Overview
The Programme Specialist will support the Programme Leader in managing FAO Lebanon’s CPF Outputs 2&3 programme portfolio, with a primary focus on Natural Resource Management and Resilience & Livelihoods workstreams. The role's defining function is internal coordination, maintaining operational coherence between the programme team, operations unit, and administrative team.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Programme Leader in coordinating the FAO Lebanon CPF Outputs 2&3 programme portfolio, tracking implementation progress across projects and thematic areas against workplans, budgets and results frameworks.
- Identify implementation bottlenecks, flag risks to the Programme Leader, and support the development of corrective action plans.
- Ensure alignment of all projects with FAO programme cycle management guidelines and donor requirements.
- Support the organization and facilitation of portfolio review meetings, internal programme coordination sessions and team planning exercises.
- Provide direct, hands-on support to technical staff in the day-to-day management of projects, including preparation and tracking of annual workplans, procurement plans, implementation schedules and project budgets.
- Support the technical staff in the correct application of FAO programme cycle management tools, systems and procedures.
- Monitor technical and financial progress at project level, consolidate findings across the portfolio and prepare regular implementation status updates.
- Support project closure processes, including the preparation of final reports, financial reconciliation documentation and archiving of project deliverables.
- Serve as the primary internal coordination link between the programme team, the operations unit and the administrative team.
- Support the preparation and follow-up of procurement requests, human resources actions and operational documentation.
- Coordinate with the technical team to ensure that cross-cutting programme management requirements are met.
- Support the Programme Leader in preparing/reviewing Terms of Reference and Scope of Works, evaluation criteria, project reports and other programme documentation.
- Support the technical teams in the preparation and updating of project logical frameworks, results frameworks and performance monitoring matrices.
- Contribute to internal programme reviews, mid-term evaluations and portfolio analysis exercises.
- Support the technical team in the preparation of donor progress reports, corporate reports, and other mandatory reporting requirements.
- Contribute to data collection, monitoring data consolidation and analysis across the CPF Outputs 2&3 workstreams.
- Support the technical team in the documentation of lessons learned, good practices and programme results.
- Provide guidance and mentoring to junior programme staff on programme management tools, reporting standards and FAO procedures.
- Perform any other related duties as required by the Programme Leader.
Required Experience
- 6 years of relevant experience in programme or project management, coordination or formulation in the agriculture, food security, resilience, natural resource management or rural development sector;
- Proven experience in: (i) developing and tracking logical frameworks, workplans and budgets; (ii) applying results-based management (RBM) approaches across the project cycle; (iii) supporting procurement and operational processes for project implementation; and (iv) preparing donor and corporate reports.
- Prior experience with FAO, UN agencies or international organisations is an asset.
- Knowledge of Lebanon’s agriculture, food security and crisis context is highly desirable.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, or a related field.
- A Master’s degree is an asset.
