Coordination and Technical Backstopping Specialist (SSTC Sahel Project)

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Location: Accra
Job Type: Full-Time
Application Deadline: 07 May 2026

Company Profile

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide, supporting governments and partners to achieve sustainable agricultural development, improve rural livelihoods, and ensure food security for all. Through its South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) initiatives, FAO promotes knowledge exchange and technical collaboration across regions, including the Sahel.

Position Overview

FAO seeks a highly qualified Coordination and Technical Backstopping Specialist to support the effective delivery of the SSTC Sahel Project. The role focuses on coordinating multi-country implementation, strengthening technical quality, and ensuring alignment with regional frameworks and FAO standards. The Specialist will act as a key technical focal point, facilitating collaboration, harmonization, and high-quality reporting across participating countries.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and track the timely delivery of project activities across Sahel countries to ensure coherent implementation
• Support the coordination of all technical and operational aspects of the project across participating countries
• Ensure alignment of national implementation activities with regional frameworks and FAO standards
• Serve as the technical coordination focal point between RAF, PSTD, UNOSSC, and FAO Country Offices
• Provide technical backstopping to national consultants and FAO teams to strengthen output quality
• Lead quality assurance processes for methodologies, technical deliverables, and mission reports
• Harmonize methodologies and standardize reporting tools for consistent application across countries
• Review, consolidate, and validate technical inputs for quarterly, annual, and donor reports
• Facilitate structured communication and information exchange across regional project teams
• Promote cross-country collaboration and knowledge sharing through technical exchanges
• Identify operational challenges and propose practical corrective actions
• Ensure adherence to FAO visibility, reporting, and quality standards
• Support the harmonization of tools, frameworks, and monitoring approaches at the regional level

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities / UNESCO in:
  agriculture, natural resource management, water management, irrigation, environmental engineering, civil engineering, development studies, or a related field
• Candidates with a bachelor’s degree must have an additional two (2) years of relevant professional experience
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in international development, water resource management, or technical coordination/backstopping roles
• Working knowledge of English (Level C)

Core Competencies

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

Technical and Functional Skills

• Demonstrated experience working in regional or multi-country programme environments
• Strong expertise in technical coordination, backstopping, and programme oversight
• Proven ability to review, consolidate, and quality-assure technical documentation
• Experience with monitoring, reporting, and results-based management frameworks
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams
• Experience in irrigation, water management, or land restoration is an advantage
• Knowledge of FAO or UN project implementation procedures is an asset
• Experience engaging with stakeholders across Africa, including governments, donors, private sector, NGOs, and community-based organizations
• Strong networking and partnership-building skills
• Ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines
• Intermediate knowledge of French (Level B) is an advantage

How to Apply

Apply online by clicking on the application button below.