Position Title: Field Project Assistant
Contract Type: National Project Personnel
Duty Station: Maralal, Samburu County
Organizational unit: FAO Representation Office in Kenya
Position Level: SC4
Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension
Eligible candidates: Kenyan Nationals
Anticipated Start Date: May 2017
Background
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has secured funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support implementation of a sustainable forest management project entitled Capacity, Policy and Financial Incentives for PFM in Kisiria Forest and Integrated Rangelands Management in Samburu County.
The global environmental objective of the project is to strengthen biodiversity conservation and enhance carbon sequestration through sustainable forest management systems in dryland forest and communal rangelands while its development objective is to improve livelihoods of communities from dryland forest-based products and services. In particular, the GEF investment will be used to put in place strategic capacities and incentives to influence the considerably larger baseline investment, to change the pattern of development currently happening at the expense of the natural capital, towards a more sustainable economic development model.
Reporting line and specific tasks
Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Kenya, direct supervision of the National Project Manager, technical backstopping from NRM Sector Head and AFAOR (Administration and Finance), the field project assistant will be responsible for all financial and administrative operations of the project in accordance with FAO regulations and guidelines.
He/she will be responsible for the operational and logistical aspects of the project. The field project assistant will be responsible for the day-to-day management of project operations and with financial and administrative reporting. The field project assistant’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the project activities specified in the project document are facilitated to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost. He/she will specifically:
- Support the day-to-day operation of the project activities in the field
- Establish and organize project task forces and ensure timely provision of suitable inputs (personnel, training, equipment and supplies) including preparing initial and regular budget revisions and providing overall administrative and operational support to the project in the field;
- Ensure timely submission of regular project progress and implementation reports including identification of project follow up requirements and project closure including reporting;
- Monitor the project in close collaboration with the project manager, technical officers, the assistant FAO representations and other units at headquarters and at country level;
- Monitor delivery estimates and contribute to regular reports at the request of the budget holder and NPM;
- Carry out financial management and supervision of project budgets on behalf of the budget holder;
- Lead, in collaboration with the NPM, the preparation of the preparation of annual work plans and budget;
- Appraisal and operational clearance of project documents, preparation of budgets and active participation in project discussions;
- Prepare detailed budgets for cash transfer requests based on the AWP/B and project account cash balance;
- Maintain the project’s disbursement ledger and journal;
- Keep the financial records and regular review of the project account;
- Review the receipts and financial reports submitted by field offices and sub-contractors;
- Prepare six-monthly financial statement of expenditures;
- Prepare the personnel and services contracting and procurement documents;
- Participate in contracting and procurement processes including of submission of documentation to FAO for clearances; and
- Prepare relevant documents for internal and external financial audits.
- Any other duty assigned by the programme manager, the coordinator or the FAOR’s office.
Minimum Requirements
- Completion of Secondary Education
- University degree or diploma in Economics, Finance Management or related fields
- Minimum 4 years of experience in project planning and management
- Working knowledge of English and Kiswahili
- Excellent communication and analytical skills
- Excellent planning and organizing skills; accurate with attention to detail
- Knowledge of local dialect is an added advantage.
Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building effective relationships
- Knowledge sharing and continuous Improvement
How to apply:
Candidates are requested to submit their application by email to [email protected] quoting the position title and vacancy announcement number.
A duly completed Personal Profile Form (PPF) generated from FAO’s iRecruitment portal as a PDF-file is to be submitted by email together with a cover letter. Please note that attached resumes or CV’s in place of the PPF will not be accepted.
In order to prepare a Personal Profile Form, you must first register on the FAO iRecruitment site by clicking on the following link to register: http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/ In order for your application to be properly evaluated, please ensure that all sections of the on-line profile are completed.
Applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
This vacancy is open to both male and female candidates. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
More Information
- Job City Samburu
