Program Assistant

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing technical assistance to enhance the country's capacity to support youth participation in agrifood systems (TCP/ZIM/4003 (754112) project. This is a 1.5-year project (2025-2026), with two overall objectives, including (i) Developing a national strategy and investment plan for youths in agrifood systems strengthened and (ii) Capacitating and training youth and ministry personnel to better deliver the governance and leadership mandate on inclusion of youth in agrifood system improved. This initiative aligns closely with national priorities and strategies, particularly the Zimbabwe National Agriculture Policy, which emphasizes the need for inclusive agricultural development. Furthermore, it aligns with the government’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), highlights the importance of engaging youth in creating sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. By supporting youth participation, the project will contribute to national strategies aimed at poverty reduction, food security, and economic growth. Through targeted technical assistance, this project seeks to enhance Zimbabwe's institutional capacity to create a supportive environment for youth in agrifood systems. This includes providing technical assistance to the Zimbabwe government to develop strategies to engage youth in inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in line with FAO's Strategic Framework and the FAO Rural Youth Action Plan. By building partnerships between public agencies, private sector actors, and youth organizations, we can ensure the sustainable engagement of youth in agriculture, ultimately contributing to resilient and inclusive agrifood systems in Zimbabwe.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Zimbabwe, direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative-Programme and technical oversight of the National Project Coordinator. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with technical officers in the country office and in HQ.

Technical Focus

The programme assistant will provide all the administration, procurement and logistics support needed to promote the mapping of youths in agrifood food systems policies and interventions, and ongoing development efforts of the national youth in agrifood system strategy. Moreso, s/he will provide support in the development of an inclusive Youth Investment Proposal and plan for establishment of Youth Innovation and Digital Technologies Hubs/Labs in the Agrifood Systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Facilitate communication channels involved in the project via WhatsApp, e-mail, and other platforms
• Support the development, clearance, and signature process of project documents and supplier agreements (LoAs)
• Assist project implementation through periodic compilation of lessons learnt for sharing with the various programme management structures and stakeholders
• Provide logistical support as required by the projects, including organizing missions
• Respond to a variety of routine queries and provide clarifications on project matters; inform management and team members of processes, procedures and timeframes to secure administrative services needed for project execution
• Review data quality and maintain office records and reference files on various subjects pertinent to the project and the organization
• Monitor and regularly update the project's stakeholder database
• Keep up to date with national policies and research on how youths can be involved more
• Assist with the processing of Letter of Agreement (LoA) payments, Purchase Requisitions (PRs), and other administrative and operational tasks such as the organization of green jobs-related events and the facilitation of mission requests (e.g. Travel Authorisations etc)
• Assist with the preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for affiliate workforce
• Assist collaboration of the project with the Hand-in-Hand Initiatives, Digital Villages, OCOP and other trust fund projects

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in international development, public policy, business administration, economics, agricultural, agribusiness, development studies, social sciences, or other related fields
• 2 years of relevant work experience in administration, youth project implementation, agricultural policy, agricultural business models, agri-food systems, rural development, youth employment issues or international development
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English
• National of Zimbabwe or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• 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 other issues, visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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