event 07 Jan 2021

Vacancy // National Project Coordinator Addressing Water-Energy nexus - Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis

The FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) is recruiting National Project Coordinators to coordinate the implementation of the sub-project on Addressing the water-energy nexus in both Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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Organizational Setting

The Sub- regional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing sub regional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with sub region-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Sub regional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for the Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC).

Among the activities that SLC is currently supporting in the Caribbean, include the CARICOM-FAO-Mexico Initiative “Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean”. The Initiative in the framework of COVID-19 is supporting participating countries in their responses to safeguard livelihoods, ensure adequate access to healthy food and ensure sustainable management of natural resources, working on three components:

  • Component 1: strengthening the institutional capacities of CARICOM countries in areas related to resilient livelihoods and well-being through South-South cooperation,
  • Component 2: Improvement of the capacities of CARICOM member countries to implement adaptation and resilience measures to climate change
  • Component 3: Development and implementation of effective and efficient project management

This TOR refers to the component 1 where three sub-projects will be implemented. Specifically, National Project Coordinators are being recruited to coordinate the implementation of the sub-project on Addressing the water-energy nexus in participating countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis

The project is seeking to improve water resource efficiency to increase agricultural productivity, using technological innovations such as (micro-) solar powered irrigation systems to improve water efficiency and management and access to clean and climate-smart energy to increase agricultural water productivity. The total project duration is 2 years.

The sub-project has a special focus on increasing water use efficiency in small-scale agriculture, horticultural development, and clean energy use for irrigation in marginalized communities. The project will promote the WEF's approach with innovative technologies on efficient irrigation and clean energy technology with the aim of expanding the approach to other areas of the Caribbean region.

The sub-project will be implemented with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Climate Change (depending on each country) and in collaboration with hydro meteorological institutes, academia and other partners. The participation of other stakeholders such as the private sector, NGOs, and community leaders, etc. are anticipated.

Reporting Lines

The National Project Coordinator will report technically directly to the FAO Project Coordinator of the CARICOM-FAO-Mexico Initiative and the Lead Technical Officer of the sub-project on “water-energy nexus”, based in the FAO sub-regional office of Barbados.

The FAO country Representative of the each of the participating countries and the FAO sub-regional coordinator for the Caribbean will provide general oversight. The National project coordinator will work closely with the national focal appointed by the government and other FAO personal in the country.

Technical Focus

Provide overall coordination for the attainment of all the activities of the project, including support for:

  • Farmers, women farmers, women farmer groups’ capacity for use of technologies for water and irrigation?
  • Extension services to provide improved and efficient technical services to farmers and their associations and monitor results of the systems versus agricultural production
  • Technologies innovation of water-energy use, maintenance and operation.
  • The development of Tools and guidelines for good practices and monitoring results of technologies
  • Small infrastructure/equipment improvement to facilitate access to water for production and consumption
  • Evidence-based policy framework, including socio- economic analysis, improvement and/or development of national water-energy policy instruments, partnership and scaling up of technologies of water-energy nexus

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks:

  • Provide methodological support, training, continuous follow-up and guidance to the National team involved
  • Organize, in coordination with the national focal point appointed by the government, the initiation of the sub-project in the participating country. This includes:
    • Stakeholders engagement/matrix and inception (baselines report and launch)
    • Preparation of project coordination tools such as detailed work plan, procurement plan, gender plan, communication plan risk management plan discussed with and validated by all stakeholders involved
  • Provide appropriate technical and operational guidance for the implementation of all the project coordination tools. This includes:
    • Continuous hands-on training and periodical meetings with all stakeholders.
    • Lead the process of developing and applying selection criteria for territories and beneficiaries (including territories, small farmers, and farmers and women organizations, etc.)
    • Provide technical leadership for some specific activities of the project, including procurement guidelines, and Design, training and maintenance of pilot technologies on water-energy
    • Undertake baseline assessments, and systematization of good practices as required
    • Lead the operational and administrative management of all activities of the project, in coordination with the rest of the sub-project team. This includes request for procurement, preparation of specifications for procurement, coordinating of the preparation of agreements with service providers and partners, hiring of consultants, monitoring and evaluation, etc.
    • Carried out a monitoring system for evidence based with farmers and farmer’s organizations. and others.
    • Support the logistical and national coordination conditions to carry out South-South cooperation exchanges with Mexican experts according to the project's work plan
    • Preparation of periodical reports and communication materials
  • Support the coordination of all FAO assistance to water-energy nexus in Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

  • University degree in agriculture, water irrigation or water management or other relevant area
  • 5 years of relevant experience in project management related to agriculture and technologies on water-energy
  • Working knowledge of English; Knowledge of Spanish would be an asset
  • National of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
  • Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
  • For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Deadline for Applications: 31.01.2020

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