Back Senior Natural Resources Officer

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) provides a cross-organizational coordination role on the 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 sustainable agri-food 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 Programme (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 Agriculture Development (IFAD).

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

Reporting Lines

The Senior Natural Resources Officer reports to the Deputy Director, OCB.

Technical Focus

Leadership of the FSIP supporting global and national level action for implementing the Multilateral Environmental Agreements by addressing biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation through sustainable food systems transformation.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes of work, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates and/or participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services to technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database as well as monitoring and reporting frameworks.
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analytical activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Members, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning and on-line tools.
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

   

  Specific Functions

  • Leads planning, organization and implementation of FAO's responsibilities at global level under the GEF Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP).
  • Ensures overall coherence in the FSIP, comprised of one Global Coordination Project (GCP) and 32 country projects so that strategic impact is maximized both at national and global levels.
  • Manages and coordinates the specialized team of the FAO Global Coordination Project (GCP) of the FSIP.
  • Facilitates and coordinates required inter-divisional technical support within FAO from relevant technical offices and divisions that contribute to the programme outcomes.
  • Liaises and coordinates with relevant regional, subregional and country offices to support the implementation of FAO-led components of the FSIP ensuring that adequate guidance and support is provided to the country projects.
  • Coordinates and oversees key institutional engagements, particularly with relevant staff in the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) as co-lead in the FSIP, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Nature Conservancy, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, government institutions, civil society and the private sector, among others.
  • Coordinates interactions with the UNFCCC Secretariat and process as well as other relevant global initiatives and processes at the nexus of climate change and agriculture.
  • Ensures strong coordination with the GEF Secretariat and FSIP contributions to integrated programming.
  • Coordinates the monitoring and reporting under the GCP and the preparation of technical and progress reports of the FSIP.
  • Prepares and follows up programme budget and expenditures and oversees administrative processes.
  • Organizes and leads country missions as necessary and provides technical assistance in project implementation, capacity development, monitoring, and evaluations/impact assessment.
  • Works closely with the project partners, including governments, and with the OCB Technical Teams and OCB-GEF Coordination Unit.

     

    CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

     

    Minimum Requirements

    • Advanced university degree in natural resources, agriculture, economics or a related field.
    • Ten years of relevant experience in promoting integrated approaches for sustainable and resilient food systems and environmental sustainability, including in programme management, implementing and monitoring development cooperation projects, as well as with multilateral environmental agreements and environmental vertical funds.
    • Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

       

      Competencies

      • Results Focus
      • Leading, Engaging and Empowering
      • Communication
      • Partnering and Advocating
      • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
      • Strategic Thinking

         

        Technical/Functional Skills

        • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
        • 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.
        • Experience in building and managing teams and multi stakeholder partnerships for shared action on sustainable and resilient agriculture.
        • Demonstrated ability to design, implement and monitor projects and programmes in the nexus between climate change, biodiversity and the environment.
        • Demonstrated results-based management and budgeting capabilities with an ability to manage programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities.
        • Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources from multiple partners.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.