Back Policy Officer

Organizational Setting

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) works to ensure that countries and stakeholders respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. OCB provides a cross organizational coordination role on issues related to climate change, biodiversity and the environment, and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Office also assists FAO Members in their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, including through facilitating access to climate and environmental financing (such as the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund).

In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as well as FAO's work on environmental safeguards.

FAO is one of the top Global Environment Facility (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 contribute 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).

The program will provide value added through four complementary and interrelated hubs, namely: Hub 1 on Policy and Governance;  Hub 2 on Private Sector Engagement and Mobilization of Financial Resources; Hub 3 on Innovation and Technical Support for Landscape Level Interventions; and  Hub 4 on Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation.

In this context, the Policy Officer will lead the design and implementation of a strategy and corresponding activities to ensure achieving strategic results under Hub 1. The Policy Officer will work in collaboration with technical experts implementing the other Hubs as well as program partners such as IFAD, the United Nations Development Programme, the Nature Conservancy and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, among others.

Reporting Lines

The Policy Officer reports to the Deputy Director, OCB.

Technical Focus

The Policy Officer, through Hub 1, will support participating countries in meeting their commitments related to climate change, biodiversity and environment action through agrifood system transformation, relevant policy, legal and governance work.

Key Results

Implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work: i) in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and its delivery mechanisms, and ii) in response to new policy assistance requests.

Key Functions

• Researches and analyses agricultural, economic, trade, market, social, environmental, nutrition/food composition and/or gender-related data, statistics and information to provide technical, statistical and/or policy related information and analysis to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes, products, projects, publications and services.
• Participates in partnerships and promotes best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced governance for food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, agrifood systems as well as environmental related issues.
• Supports with analytical work and collaboration with concerned stakeholders the adoption and implementation of cross-sectoral policies and strategies.
• Produces a variety of technical reports and input for technical documents, publications and/or web pages.
• Provides technical, statistical and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and/or assessments and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social, economic, environmental, nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams, collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes knowledge sharing.
• Collaborates in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops, seminars and major meetings and the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities.

   

  Specific Functions

  • Supports FAO's role in the GEF FSIP:  Lead planning, coordination and implementation of FAO's global responsibilities, particularly under Hub 1.
  • Coordinates Technical Inputs: Gathers and synthesizes contributions from lead agency specialists and partners on policy, governance and gender equality.
  • Advises on Policy & Governance: Ensures the achievement of global environmental benefits and integrated food systems principles are applied across country projects and governance frameworks.
  • Curates Lessons Learned: Reviews and synthesizes policy and governance best practices from the GEF portfolio, among others, for dissemination via the Global Coordination Platform (GCP).
  • Develops Tools & Guidance: Provides recommendations, tools and capacity-building materials on policy and governance for country projects and stakeholders.
  • Creates an Interactive Policy Tool: Leads the development of a visual tool to track and communicate policy, legal and governance advancements in climate, biodiversity and environmental action through sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
  • Organizes Capacity Development: Supports training, events and knowledge-sharing activities on policy and governance, in collaboration with Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation specialists.
  • Facilitates the Integrated Programme Policy Working Group (PWG): Convenes and guides key stakeholders to harmonize and maximize the impact of policy work across the FSIP.
  • Monitors & Integrates Global Trends: Tracks global policy developments, engages with country projects, the Food Systems Assembly and communities of practice.
  • Promotes Sustainability & Collaboration: Ensures agrifood systems sustainability is prioritized in regional/global policy discussions and stimulates inclusive action.
  • Strengthens National Capacities: Develops programmes to enhance national stakeholders' ability to shape and influence policies, legislation and governance.
  • Produces Reports & Knowledge Products: Generates reports, updates communication materials and collaborates on improving tools, systems and best practices.

     

    CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

      

    Minimum Requirements

    • Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, law, political sciences, economics, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries) or related field.
    • Five years of relevant experience in policy advice and public analysis related to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems and environmental sustainability, including monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes, as well as in programme management, implementing and/or monitoring development cooperation projects.
    • 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.
        • Demonstrated knowledge of the multilateral environmental and climate negotiations and their link to national planning instruments such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.
        • Demonstrated experience of working with and implementing programmes and projects with environmental vertical funds (e.g. GEF, GCF) and/or climate investment funds.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis and advice related to promoting integrated approaches for sustainable and resilient agrifood systems and environmental sustainability.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in building and managing multistakeholder partnerships for shared action on sustainable and resilient agriculture.
        • Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources from multiple partners.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.