Back Natural Resources Officer

Organizational Setting

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) provides a cross-organizational coordination role on climate change, biodiversity and environmental agendas and it is the FAO focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The Office also assists FAO Members in their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation including through facilitating access to financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and FAO's work on socio-environmental safeguards.

FAO is one of the top GEF partner implementing agencies worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 400 projects valued at more than USD 1.9 billion. FAO supports eligible countries in accessing resources from the GEF family of funds comprised of: GEF Trust Fund (TF), the Least Development Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). OCB leads FAO's engagement and collaboration with the GEF Secretariat and across the 18 GEF Agencies and environmental conventions.

FAO brings to the GEF partnership extensive knowledge and expertise in the role that sustainable agrifood systems transformations play in achieving global environmental goals, including through work on climate action, sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and land and ecosystems restoration, among others. OCB is the coordinating unit in FAO for the UNFCCC and CBD for which the GEF serves as a financing instrument and, as such, it draws on FAO's strong field presence, technical expertise and in-depth understanding of GEF policies and procedures to assist Member Nations in accessing GEF financing. The synergies between GEF and FAO priorities and the importance of FAO's experience in the above areas have resulted in more countries choosing to work with FAO and the subsequent growth of the FAO-GEF portfolio and partnership.

The GEF-8 Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP) is aimed to catalyse nature-positive, climate-resilient, and pollution-free food systems transformations. It comprises 32 country projects across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Oceania, targeting six globally significant crops and commodities (rice, wheat, maize, cocoa, palm oil and soy), livestock and aquaculture. These sectors have been selected for the potential that they offer for delivering major environmental benefits and for contributing to the national implementation of internationally agreed goals on biodiversity, climate change and land through the application of innovative solutions. FAO is co-leading the FSIP at the global level together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

This position is located in Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and the Environment at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Natural Resources Officer reports to the Deputy Director, OCB

Technical Focus

The Natural Resources Officer will provide leadership for the Clean and Healthy Ocean Integrated Programme (CHO-IP) by coordinating the execution of its Global Coordination Project (GCP). This role will focus on enhancing the effectiveness of the CHO-IP efforts to address nutrient pollution and marine hypoxia. The staff member will guide actions to curb coastal pollution from agricultural, industrial, and municipal sources through gender-responsive policies, regulatory measures, infrastructure investments, nature-based solutions, and inclusive awareness-raising initiatives at global, regional, and national levels ultimately contributing to increased global environmental benefits.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with divisional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices as well as technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

   

  Specific Functions

  • Leads strategic planning, implementation, and oversight of FAO's contributions to the CHO-IP, including the management of the Global Coordination Project (GCP) and coherence across the 14 country projects.
  • Ensures effective programmatic integration, coordination, and delivery across thematic areas such as nutrient management, marine hypoxia mitigation, gender equality, and climate-resilient coastal solutions.
  • Supervises the GCP technical and administrative team, fostering a collaborative, results-oriented environment that ensures high-quality delivery of outputs.
  • Facilitates internal coordination across FAO technical divisions to leverage institutional expertise for technical support and policy advisory services to CHO-IP stakeholders.
  • Coordinates with FAO Regional, Subregional, and Country Offices to ensure consistent guidance, oversight, and backstopping for the implementation of country-level projects.
  • Maintains active engagement with co-lead partners (Asian Development Bank (ADB), Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)), technical organizations (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), Global Water Partnership (GWP), UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and others), and key stakeholder groups including national authorities, civil society, and the private sector.
  • Ensures alignment and contribution to relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements (e.g. UNFCCC, CBD) and supports global advocacy and knowledge-sharing aligned with CHO-IP objectives.
  • Leads coordination with the OCB-GEF Coordination Unit and GEF Secretariat, ensuring strategic alignment with GEF-8 integrated programming objectives and compliance with monitoring and evaluation (M-E) requirements.
  • Oversees GCP and programme-level reporting, including the preparation of progress reports, gender-responsive M-E frameworks, and technical assessments to inform adaptive management.
  • Manages financial oversight of the GCP, including budget planning, expenditure tracking, and procurement in accordance with FAO and GEF procedures.
  • Conducts technical missions to participating countries to support implementation, provide technical advice, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and assess project impacts.
  • Works closely with the OCB Technical Teams and the OCB-GEF Coordination Unit to ensure coherence with broader FAO programming and strategic priorities.

     

    CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

     

    Minimum Requirements

    • Advanced university degree in natural resources management, environmental science, environmental engineering, oceanography, agriculture, or a related field relevant to sustainable development and management of fresh and marine water ecosystems.
    • Seven years of relevant experience in promoting integrated approaches for sustainable and resilient oceans, food systems and environmental sustainability.
    • Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

       

      Competencies

      • Results Focus
      • Teamwork
      • Communication
      • Building Effective Relationships
      • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

         

        Technical/Functional Skills

        • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
        • Experience in programme management, implementing and monitoring development cooperation projects, including working experience with multilateral environmental agreements and environmental vertical funds would be considered as a strong asset.
        • Demonstrated knowledge of the multilateral environmental negotiations, and their link to national planning instruments.
        • Demonstrated experience of working with and implementing programmes and projects with environmental vertical funds (e.g. GEF, GCF) and/or climate investment funds.
        • Experience in building and managing teams and multistakeholder partnerships for shared action.
        • Demonstrated ability to design, implement and monitor projects and programmes in the nexus between environmental management and agriculture.
        • Demonstrated skills in results-based management and budgeting with the ability to manage programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities.
        • Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.