The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is recruiting a Project Operations Assistant in Davao City, Philippines, under the European Union-funded EU4Mindanao initiative.

The position is a National Project Personnel opportunity with an initial duration of 12 months, including a 3-month probationary period.

Applications close on:

September 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM, based on the date and time settings of the applicant’s personal device.

The role is designed for professionals with experience in:

Project operations
Administration
Financial coordination
Procurement
Logistics
Monitoring
Reporting
Programme implementation

Candidates must be nationals of the Philippines and have at least four years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in project operations, including familiarity with the operational context of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Detail	Information
Organization	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Job Title	Project Operations Assistant
Job ID	2601468
Location	Davao City, Philippines
Organizational Unit	FAPHI – FAO Representation in the Philippines
Job Type	Non-staff opportunity
Requisition Type	NPP – National Project Personnel
Duration	12 months
Probation	Initial 3 months
Project	European Union Support for Resilient Mindanao – EU4Mindanao
Posting Date	September 8, 2026
Closing Date	September 22, 2026
Closing Time	11:59 PM
Nationality Requirement	Philippine national
Experience Required	At least 4 years
Degree Required	Yes
Languages	Working knowledge of English and Filipino
Salary	Not stated
Remote Work	Not stated
Visa Sponsorship	Not applicable as a general international recruitment route; Philippine nationality is required
Application Method	FAO recruitment portal

What Is the FAO Project Operations Assistant Role?

The Project Operations Assistant supports the day-to-day implementation of FAO project activities.

The role includes a wide range of:

administrative + logistical + operational + financial + monitoring + reporting responsibilities.

The selected candidate will report to the:

Assistant FAO Representative for Programme.

Where Is the Job Based?

The position is located in:

Davao City, Philippines.

This is not presented as a remote or international home-based role.

Opportunities Feed Clarification

Candidates should not assume they can perform the role remotely from another country.

The job posting specifically identifies Davao City as the primary location.

What Project Will the Assistant Support?

The role is funded under:

European Union Support for Resilient Mindanao — EU4Mindanao.

This initiative is part of the European Union’s longer-term support for:

Peacebuilding
Inclusive development
Community resilience
Economic development

in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Who Is Implementing EU4Mindanao?

The project is jointly implemented by:

United Nations Industrial Development Organization — UNIDO
Food and Agriculture Organization — FAO

with the Mindanao Development Authority serving as the overall government partner.

UNIDO serves as the lead agency and Administrative Agent.

What Is the Goal of EU4Mindanao?

The project aims to help create an enabling environment for:

sustainable peace and development in Mindanao.

The initiative applies a combined:

humanitarian + peace + climate + development

approach.

This is referred to as the HPCD nexus.

Which Communities Does the Project Support?

The EU4Mindanao action focuses particularly on communities facing multiple vulnerabilities.

These include:

Indigenous Peoples
Internally Displaced Persons
People at risk of displacement
Persons with Disabilities
Women and girls
Youth

especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and communities within BARMM.

EU4Mindanao Project Outcomes

The project has two main outcomes.

Outcome 1

Increase the resilience of local communities.

FAO focuses primarily on agriculture-related aspects of this outcome.

Outcome 2

Strengthen:

Local value chains
Value addition
Fair production
Economic opportunities

for target communities.

UNIDO focuses particularly on processing and agro-industry under this outcome.

What Does the Project Operations Assistant Do?

The selected candidate will support operational delivery across several aspects of the project.

Responsibilities include:

Supporting development of project work plans
Helping implement activities
Coordinating with FAO staff, partners and stakeholders
Working with government counterparts
Monitoring project progress
Identifying operational bottlenecks
Supporting programme implementation
Assisting with budget preparation
Supporting financial control
Coordinating logistics
Supporting missions
Assisting with procurement
Providing operational field support
Supporting monitoring, evaluation and learning
Maintaining project registers and control tools
Preparing minutes and presentations
Supporting project reporting
Preparing HR plans
Monitoring resource allocations and expenditures

Project Planning Responsibilities

One of the main responsibilities is participating in development of:

project work plans

and supporting subsequent implementation.

This involves consultation with:

FAO personnel
Partners
Stakeholders
Government counterparts

Opportunities Feed Insight

This means the job is not purely administrative.

