Overview
The Project Management Specialist will support the effective coordination, management, and delivery of a project aimed at strengthening the preparedness, resilience, and adaptive capacity of vulnerable farming communities in Sri Lanka.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall guidance to, and supervision of, the project identifies, plan, design implement and monitor the progress of delivery of activities as itemised in the results-based work plan;
- Provide day-to-day administrative and management inputs to the project team assuring smooth implementation of the project;
- Coordinate closely with International Project Management/Operations Specialist to develop operational strategies and work plans into detailed field implementation plans, schedules and operational arrangements.
- Coordinate the overall hiring plan for hiring of national and international affiliate workforce of the project to ensure timely onboarding.
- Coordinate with relevant consultants and government counterparts, implementing partners, suppliers and field teams to ensure timely availability and delivery of inputs, roll out of digital voucher scheme and development of relevant information systems for anticipatory action and early warning.
- Oversee the IDEA digital voucher modality, including beneficiary data readiness and unique identification, coordination with pre-registered local agro-dealers, transaction and redemption monitoring, record reconciliation, and timely resolution of implementation issues.
- Ensure market availability and prices are monitored during implementation and coordinate any necessary adjustment to voucher values or package specifications in accordance with the approved project and FAO procedures.
- Ensure a results-based approach to project implementation, including maintaining a focus on project results and impact as defined by the project results framework indicators;
- Regularly promote the project and its outputs and findings on a national, and where appropriate, regional stage;
- Lead interactions with stakeholders and liaise with government agencies and communicate, regularly advocate and engage in policy dialogue on behalf of the project;
- Coordinate the project commitments with WFP and government counterparts, including joint beneficiary validation and de-duplication in common districts, sharing of seasonal workplans and monitoring findings, and participation in relevant national and district coordination mechanisms.
- Facilitate interdisciplinary inputs from partner institutions and agencies;
- Review and advise relevant consultants for assuring smooth implementation of the project.
- Supervise affiliate personnel.hired under the project ensuring they fully understand their role and tasks;
- Provide administrative and management/supervisory support to long- and short-term Technical Specialists/Consultants to ensure timely delivery;
- Create strategic partnerships related to the project and coordinate and network with various stakeholders to take forward the project;
- Ensure that the project team follows up on the adoption/implementation of the recommendations/inputs provided by Technical Consultants;
- Coordinate with the Government counterpart/s and various stakeholders for effective coordination and dialogue in the field of Agriculture;
- Supervise the procurement process with the guidance of the Budget Holder in accordance with FAO rules and procedures.
- Oversee transparent handover and accountability arrangements for project-supported assets, including documentation of beneficiary ownership, operation and maintenance training, and transfer of public monitoring assets to the relevant mandated government agencies under the project exit strategy.
- Oversee preparation and implementation of project M&E plan, project communication and knowledge management plan with the relevant Specialists of the Project
- Ensure the M&E system captures baseline, seasonal and endline data and supports the comparative/counterfactual analysis required to assess production, income, food-security, loss-avoidance and sustainability results under the grant.
- Prepare results-based regular reports, donor reports and briefs as required.
- Facilitate the submission of timely project implementation reviews and progress reports (narrative and financial) to the FAO Country Office against the Programme M&E framework with the support of M&E Specialist;
- Facilitate effective communication of project progress to the key stakeholders related to the project.
- Undertake any other tasks assigned or relevant in support of efficient implementation of the project assigned by FAOR or AFAORs.
Required Experience
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in Project and Programme Management.
- Extent and relevance of experience at national level in project implementation and managing operations.
- Extent and relevance of experience in supporting the implementation of complex multi-stakeholder projects.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree from a recognized University in Agriculture, Public or Business administration, Social Sciences or any another related discipline.
