delivery of project outputs and outcomes in accordance with the approved project documents and Operation Partner Agreements
•    Facilitate communication and coordination among project stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and community groups.

Monitoring and Evaluation

•    Develop and implement a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for GEF projects.
•    Conduct regular field visits to project sites to monitor progress and provide technical support.
•    Prepare and submit quarterly and annual progress reports to the GEF Secretariat.
•    Coordinate mid-term and final evaluations of projects, ensuring that recommendations are implemented.
•    ln cooperation with the Operational Partner and GEF programme partners, ensure adequate M&E and Knowledge Management with strong involvement from Government, local communities, CSOs, academia, private sector, women, indigenous communities, and other relevant stakeholders.

Financial Management

•    Manage project budgets, ensuring that expenditures are in line with approved budgets.
•    Prepare financial reports and ensure compliance with GEF financial management guidelines.
•    Coordinate with admin, finance, procurement, HR depending on project requirements.
•    Capacity Building and Knowledge Management
•    Organize capacity-building activities for project staff, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
•    In consultation with communication specialist, develop and disseminate knowledge products, including case studies, best practices, lessons learned, etc.
•    Facilitate knowledge sharing and networking among GEF projects in the Pacific Islands.

Communication and Outreach

•    Under the guidance of SRC, LTO and GTOs develop and implement a GEF Project communication strategy to raise awareness of GEF projects and their impacts to the large stakeholders in pacific countries where projects are operational.
•    Prepare and disseminate communication materials, including press releases, newsletters, op-eds, video documentary and social media content.
•    Prepare technical documents and presentations for GEF regional and international meetings, conferences, and workshops.
•    Support to GEF Programme Specialist
•    Provide technical evidence-based impact stories, best practices, and technical solutions to country priorities to GEF programme specialist to support his/her outreach to GEF OFPs.
•    Participate in discussion with project design team and share the best solutions which can be scaled up in respective countries.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•    Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
•    Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

•    Bachelor’s degree in natural resources management, environment, or natural resource economics, or in a field directly related to one or more of the following areas: biodiversity, climate change, energy, sustainable land, forest or water management, project management, business administration.
•    At least seven years of relevant demonstrated GEF project management experience in one of the technical areas listed above.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
•    Extent of knowledge of FAO standard operational rules and procedures and project/programme administrative management procedures
•    Extent of knowledge of FAO’s corporate systems and database, or knowledge of other accounting or financial modules or applications relevant to accounting procedures or project budget management would be considered an asset.
•    Demonstrated analytical and judgment skills and ability to apply rules and regulations in the subject field.