It requires active involvement in project coordination and operational delivery.

Budget and Financial Responsibilities

The role supports financial and administrative processes connected to programme implementation.

This may include:

Budget preparation
Financial control
Resource tracking
Expenditure monitoring
Financial statements
Transaction listings

The Operations Assistant will work with administrative colleagues and FAO systems to support these processes.

Procurement Responsibilities

Procurement is another important component.

The Project Operations Assistant will:

Review Purchase Requisitions
Check project codes
Review specifications
Coordinate with the FAO Philippines Procurement Unit
Monitor procurement progress
Support timely delivery of transactions

Opportunities Feed Insight

Applicants with experience coordinating procurement in donor-funded or development projects may be particularly well aligned with this responsibility.

Monitoring and Evaluation Responsibilities

The selected candidate will also support:

monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Responsibilities include maintaining current project registers and control tools showing project status at different stages.

This makes familiarity with project-tracking systems potentially valuable.

Reporting Responsibilities

The role includes assistance with:

Meeting minutes
Presentation materials
Project reports
Monitoring updates

Candidates should therefore be comfortable producing clear, accurate professional documentation.

HR Planning Responsibilities

The Project Operations Assistant will prepare:

HR plans

based on existing and forthcoming project documents.

The role also involves monitoring resource allocations and expenditures.

Mission Coordination

The position supports missions involving:

FAO offices
Donors
Governments
Other partners

This requires coordination with administrative colleagues and project teams.

Opportunities Feed Insight

Strong organizational ability is important because mission coordination can involve multiple schedules, logistics, stakeholders and administrative requirements.

Donor Visibility and Communications Compliance

The role also has responsibilities relating to:

European Union visibility requirements.

The Project Operations Assistant must help ensure that teams, consultants, grantees and implementing partners follow relevant EU communication and visibility requirements.

This includes guidance connected to use of the EU emblem and external-action visibility.

Who Can Apply?

FAO lists several minimum requirements.

Candidates must have:

A relevant university degree
At least four years of relevant project-operations experience
Philippine nationality
Working knowledge of English
Working knowledge of Filipino

What Degree Is Required?

FAO accepts university degrees in areas including:

Business Administration
Public Administration
Management
Finance
Accounting
Economics
Commerce
Other related disciplines

Opportunities Feed Clarification

The degree requirement is not limited to one exact major.

Related disciplines may also be considered.

How Much Experience Is Required?

Applicants must have at least:

four years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in project operations.

The role also specifically requires demonstrated familiarity with:

Mindanao and BARMM’s operational context.

Opportunities Feed Insight

The geographic-context requirement is important.

A candidate with four years of general administration experience but no exposure to Mindanao or BARMM may not be as competitive as someone with direct project experience in the region.

Nationality Requirement

Applicants must be:

nationals of the Philippines.

Opportunities Feed Warning

This is not a broadly international UN vacancy.

Applicants who are not Philippine nationals should not treat this as an internationally open FAO post.

Language Requirements

Candidates must have working knowledge at Level C in:

English
Filipino

FAO Core Competencies

Candidates will be assessed against FAO’s core competencies.

These include:

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing
Continuous Improvement

Technical and Functional Skills

FAO is looking for candidates who can support project implementation across areas such as:

Work planning
Administrative coordination
Financial processes
Procurement
Logistics
Monitoring
Reporting
FAO systems
Donor requirements

Monitoring and Tracking Tools

Applicants should be comfortable using monitoring and tracking tools for:

project oversight.

This may involve maintaining registers, monitoring activities and tracking project implementation status.

Ability to Work Under Pressure

The role requires the ability to:

Work under pressure
Adapt to an evolving humanitarian context
Work across multidisciplinary teams
Work with people from different cultural backgrounds

Opportunities Feed Insight

This is particularly relevant because EU4Mindanao operates across communities affected by conflict, displacement, climate risk and other vulnerabilities.

Is This an International Professional Position?

No.

The role is classified as:

National Project Personnel.

It also explicitly requires Philippine nationality.

Is This a Staff Position?

No.

The posting classifies it as a:

non-staff opportunity.

Opportunities Feed Clarification

Candidates should not automatically assume the same employment terms, benefits or contract structure associated with regular FAO staff appointments.

