The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with offices and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities.

RAF also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAF develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Africa in Accra, Ghana.

Main Purpose

The Programme Assistant (Monitoring and Evaluation) performs a wide range of routine administrative and financial functions in support of the delivery of the organizational unit’s programme and projects.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Programme Assistant (Monitoring and Evaluation) reports to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M-E) Officer, under the overall supervision by the Regional Programme Leader and receives guidance from the senior administrative staff. He/she acts independently on routine matters. Supervision received is focused on the quality of the work performed and provides for on-the-job learning.

Working Relationships

The Programme Assistant interacts with a wide variety of colleagues within the work unit and with immediate clients within the Organization, providing routine administrative and financial services.

Key Functions/Results

• Collect and compile data on programme and or project activities to support reporting and delivery.
• Initiate and follow up on administrative and financial actions related to staff management, affiliate workforce support, travel, payments, etc.
• Review and prepare routine documentation and correspondence related to assigned procurement actions.
• Provide information on programme and/or project expenditures and status of programme and /or project budget.
• Process, format and proof-read reports, documents, publications and correspondence related to the work of the unit from draft texts.
• Review and direct correspondence, calls and queries to appropriate contacts; provide for background information; respond to routine enquiries.
• Make arrangements for meetings, seminars and events: implement logistics, prepare correspondence, compile and distribute documents, make administrative arrangements.
• Perform other duties as required.

Impact Of Work

The incumbent’s work impacts on the timely and efficient delivery of the immediate work unit’s programme.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education.

Experience: Three years of relevant experience in financial and/or administrative support work.

Languages: Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English.

IT Skills: Good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit, and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. “Commuting distance” means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Team Work
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

• Good knowledge of corporate information systems.
• Good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations.
• Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards.’
• Proven record of organizing/entering/extracting/transferring M-E data into/from relevant databases and/or paper formats.
• Proven record of organizing and updating M-E records (reports, questionnaires, datasets, etc.) within relevant repositories.

Desirable Qualifications And Skills

• Limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of French.
• Extensive experience in providing support to M-E processes (data collections, data quality assurance, data management, etc.).
• Extensive experience with data and records management for M-E purposes.
• Extensive experience with supporting M-E data collections (e.g. surveys) and/or data cleaning.
• Experience with supporting logistically virtual/blended events.