Field Project Assistant

Fao; United States; On-site; USD 40,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

FAO in Sri Lanka is seeking a Field Project Assistant to support the implementation of a US Macro Grant project aimed at strengthening vulnerable farming communities across specified districts. The role emphasizes field coordination, reporting, and liaison with government partners to ensure timely delivery of project outputs.

The appointment covers district-level work, coordinating field officers and providing technical support under the Project Management Specialist and FAOR guidance, with a

Responsibilities

• Coordinate field-level project activities at the district level.
• Liaise with government counterparts, partner organizations, and local communities to implement project interventions.

Job description

2601748
Field Project Assistant

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Various Locations

Duration: Up to 12 months

Organizational Unit: FASRL - FAO Representation in Sri Lanka

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide and has started working in Sri Lanka since 1979 with its Representation (Country Office) opened in Colombo. The FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, and through four Betters (Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life) - leaving no one behind.

Context:

FAO is implementing a United States (US) Macro Grant project in Sri Lanka aimed at strengthening the preparedness, resilience, and adaptive capacity of vulnerable farming communities facing multiple and interconnected shocks. These include the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah, disruptions associated with the Middle East crisis, and the forecasted El Niño conditions expected to affect agricultural production and water availability in the coming seasons.

The project targets smallholder paddy farmers in the districts of Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Puttalam, and Vavuniya, as well as vegetable farmers in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya. This project’s interventions seek to safeguard agricultural production, enhance food security, and strengthen livelihoods through a combination of agricultural input support, climate-resilient production practices, and anticipatory action measures.

Key project interventions include the provision of fertilizer and other essential agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers during the Maha 2026 cultivation season. Certified paddy seed producers will receive short-duration paddy seed varieties, fertilizer, hermetic storage bags, and moisture meters to support quality seed production during the Maha 2026/2027 season, ensuring the availability of suitable seed stocks for the Yala 2027 season, when water scarcity risks are expected to increase due to El Niño.

Vegetable farming households will receive quality seeds, fertilizer, and plastic crates to improve crop production and post-harvest management.

To mitigate anticipated water shortages during the Yala season, the project will promote Other Field Crop (OFC) cultivation through the provision of solar-powered irrigation pumps, supporting efficient and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

As part of a broader livelihood diversification strategy, the project will also support women farmers in Batticaloa through backyard poultry interventions, contributing to improved household income generation, nutrition, and resilience.

In addition to direct livelihood support, the project will place significant emphasis on strengthening anticipatory action systems at the local level. This will include enhancing community preparedness, early warning dissemination, risk-informed planning, and response mechanisms for both flood and drought hazards, thereby improving the capacity of farming communities and local institutions to anticipate, prepare for, and mitigate the impacts of climate-related shocks and stresses.

Therefore, the Field Project Assistant will support the effective implementation of project activities at the district level and contribute to achieving the expected results across all project outputs by providing technical support, facilitating field-level coordination, and working closely with the project team and relevant stakeholders.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall administrative leadership of the FAO Representative in Sri Lanka (FAOR) and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme), with technical guidance from the Project Management Specialist, the Department of Agriculture, and other relevant stakeholders, the incumbent will coordinate and facilitate field-level implementation of project activities. The Field Project Assistant will support effective planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting of project interventions to ensure the timely delivery of project outputs. The role includes liaising with government counterparts, partner organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders, providing technical and operational support, and ensuring that project activities are implemented efficiently, cost-effectively, and in accordance with FAO procedures, government regulations, donor requirements, and recognized national and international best practices.

For day-to-day project implementation, the Field Project Assistant will work under the operational guidance of the Project Management Specialist, while formal supervisory arrangements remain as specified by FAO.

Technical Focus

Coordinate and support field-level implementation of project activities, ensuring effective planning, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Facilitate collaboration with government and partners to deliver timely, cost-effective, and high-quality project outputs aligned with FAO standards and best practices.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the project, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme) and the Project Management Specialist, and in close collaboration with relevant government institutions, district-level authorities, extension officers, community-based organizations, and project consultants, the incumbent will support the effective planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities within the assigned district(s).

Specifically, the incumbent will:

The programme will deploy four district field officers across the six target districts and Colombo; the specific district assignment(s) for this post will be determined by FAO based on operational needs and reflected in the individual assignment.

• Coordinate and facilitate the implementation of project interventions targeting smallholder p