What Is the Contract Duration?

The contract is listed as:

12 months

with an:

initial three-month probationary period.

Is the Contract Renewable?

The supplied posting does not state that renewal is guaranteed.

Candidates should not assume automatic extension beyond the stated 12-month duration.

Is There a Salary Listed?

No salary or compensation figure is provided in the supplied vacancy.

Opportunities Feed Warning

Do not invent or estimate a salary from another FAO vacancy.

Compensation can differ depending on:

Contract type
Country
Duty station
Local salary scales
Project arrangements

Does FAO Charge Application Fees?

No.

FAO explicitly states that it does not charge a fee at any stage of recruitment, including:

Application
Interview
Processing

Opportunities Feed Warning

Applicants should treat any request for payment claiming to guarantee an FAO job as suspicious.

Does FAO Conduct Background Checks?

Yes.

FAO states that selected candidates will undergo:

rigorous reference and background checks.

Candidates may also be asked to authorize verification of:

Employment
Character
Education
Military records
Police records

where relevant.

Educational Institution Requirements

FAO states that higher education qualifications must come from institutions accredited or recognized in the:

World Higher Education Database — WHED.

The database is maintained through the International Association of Universities and UNESCO.

Opportunities Feed Advice

Before applying, candidates with less familiar institutions should check that their degree-awarding institution is recognized in WHED.

Who Should Consider Applying?

This position may be a strong fit for professionals with backgrounds in:

Project Operations
Programme Administration
Development Projects
Humanitarian Programmes
Procurement
Financial Administration
Logistics
Monitoring and Evaluation
Public Administration

especially those with experience in Mindanao or BARMM.

What Kind of Experience Could Strengthen an Application?

Relevant experience may include:

Supporting donor-funded projects
Managing project activity schedules
Procurement coordination
Budget monitoring
Financial tracking
Mission logistics
Government coordination
Programme reporting
Monitoring systems
Community development programmes

where applicable.

Opportunities Feed Application Insight

Applicants should pay particular attention to the phrase:

“progressively responsible experience.”

Rather than simply listing four years of work history, show increasing responsibility.

For example:

Year 1: Administrative support

Year 2: Project coordination

Year 3: Budget and procurement monitoring

Year 4: Operational oversight and stakeholder coordination

This can demonstrate progression more effectively.

How to Tailor Your CV for the Role

Applicants should ensure their CV clearly shows:

Project operations experience
Years of relevant experience
Mindanao/BARMM exposure
Budget support
Procurement
Logistics
Financial monitoring
Reporting
Government coordination
Donor-funded project experience

where true.

Emphasize Mindanao Experience

The vacancy explicitly asks for familiarity with:

Mindanao and BARMM.

Candidates should therefore make this easy to identify on their application.

Instead of writing:

“Worked on regional development projects.”

use a more specific description where accurate:

“Supported implementation and stakeholder coordination for community development activities across Mindanao, including engagements with BARMM partners.”

Show Quantifiable Project Results

Where possible, quantify your work.

For example:

“Tracked procurement and operational delivery for 12 field activities across three provinces.”

or:

“Maintained budget and project-monitoring records for a donor-funded programme supporting 20 communities.”

Use only figures you can verify.

Letter of Motivation Required

FAO asks candidates to attach:

a letter of motivation

to their online profile.

This should be tailored to the vacancy rather than written as a generic UN application letter.

What Should the Motivation Letter Focus On?

A strong motivation letter should connect your experience to:

Project operations
Mindanao and BARMM
Government coordination
Procurement
Financial monitoring
Logistics
Humanitarian or development settings
FAO’s agrifood and resilience objectives

Documents You May Need

The application profile should include accurate and complete information covering:

Employment records
Academic qualifications
Language skills
Letter of motivation

Applicants may later be asked for additional verification documents.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official:

FAO recruitment portal.

The application process is:

create or update your FAO profile → enter employment records → enter academic qualifications → add language skills → attach a motivation letter → open Job 2601468 → submit the application.

FAO states that only applications submitted through its official recruitment portal will be considered.

Make Sure Your Profile Is Complete

FAO warns that:

incomplete applications will not be considered.

Opportunities Feed Advice

Do not rely only on an uploaded CV.

