National Project Coordinator – FAO

Responsabilités

National Project Coordinator (NPC) – Job Description (2601749) We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented National Project Coordinator to oversee and manage critical initiatives across multiple regions within the country. The ideal candidate will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing project activities while ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards. Key responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, progress tracking, risk management, and the preparation of comprehensive reports. The ideal candidate must possess strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, along with a proven ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in project coordination or a related field, along with proficiency in project management tools and software, is required. Job Description 2601749 National Project Coordinator (NPC) Job Posting : 13/Aug/2026 Closure Date : 27/Aug/2026, 11:59:00 PM Organizational Unit: The FAO Representation in Zambia operates under the designation FR ZAM. Job Type : Non-staff opportunities Requisition Type: National Project Personnel (NPP) Grade Level: N/A Primary Location : Zambia-Lusaka Assignment period: Twelve months, with the potential for renewal. Post Number: N/A Please be advised that the Closing Date and Time indicated are determined by the date and time settings on your individual device. FAO is dedicated to fostering a diverse workforce, encompassing a wide range of perspectives shaped by gender, nationality, background, and cultural experiences. Qualified applicants who are female, nationals of non- and under-represented Member States, or individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. All employees of FAO are expected to maintain the utmost standards of integrity and professional behavior, while consistently embodying the organization’s core values. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), functioning as a UN Specialized Agency, enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against any behavior that undermines its institutional integrity, core objectives, and mandated responsibilities. This policy explicitly prohibits sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, misuse of authority, and all forms of discrimination. Selected candidates will be subject to thorough reference verification and comprehensive background screening. Strict adherence to confidentiality protocols will be maintained for all applications submitted. FAO’s dedication to environmental sustainability is a fundamental component of our strategic goals and operational activities. Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advances the 2030 Agenda by implementing the FAO Strategic Framework, which fosters the transition toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems. This initiative promotes enhanced productivity, improved nutrition, environmental stewardship, and improved livelihoods, ensuring equitable opportunities for all. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a specialized United Nations agency, spearheads global initiatives to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. FAO country offices, led by an FAO Representative, collaborate with governments to formulate policies, programs, and projects aimed at enhancing food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, fostering sustainable development in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors, and promoting the judicious use of environmental and natural resources. Through the FAO Strategic Framework, the organization advances the 2030 Agenda by driving progress toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems, thereby improving production, nutrition, environmental health, and overall quality of life, ensuring that no one is left behind. Support is delivered in accordance with the Country Programming Framework (CPF) guidelines. The Zambia CPF currently outlines five key priority areas. Enhanced productivity and production—particularly in a gender-responsive manner—along with advancements in research and development across crops, livestock, capture fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry; the promotion of inclusive agribusiness development, marketing, and trade; the advancement of inclusive green growth and environmental sustainability; the improvement of nutrition and food systems alongside social protection initiatives; and the formulation and execution of inclusive and gender-responsive policies—these are the core focus areas of this role. The primary responsibility of the position will be to support the third priority initiative, with duties primarily aligned to its objectives. The “Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Landlocked Developing Countries (SVC4LLDCs)” project, funded by the Republic of Korea, is being executed by the Value Chain Development Team (NF IMV) under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFL) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This initiative operates in Kyrgyzstan and Zambia and aligns with FAO’s Strategic Framework—promoting better production, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and improved livelihoods—as well as the Blue Transformation Roadmap. The project’s core objective is to deliver technical support to beneficiary nations, fostering the development of sustainable aquatic value chains that enhance social, economic, and environmental resilience. Reporting Lines Under the broader oversight of the FAO Representative in Zambia, the NPC will receive direct guidance from the Assistant FOR – Programs and the Food Systems 1B Pillar Lead, with additional support from the Technical Officer of the Project GCP/GO/1321/ROK (FAO HQ). The role requires close coordination with FAO headquarters and field personnel, as well as collaboration with international and national consultants specializing in aquatic value chains. Technical Focus The selected candidate for this role will serve as the National Project Coordinator within the country office, acting as the primary liaison between the FAO HQ and local project partners in Zambia, with a focus on the following technical areas:

• Project management
• Value chain analysis
• Strategic leadership
• Oversee operational and technical activities to ensure accurate reporting and control measures are implemented. The role involves delivering specialized technical and operational assistance to NFL value chain initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Tasks and responsibilities The NPC will carry out the following duties and responsibilities: Key Functions
• Provide technical assistance to ensure the successful execution of the project work plan.
• Facilitate the planning, design, and execution of project activities while ensuring the timely delivery of deliverables and outputs.
• Finalize and approve project reports and deliverables upon review.
• Oversee the identification, recruitment, management, and supervision of project partners.
• Establish and nurture productive collaborations with project beneficiaries, partners, and relevant initiatives to ensure seamless communication and alignment.
• Conduct ongoing assessment and analysis of project activities to ensure alignment with established objectives and performance benchmarks.

Formation / Diplômes

• Play a key role in creating and distributing information products derived from project initiatives. Specific Functions
• Compile and submit reports to the Project Management Unit (PMU), detailing outcomes achieved, challenges encountered, proposed solutions, impact assessments, and administrative and financial updates. Develop and implement the SVC4LLDCs’ annual country-level work plan and budget, while also supervising the creation of the country-level value chain work plan and budget.
• Facilitate the execution and ongoing oversight of value chain analysis (VIA) and development initiatives, enabling productive engagements among stakeholders, including drafting relevant reports as needed, with primary emphasis on strategic planning and implementation components.
• Spearhead the creation and deployment of a collaborative stakeholder platform, overseeing its activities and ensuring successful implementation.
• Cultivate and sustain strategic alliances with country and regional stakeholders to advance the objectives of the SVC4LLDCs value chain.
• Work in partnership with both national and international consultants overseeing value chain project activities to execute a sustainable, systems-focused, and results-driven value chain strategy.
• Compile, evaluate, and synthesize quarterly value chain progress reports submitted by task forces to assess the effectiveness of SVC4LLDCs interventions;
• Facilitate the flow and exchange of knowledge across the value chain to guarantee the broad dissemination of insights within the SVC4LLDCs project and to external stakeholders.
• Lead the creation and execution of the SVC4LLDCs communication strategy at the national level.
• Spearhead the ongoing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities of the program at the country level throughout the project’s lifespan, encompassing the identification of value chain-specific indicators and the timely submission of progress reports to the SVC4LLDCs Coordinator and the Project Lead Technical Officer.

Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed. Assessment of candidates will be conducted based on the following criteria. Minimum Requirements

Expérience

• A master’s degree or equivalent qualification in Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Project Management, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related discipline is required. With a minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience, you will have led and coordinated value chain development initiatives within fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture, forestry, natural resources, or closely related fields.
• Proficiency in English at a Level C competency, as defined by established language standards.
• National of Zambia FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships

You will actively contribute to knowledge sharing initiatives and foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team and organization. Technical and Functional Skills

• Foster a culture of ongoing learning and enhancement through active knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Expertise in fisheries value chains and market systems is essential. Proficient knowledge of sustainable aquatic food systems and rural livelihoods is essential.
• Demonstrated expertise in project planning, execution, coordination, and management is required.
• Experience with value chain analysis methodologies and value chain upgrading approaches. Demonstrates exceptional analytical capabilities, exceptional organizational proficiency, and adept problem-solving expertise.
• Proven capability to develop comprehensive technical reports, strategic work plans, and donor reports of the highest quality. Proven expertise in leading multi-stakeholder engagement initiatives and cultivating strategic partnerships.
• Strong proficiency in monitoring and evaluation frameworks, results-based management, and logical framework methodologies. Proficiency in FAO operational procedures, procurement protocols, financial management practices, and project cycle management methodologies is considered advantageous.
• Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and communication abilities. Demonstrates strong self-motivation and the capacity to operate autonomously with minimal oversight while consistently producing high-quality results within stringent time constraints.
• Demonstrated expertise in utilizing Microsoft Office Suite, encompassing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Selection Criteria
• Proven track record in overseeing donor-funded development initiatives, encompassing project planning, financial management, execution, evaluation, progress reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven track record in facilitating and overseeing value chain analysis (VIA) and value chain development initiatives.
• Collaborated with government entities, producer associations, private sector firms, research institutions, and development partners throughout projects.
• Proficient in facilitating stakeholder consultations, workshops, capacity-building initiatives, and multi-stakeholder platform coordination.
• Proven expertise in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), with a strong foundation in results-based management and the ability to produce high-quality project performance reports. Proficiency in one or more of the local languages spoken in Zambia is considered an asset. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FAO ensures that no fees are required at any point throughout the recruitment process, including application submission, interview scheduling, or application processing. Applications submitted after the established deadline will not be considered. Please be advised that FAO exclusively evaluates higher education qualifications from institutions listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHEN), which is maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The database is accessible via [Click the Apply button below to apply, and Create my CV to build a CV tailored to this offer, professionally] For further career prospects, please visit the FAO careers portal at: [Click the Apply button below to apply, and Create my CV to build a CV tailored to this offer, professionally] Candidates must meet all necessary medical fitness standards, accrue required accreditations, comply with residency and visa obligations, and successfully complete security clearance procedures before appointment. FAO aims to cultivate a workforce and team of international consultants characterized by diversity across gender, geography, and language, thereby enhancing its capacity to effectively serve Member States across all regions.

[Click the Apply button below to apply, and Create my CV to build a CV tailored to this offer, professionally]