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, five National Project Coordinators are being recruited to coordinate the implementation of the sub-project on Resilient School Feeding Programs in each of the five participating countries (Bahamas, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago).
• With a duration of approximately 2 years, the sub-project is aiming at strengthening the capacities of institutions and stakeholders of the participating countries to implement resilient and sustainable National School Feeding Programs that incorporate the procurement of products from local small agriculture and fish farmers.
• The sub-project will be implemented with the Ministry of Agriculture as main counterpart and in collaboration with other government agencies, including Health, Education and Social Development. The participation of other stakeholders such as the private sector, NGOs, PTA, schools and community leaders, etc is 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 “resilient school feeding programs” based in the FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean in Barbados.
• The FAO Country Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize will provide general oversight. The National Project Coordinator will work closely with the National Focal Point designated  by the Government and other FAO personal in the country. 

Technical Focus

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

• Farmers/ farmer groups (including fisher folks) capacity for the production and supply of  specific products relevant for the school feeding
• Extension services to provide improved and efficient technical services to farmers and their associations
• Procurement modalities for smallholder farmers/ farmer organizations to supply fresh produce to the School  Feeding Program (SFP)
• School gardens as a pedagogical tool for food and nutrition education
• The development of tools and guidelines for nutritional quality and food safety
• Small infrastructure/equipment  improvement to facilitate food quality and safety
• Evidence-based policy framework, including socio- economic analysis, improvement  and/or development of national school feeding policy instruments, and inter-sectorial coordination mechanisms

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 in the implementation of the project via a National School Feeding Committee.
• Organize, in coordination with the National Focal Point designated 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 and  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 beneficiaries (including territories, schools, small farmers and farmers organizations, etc) ;
• Provide technical leadership for some specific activities of the project, including procurement guidelines, and design, training and maintenance of school gardens;
• Undertake baseline assessments, and systematization of good practices as required;
• Provide logistical support and  and coordinate all steps required to carry out South-South cooperation exchanges with Mexican experts in line with the project's work plan;
• 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, preparation of agreements with service providers and partners, hiring of consultants, monitoring and evaluation, etc ;
• Preparation of periodical reports and communication materials;
• Support the coordination of other activities related to the CARICOM-FAO-Mexico Initiative and all FAO assistance to school feeding in theBahamas.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Rural development, Economic development, social sciences, nutrition or related fields
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in project and/or program coordination
• Knowledge on school feeding program development and implementation
• Previous experience in the coordination of food and nutrition security related project and/or program in the Bahamas or elsewhere in the Caribbean
• Working knowledge of English
• National of the Bahamas.

Source:https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2002928