Organizational Setting

The FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) supports African Member States and regional integration institutions in delivering transformative results for agrifood systems, in alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework and the Four Betters:

better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

RAF works in close collaboration with regional organizations, including the African Union (AU), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA NEPAD), Regional Economic Communities such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) , the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and other strategic partners, to accelerate the transition toward resilient, inclusive and climate smart agrifood systems across the continent. Through high level policy dialogue, technical cooperation, and multi-country coordination, RAF helps to ensure that continental priorities such as food security, climate resilience, agricultural trade, and rural livelihoods translate into tangible outcomes at national and regional levels.

FAO, in partnership with the Pan African Great Green Wall (PAGGW) and national entities from 8 African countries, succeeded in raising funds from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the implementation of a large-scale multi-country programme to boost restoration and resilience in the targeted countries.

The Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa's Great Green Wall (SURAGGWA) programme is a transformative, multi-country initiative funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It targets eight Sahelian countries-Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal-with additional capacity-building support for Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan.

SURAGGWA aims to address the severe impacts of climate change in the Sahel, one of the world's most vulnerable regions, by restoring 1.4 million hectares of degraded land, enhancing climate resilience, and improving livelihoods for over 8.7 million people. The programme aligns with the African Union's Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI), which seeks to restore 100 million hectares of land, sequester 250 million tons of CO', and create 10 million jobs by 2030.

With a total budget of USD 250 million (including USD 150 million from GCF and USD 100 million in co-financing), SURAGGWA is structured around three core components:

1. Landscape Restoration: Promoting agro-ecological and agro-forestry practices to rehabilitate degraded lands, supported by community engagement and native seed systems.

2. Development of Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) Value Chains: Strengthening market access, technical capacity, and financial inclusion for smallholders, especially women, in value chains such as baobab, gum arabic, moringa, and honey.

3. Institutional Strengthening: Enhancing the capacity of national and regional GGW institutions for planning, monitoring, coordination, and resource mobilization, including access to carbon finance.

SURAGGWA is designed to catalyse a paradigm shift in land use and rural development by integrating climate adaptation and mitigation, fostering public-private partnerships, and empowering local communities, particularly women and youth-to sustainably manage natural resources and build resilient livelihoods.

For the implementation of the SURAGGWA Programme, FAO is recruiting an Administrative Officer (SURAGGWA – Programme Coordination Unit/PCU).

The position is located in the Subregional Office for West Africa (SFW) in Dakar, Senegal.

Reporting Lines

The Administrative Officer (SURAGGWA – Programme Coordination Unit/PCU) reports to the Senior Coordinator (Land Restoration-SURAGGWA Programme) at the Sub-Regional Office of FAO for West Africa (SFW), with secondary reporting line to the Sub-Regional Coordinator of SFW, Budget Holder of the SURAGGWA Programme. S/he will work closely with the relevant Staff and Consultants at the targeted Country Offices of the SURAGGWA Programme at SFW, in RAF, the Forestry Division (NFO) and the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) at FAO headquarters.

Technical Focus

Administrative coordination, institutional support, and compliance management for a large scale, multi country GCF funded programme, ensuring orderly programme administration, effective coordination, and adherence to FAO and donor administrative requirements.

Key Results

Effective and efficient provision of administrative management support to the regular programme and project activities in all administrative areas, i.e. budget, finance, human resources, procurement, information technology (IT), logistics and security, contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of the programme of work.

Key Functions

Coordinates the preparation of the Programme and Budget in consultation with relevant technical officers/divisions at headquarters.
Prepares and consolidates work plans; proposes revised plans and strategic measures to implement successfully the biennial programme of work and monitor effectively budgetary trends.
Prepares periodic budget reports for submission; prepares post planning and monitoring and other regular and ad hoc reports.
Contributes to the development of results-based management concepts and policies and monitoring and reporting procedures.
Develops, implements and monitors corporate activities, identifies operational, administrative, information technology and other constraints and proposes solutions to improve quality, timeliness and cost effectiveness.
Overviews the maintenance of imprest accounts and other budgetary reports; acts as Certifying Officer, monitors availability of funds under all programmes; ensures that financial commitments and expenditures are accurate and consistent with established guidelines.
Trains and supervises staff and field project personnel on all administrative and operational matters and undertakes special missions for training on budgetary, financial and managerial issues in line with the Organization's regulations policies and procedures.
Establishes effective working relationships with Government counterparts at appropriate level for Government contributions to the work programme.
Oversees operational and staffing requirements of the office and its projects, and ensures optimal staffing of the office and projects.
Participates in review meetings to assess managerial and operational capacities, scrutinize reliability and solvency of selected implementing partners.
Assesses training needs and encourages training events as well as other human resources-related activities.
Optimizes the management of office premises, the allocation of space and the provision of services for the renovation and the maintenance of premises; is responsible for security for Minimum Operational Security Standards (MOSS) compliance.
Establishes and maintains partnerships with units at headquarters, interacts with Internal and External Auditors and prepares replies to audit observations and queries.
Organizes and participates in meetings, workshops, celebrations and other events.
Performs other related duties as required.

Specific Functions

Programme Administrative Coordination

· Provides overall administrative support to the SURAGGWA Programme Coordination Unit/PCU.

· Coordinates administrative processes between SFW, FAO Country Offices, RAF, and FAO Headquarters.

· Serves as the primary focal point for administrative coordination across the programme.

· Supports alignment of administrative actions with approved programme workplans.

Governance and Institutional Support

· Provides administrative support to Programme Steering Committees, technical committees, and coordination fora.

· Ensures timely preparation, circulation, and archiving of meeting documentation, decisions, and action points.

· Supports follow up on governance decisions from an administrative standpoint.

Compliance, Controls, and Records Management

· Ensures that all administrative processes comply with FAO rules, regulations, and applicable GCF administrative requirements.

· Maintains complete, structured, and audit ready administrative records and filing systems.

· Supports administrative inputs for audits, evaluations, fiduciary reviews, and supervision missions.

· Monitors administrative compliance related to contracts, travel, assets, and documentation.

Human Resources and Contract Administration (Administrative Aspects Only)

· Coordinates with FAO regional Human Resources unit on administrative follow-up actions.

· Supports administrative aspects of recruitment, onboarding, and separation of programme staff and consultants.

· Maintains administrative tracking of contracts, amendments, deliverables, timesheets, and leave records.

· Ensures proper archiving and compliance of HR related documentation.

Information Management and Reporting Support

· Consolidates administrative inputs from country offices for programme progress reports.

· Supports preparation of administrative sections of reports, briefings, dashboards, and internal notes.

· Ensures proper documentation, archiving, and institutional memory of programme records.

Liaison and Coordination Support

· Acts as administrative liaison with FAO country offices, implementing entities, and partners regarding non-financial, non operational matters.

Facilitates information flow and administrative communication across programme structures.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, management, international relations, or a related field.
Seven years of relevant experience in administrative support, programme coordination, or institutional management, preferably within UN or international organizations.
Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
Extent and relevance of experience in financial management, administration and planning.
Extent and relevance of experience in organizing programme proposals and monitor programme implementation.
Proven experience in administrative coordination of multi- country or complex programmes.
Strong knowledge of UN/FAO administrative rules and procedures is considered an asset..
Demonstrated ability to manage records, compliance, and governance documentation.
Strong organizational, coordination, and planning skills.
Ability to draft clear administrative correspondence, reports, and meeting documentation.
Proficiency in standard office software and corporate ERP systems.
Demonstrated ability to draft complex documents in English.
Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) or Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of
French would be considered an asset.