Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO Ukraine is seeking to increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises that affect agriculture, food and nutrition, focusing on four major areas: – rural economic development – transition to sustainable agriculture and food production practices – adaptation to climate change – humanitarian assistance.

FAO Ukraine is the country office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a specialized agency dedicated to achieving food security, reducing rural poverty, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. FAO Ukraine works in close partnership with the government, civil society organizations, private sector, and other UN agencies to address the diverse challenges and opportunities in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental sectors. By providing technical assistance, policy advice, and capacity development support, FAO Ukraine plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening the resilience of rural communities, and enhancing food security and nutrition across the country.

The role is in-office, based in Dnipro, Ukraine.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the DRO/FAO Ukraine Head of Office, the direct supervision of the Field Office Coordinator in Odesa, the technical supervision of the Project Manager, and the technical guidance of the project’s Lead Technical Officer (LTO). The Analyst is also expected to work in close coordination with other relevant project staff and local stakeholders as deem appropriate and functional to the delivery of responsibilities and outputs.

Technical Focus

FAO is implementing a Grant Scheme (GS) instrument that provides financial and non-financial support to small farmers and value chain actors. Grant Operational Manual (GOM) has been developed that outlines the operational modalities, procedural aspects, and eligibility requirements for the grant programme. The GOM will be executed by a Grant Management Team whose function is to receive applications, evaluate them for administrative and technical compliance, assess applications and make recommendations on grant awards, and to follow up with grant applications, among others. In this regard, the Project is looking for a National Grant Analyst to support with related activities.

Tasks and responsibilities

Specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks:

•    Review agricultural grant applications using established criteria, procedures and checklists, from initial screening through the presentation to the Technical Review Committee (TRC).
•    Validate information included in the grant applications through direct follow up with applicants as well as secondary research.
•    Prepare “key facts” memo for each grant application to be presented to the Technical Review Committee (TPC), and preparation of the minutes following the TRC meetings.
•    Perform standard operating procedures subsequent to the approval of applications by the TRC, including but not limited to, follow-up and assistance to the applicant for all requested supporting documents, equipment quotation verification, definition of the payment schedule, grant agreement drafting, and payment and equipment delivery monitoring.
•    Monitor the status of approved grants to ensure the full, timely utilization of all grants funds and compliance with the grant SOPs through the provision of support to the M&E team and participation in some of the field visits.
•    Support the training and capacity development activities for beneficiaries in the process of grant reporting
•    Validate progress reports provided by beneficiaries and or implementing partners
•    Liaise with beneficiaries, implementing partners, and other stakeholders on behalf of the project
•    Support awareness campaigns for the grants
•    Support data analysis and reporting.
•    In cooperation with the Management Information System Administrator ensure timely maintenance of the grants database and dashboard.
•    Participate in inspections and evaluations of investments.
•    Other duties as deemed appropriate to support the functioning of the grant scheme.
•    Perform any other tasks as necessary.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    University degree in finance, management, accounting, economics, or related technical field
•    At least 4 years of relevant practical experience in grants projects or similar
•    Working knowledge or Native (Level C) of Ukrainian
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English
•    National of Ukraine

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Advanced university degree is desirable
•    Previous experience with the UN system or relation work for a donor organization, consulting company or NGO is a strong advantage
•    Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Exchange)
•    Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously
•    Ability to work quickly and under pressure
•    Attention to detail and the ability to apply standard operation procedures and corporate policies with the utmost accuracy and transparency
•    Experience in review of grant applications and beneficiary documents verification will be considered an advantage

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION