Position: Project Officer
Reference: FARA/Adv./PO/01/2026/
Background
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the continental apex organization for agricultural research and innovation. It provides technical support to the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) on food and agricultural research and innovation. FARA coordinates continent-wide efforts to apply science, technology and innovation (STI) to Africa’s agri-food systems transformation priorities, as articulated in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy.
Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, FARA works with the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, regional economic communities, relevant government ministries, agricultural research and extension organizations, farmer organizations, higher education institutions and networks, CGIAR centres, development partners, private sector stakeholders and civil society organizations.
FARA seeks a Project Officer to support the coordination and implementation of multiple donor-funded projects within its agricultural research and innovation portfolio, including initiatives that advance collaboration, food and nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture.
Position purpose
The Project Officer will support the effective coordination and implementation of multiple projects through work planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, administration and communications. The role will help maintain reliable performance information, track progress against agreed results frameworks and provide timely information to support project management decisions.
Reporting line
The Project Officer reports to a Project Coordinator and works closely with other personnel
Key duties and responsibilities
Project management and coordination
Support the Project Coordinator in translating approved plans into practical activity schedules, milestones, deliverables, assigned responsibilities and follow-up actions.
Support the Project Coordinator in translating approved plans into practical activity schedules, milestones, deliverables, assigned responsibilities and follow-up actions.
Contribute to annual and activity work plans, budgets, progress reports, concept notes, proposals and terms of reference, and monitor their review and approval status.
Contribute to annual and activity work plans, budgets, progress reports, concept notes, proposals and terms of reference, and monitor their review and approval status.
Work with finance and project colleagues to track implementation progress, budget utilization and compliance with applicable administrative procedures.
Work with finance and project colleagues to track implementation progress, budget utilization and compliance with applicable administrative procedures.
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL)
Translate the approved results frameworkincluding indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, reporting frequency and assigned responsibilitiesinto a practical M&E tracking matrix.
Translate the approved results frameworkincluding indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, reporting frequency and assigned responsibilitiesinto a practical M&E tracking matrix.
Maintain indicator tracking tables, evidence registers, activity and participant records, and a reporting dashboard consistent with donor requirements and FARA’s institutional M&E system.
Maintain indicator tracking tables, evidence registers, activity and participant records, and a reporting dashboard consistent with donor requirements and FARA’s institutional M&E system.
Analyse progress against outputs, milestones and indicators, and prepare evidence-based inputs for management and donor reports.
Analyse progress against outputs, milestones and indicators, and prepare evidence-based inputs for management and donor reports.
Support surveys, feedback mechanisms, event evaluations, outcome documentation and data-quality reviews, observing relevant consent, confidentiality and secure data-management requirements.
Support surveys, feedback mechanisms, event evaluations, outcome documentation and data-quality reviews, observing relevant consent, confidentiality and secure data-management requirements.
Capture lessons learned, implementation challenges and success stories, and support review meetings and adjustments to implementation plans.
Capture lessons learned, implementation challenges and success stories, and support review meetings and adjustments to implementation plans.
Administration, reporting and communications
Maintain well-organized electronic project records, correspondence, agreements, deliverable evidence and version-controlled files.
Maintain well-organized electronic project records, correspondence, agreements, deliverable evidence and version-controlled files.
Coordinate meetings, workshops, webinars and stakeholder events, including agendas, logistics, minutes, attendance records and action tracking.
Coordinate meetings, workshops, webinars and stakeholder events, including agendas, logistics, minutes, attendance records and action tracking.
Collect and check staff and project timesheets for completeness, track submissions and refer outstanding entries or discrepancies to the supervisor.
Collect and check staff and project timesheets for completeness, track submissions and refer outstanding entries or discrepancies to the supervisor.
Prepare correspondence, briefing notes, meeting reports and other project documents, and undertake desk research as required.
Prepare correspondence, briefing notes, meeting reports and other project documents, and undertake desk research as required.
Coordinate approved updates to relevant project websites and calendars, ensuring that information is accurate, timely and consistent with FARA’s communication procedures.
Coordinate approved updates to relevant project websites and calendars, ensuring that information is accurate, timely and consistent with FARA’s communication procedures.
Support dissemination of project information, calls and funding opportunities, and maintain up-to-date partner and stakeholder engagement records.
Support dissemination of project information, calls and funding opportunities, and maintain up-to-date partner and stakeholder engagement records.
Organize supporting documentation for project inception, audits, reviews and close-out, including evidence files and completion checklists.
Organize supporting documentation for project inception, audits, reviews and close-out, including evidence files and completion checklists.
Expected deliverables and performance measures
An up-to-date integrated work plan, project calendar, milestone tracker and action log, reviewed at least monthly or as directed.
An up-to-date integrated work plan, project calendar, milestone tracker and action log, reviewed at least monthly or as directed.
A current M&E matrix and dashboard showing indicators, targets, actual results, supporting evidence and outstanding data gaps.
A current M&E matrix and dashboard showing indicators, targets, actual results, supporting evidence and outstanding data gaps.
Accurate, timely and quality-checked contributions to periodic progress and donor reports.
Accurate, timely and quality-checked contributions to periodic progress and donor reports.
Complete timesheet submission records and a follow-up log for outstanding items.
Complete timesheet submission records and a follow-up log for outstanding items.
Reliable meeting and event documentation, including attendance records, minutes and action points.
Reliable meeting and event documentation, including attendance records, minutes and action points.
Timely, approved website and calendar updates, with records of project information disseminated.
Timely, approved website and calendar updates, with records of project information disseminated.
Periodic summaries of lessons learned, implementation risks and emerging issues for management consideration.
Periodic summaries of lessons learned, implementation risks and emerging issues for management consideration.
Qualifications and experience
The following qualifications and experience are drawn from the draft. The minimum academic requirement should be confirmed before publication.
A relevant degree in project management, public or business administration, monitoring and evaluation, development studies, agricultural development, economics, statistics or a related discipline. A relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage, subject to confirmation of the minimum requirement.
A relevant degree in project management, public or business administration, monitoring and evaluation, development studies, agricultural development, economics, statistics or a related discipline. A relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage, subject to confirmation of the minimum requirement.
At least three years of relevant experience in project or programme coordination and implementation, including practical experience in M&E, results tracking, data collection, analysis and reporting.
At least three years of relevant experience in project or programme coordination and implementation, including practical experience in M&E, results tracking, data collection, analysis and reporting.
Experience supporting donor-funded, multi-partner projects, preferably in agricultural research, food systems or international development, is highly desirable.
Experience supporting donor-funded, multi-partner projects, preferably in agricultural research, food systems or international development, is highly desirable.
Demonstrated experience preparing indicator matrices, performance reports, dashboards and quality-assured datasets, with familiarity in results-based management and logical frameworks.
Demonstrated experience preparing indicator matrices, performance reports, dashboards and quality-assured datasets, with familiarity in results-based management and logical frameworks.
Experience in partner coordination, project administration, timesheet tracking and website or content updates is an advantage.
Experience in partner coordination, project administration, timesheet tracking and website or content updates is an advantage.
Required competencies and technical skills
Good understanding of project-cycle management, work planning, risk management, deliverable tracking and results frameworks, including indicators, baselines and targets.
Good understanding of project-cycle management, work planning, risk management, deliverable tracking and results frameworks, including indicators, baselines and targets.
Practical M&E capability, including data collection, quality assurance, analysis, evidence verification, reporting and learning.
Practical M&E capability, including data collection, quality assurance, analysis, evidence verification, reporting and learning.
Ability to manage digital calendars, shared trackers, electronic records and website content through approved workflows.
Ability to manage digital calendars, shared trackers, electronic records and website content through approved workflows.
Strong written communication, analytical thinking, stakeholder engagement, discretion, problem-solving and time-management skills.
Strong written communication, analytical thinking, stakeholder engagement, discretion, problem-solving and time-management skills.
Duty station
FARA Secretariat, Accra, Ghana
FARA Secretariat, Accra, Ghana
Contract duration
One year, with the option of renewal
One year, with the option of renewal
Expected start date:
December 1, 2026
December 1, 2026
Travel: The position may require travel, depending on project needs.
Travel: The position may require travel, depending on project needs.
Interested and qualified candidates should submit:
Contact details of three professional referees.
Contact details of three professional referees.
Applications should be addressed to:
Dr. Aggrey AgumyaExecutive DirectorForum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)No. 7 Flower AvenueNew Achimota, Mile 7PMB CT 173Accra, Ghana
Applications should be submitted electronically to: recruitment@faraafrica.org
Application Deadline: 6th November 2026
Important Notice
Applicants must quote the reference number FARA/Adv./PO/01/2026 as the subject of their email and in their cover letter.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who do not meet the stated minimum requirements will not be considered.
FARA is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or any other protected characteristic. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.