National Project Officer (Consultant), Gambia

Responsibilities: Under the guidance of the IFAD Country Director and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the consultant will provide technical, coordination, and advisory support to facilitate effective collaboration among executive entities (EEs) involved in the AICRM programme, including: The IFAD national basic investment PMU (ROOTS) and its programme coordinator, The World Food Programme (WFP) focal point, The African Risk Capacity (ARC) focal point, and The African Development Bank (AfDB) focal point The consultant will provide technical support to enhance the visibility of programme interventions at field level and within relevant coordination platforms. The consultant will develop the joint PTBA in collaboration with implementing entities and provide technical inputs to improve its quality and coherence. The consultant will track implementation progress against the agreed PTBA, review alignment of activities, and provide recommendations to strengthen programme consistency at the national level. The consultant will also facilitate coordination among implementing entities operating within the AICRM Programme and contribute to stakeholder engagement with sub-regional authorities and partners. In particular, the consultant will carry out the following tasks: Legal and regulatory levels Review programme implementation against the provisions of the project and provide recommendations to address any identified gaps; Review alignment with the financing agreements signed by programme partners; Examine correspondence issued to the Project Beneficiary/Borrower and provide technical inputs where required; Assess compliance with the IFAD financial management and auditing manual and highlight areas for improvement; Review the application of procedures outlined in the Financial and Accounting Administrative Manual and any other IFAD approved management manuals, and provide recommendations to strengthen adherence; Review the application of the AICRM Programme Technical Implementation Manual and its updates; Assess the use of the Monitoring and Evaluation Procedures Manual and propose improvements where necessary; Review the implementation status of recommendations from supervision, technical review, mid-term review, evaluation, and audit missions, and provide follow-up advice. At the institutional level Facilitate coordination among executing entities and provide recommendations to strengthen programme coherence at the national level; Monitor the consistency of the implementation of component activities: functional and operational interrelationships; Prepare and facilitate monthly coordination meetings with the Host Project and EE focal points, and document key outcomes; Develop and implement, with other programme and project coordinators working in the same area, a strategy of complementarity and synergy. Establish and maintain ongoing dialogue with administrative and political authorities and with the various project partners (donors, public technical services and private sector operators); Support the functioning of the Steering Committee by preparing documentation, drafting minutes, and providing technical inputs on agenda items; Facilitate the updating of the Project Implementation Manual (PIM); Provide technical inputs on no-objection requests (ANOs) upon request of the IFAD Country Office; Prepare periodic reports and updates for submission to the IFAD Country Office and contribute to coordination with the UCR; Facilitate information sharing among the Ministry, IFAD Country Office, PMU, and executive entities. PTBA management Facilitate the participatory development of the joint PTBA within the specified timeframe; Review alignment between component activities and provide recommendations to improve coherence across PTBAs prepared by all executive entities; Propose adjustments to the PTBAs, as needed, during the financial year; Consolidate PTBA inputs from the Host Project a…