National Grant Operation Specialist

The National Grant Operation Specialist will lead the design, delivery, and institutionalization of grant operations for the Climate Smart Agriculture Alternatives for Upland Production Systems project in Lao PDR. The role involves managing beneficiary cash grants, coordinating grant processes, and ensuring compliance with FAO and donor requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation of the Grant Management Manual and Small Grant Selection Process, ensuring alignment with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Beneficiary Grant under ESP Beneficiary Grant MS703.
• Oversee the implementation and reporting of small grants and LoA-based activities, ensuring that financial and narrative reports meet project and donor requirements.
• Facilitate the consolidation of all partner and grant reports into the project’s official reporting system and ensure operational compliance with FAO and GEF.
• Assist the Lead National Consultant and the Climate and Livelihood Expert to serve as national grant operation focal point for manage grant operation and procurement of LoA.
• Facilitate the CRA Beneficiary Grant Technical Committee (BGTC) to finalize the grants selection process.
• Assist in the smooth and timely implementation of project GOM in support of the results-based and partners contractual work plans, through administrative, logistical support procedures according to FAO rules and standards.
• Assist in the coordination and review of project operational arrangements through contractual agreements (OPA & LoA) with key project partners, in collaboration with the focal point for all FAO-GEF projects in regard to finance and material inputs for OPA and LoA.
• Request the Budget Holder to take a decision on the award and value of beneficiary cash grants, which must be determined through a process that guarantees transparency and integrity.
• Assist in the execution of accurate and timely actions on all operational requirements for personnel-related matters, and for smaller-budget equipment and material procurement, and project staff and consultant related field disbursements.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• University degree in public management, agricultural development, rural development, climate change, climate finance or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in facilitation, procurement, grant proposal design and delivery, or technical advisory services in agriculture, climate change, environment, climate finance, or development projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in facilitating the agricultural and environmental project implementation for government institutions and development partners.
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Lao PDR.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in multicultural environments.
• Proposal design and delivery.
• Knowledge management & e-learning.
• Coordination and facilitation.
• Experience in GEF project development and management, including familiarity with GEF modalities, investment criteria, feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, gender mainstreaming, indigenous peoples, and environmental and social safeguards.
• Experience in working with multi-stakeholder coordination (government ministries, and development partners).

Skills

• Grant Proposal Design
• Grant Delivery
• Procurement
• Technical Advisory
• Agricultural Project Implementation
• Environmental Project Implementation
• Project Facilitation
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Proposal Design
• Knowledge Management
• E-learning
• Coordination
• Facilitation
• GEF Project Development
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Environmental Safeguards Policy
• Social Safeguards
• Stakeholder Coordination

Languages

English