Make sure the information entered directly into the FAO applicant profile is accurate and complete.

The screening process is based on the information provided in the profile.

Application Deadline

Applications close:

September 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

FAO notes that the displayed closing date and time are based on the settings of the applicant’s personal device.

Opportunities Feed Advice

Do not wait until September 22.

FAO explicitly encourages applicants to submit well before the deadline.

How Competitive Is the FAO Project Operations Assistant Role?

FAO does not disclose:

Number of applicants
Number of shortlisted candidates
Acceptance rate
Interview ratio

Therefore, competitiveness cannot be quantified from the supplied vacancy.

However, the combination of:

UN affiliation + 12-month project contract + international development work + EU-funded programme exposure

is likely to attract qualified applicants.

How to Strengthen Your Application

The strongest application will clearly connect your past experience to the vacancy’s actual responsibilities.

Show evidence of:

project coordination + budget support + procurement + logistics + monitoring + reporting + government engagement + donor compliance.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

Applying if you are not a Philippine national
Ignoring the four-year experience requirement
Failing to show Mindanao/BARMM experience
Submitting an incomplete FAO profile
Forgetting the motivation letter
Claiming the role is international
Claiming the job is remote
Inventing a salary
Assuming visa sponsorship
Applying after September 22, 2026
Using an unrecognized educational qualification without checking WHED
Paying anyone who claims an FAO recruitment fee
Submitting through an unofficial recruitment site

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FAO Project Operations Assistant Job 2026?

It is a National Project Personnel role supporting operational delivery of FAO’s EU4Mindanao project in Davao City.

Where is the job located?

Davao City, Philippines.

What is the job number?

2601468.

When was the job posted?

September 8, 2026.

What is the application deadline?

September 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

How long is the contract?

12 months, with an initial 3-month probationary period.

Is it a staff position?

No. It is classified as a non-staff opportunity.

What type of contract is it?

NPP — National Project Personnel.

Can international applicants apply?

No broad international eligibility is stated. The vacancy specifically requires applicants to be nationals of the Philippines.

What degree is required?

A university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Commerce or a related discipline.

How much experience is required?

At least four years of relevant and progressively responsible project operations experience.

Is Mindanao experience required?

The posting specifically requires demonstrated familiarity with the operational context of Mindanao and BARMM.

What languages are required?

Working knowledge of English and Filipino at Level C.

What project will the successful candidate support?

The European Union Support for Resilient Mindanao — EU4Mindanao Action.

Who implements EU4Mindanao?

FAO and UNIDO jointly implement the initiative, with UNIDO acting as lead agency and Administrative Agent and MinDA as the overall government partner.

What will the Project Operations Assistant do?

Responsibilities include work planning, project implementation support, procurement, logistics, budget and financial coordination, monitoring, reporting, HR planning and donor-visibility compliance.

Is the job remote?

The posting does not describe it as remote. The duty station is Davao City.

What is the salary?

No salary figure is provided in the supplied job posting.

Does FAO charge an application fee?

No.

Is a motivation letter required?

Yes. Candidates are asked to attach a motivation letter to their FAO online profile.

Does FAO accept incomplete applications?

No. FAO states that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Where should applicants apply?

Through the official Jobs at FAO recruitment portal.

Opportunities Feed Verdict

The FAO Project Operations Assistant Job 2026 is a strong opportunity for experienced Philippine professionals interested in combining:

UN project work + development operations + donor-funded programmes + agriculture + peacebuilding + community resilience.

The position is based in:

Davao City

and supports the European Union-funded EU4Mindanao initiative.

The contract runs for:

12 months, including an initial 3-month probationary period.

The strongest candidates will have:

a relevant university degree + at least four years of progressive project-operations experience + familiarity with Mindanao and BARMM + English and Filipino language ability.

This is not an internationally open vacancy.

Applicants must be:

Philippine nationals.

The role is particularly operations-focused, covering:

work planning + financial coordination + procurement + logistics + monitoring + reporting + HR planning + donor compliance.

Applications close on:

September 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

The strongest application strategy is:

update your FAO profile completely → clearly show four or more years of progressive project operations experience → emphasize Mindanao/BARMM exposure → quantify procurement, budgeting, logistics and monitoring achievements → attach a targeted motivation letter → submit well before September 22.

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