Organizational setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the
FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems,
for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all
and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194
countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and
support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to
provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of
accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks
(CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient
operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i) advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii) provide technical assistance and deliver core services.
(iii) assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv) position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v) ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management
The Position is located in Monrovia, Liberia. It specifically supports the implementation of the FAO project Our Forest, our Future: leh use some and keep some: Improving Forest Governance and Sustainability in Liberia funded by the European Union.
Reporting Lines
Under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative, in close collaboration with the Assistant FAO Representative for Programme and technical support and backstopping from the Co - Lead Technical Officers based in the Sub-regional Office (SFW) and the in-house FAO VPA experts in the Forestry Division (NFO), i.e. co-LTO/HQ, the in Technical Advisor – (Forestry) will provide programme and operational support as follows:
Technical Focus
Enhancing government agencies' capacity to implement the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and sustainable forest management (SFM) involves technical support for governance and law enforcement, comprehensive reporting, and programme evaluations. Strategic partnerships and governance assessments are also key. Leveraging technology and international expertise ensures effective monitoring and evaluation, ultimately strengthening forest governance and sustainable timber trade practices.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Manage the technical implementation of all project activities in collaboration with Government counterparts, the European Union (Delegation and HQ), technical partners, and FAO experts, ensuring technical quality assurance and control.
• Oversee capacity development activities to strengthen the Government of Liberia (GoL) in VPA-related topics, including commercial forestry and forest management practices.
• Ensure smooth project implementation by coordinating regular project task force meetings with GoL and EUD representatives and maintaining good working relationships with FDA Directorate and relevant stakeholders.
• Developed detailed work plans for the members of the Programme Management Unit (PMU) and annual Work Plan and Budget for the project (in collaboration with project staff and stakeholders);
• Provide support with the hiring of affiliate workforce and assignments, monitor their work, and review their reports.
• Communicate regularly with FAO external technical partners, including the FLEGT ALA Facility in Brussels, and support technical and policy advisory services for Government of Liberia (GoL) and EUD.
• Prepare and submit regular periodic and other required reports, including technical backstopping to ensure the quality and effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Advocate for best practices, facilitate policy dialogue, and negotiate effective working relationships/consensus and agreement with national, local, and regional stakeholders, where pertinent.
• Represent FAO at relevant meetings and conferences and provide substantive direction for consultative meetings, including Joint Implementation Committee (JICs), Liberia Implementation Committee (LICs), and National Multi-Stakeholders Committee (NMSMCs) or similar dialogue structures in any potential future partnership structure, if pertinent.
• Backstop the process of conducting annual evaluations/reviews, including collaborative processes of stocktaking on the Forward Planner or any other similar progress tracking tool, institutional capacity development plans and packages, and annual revenue budget and initiate follow-up actions.
• Lead the preparation of various written outputs, including background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports as well as studies, and inputs to publications.
• Manage awareness creation and outreach activities, consistent with the compliance roadmap, designs and conducts training workshops and seminars, and makes presentations as may be required.
• Identify and implement strategic partnerships, lead or participate in resource mobilization activities, and provide substantive support to consultative meetings by preparing documents, facilitating discussions, and delivering technical presentations.
• Manage and monitor the Programme budget and oversee all administrative actions and contracting by the Programme.
• Review the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of the programme as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Lead and main support in the organisation of field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other actors in the VPA process and other forest governance related missions, considered pertinent by the Programme Steering Committee.
• Perform any other related tasks as and when requested.
Specific Functions
• Design and contribute to the implementation of initiatives to develop the technical and institutional capacity of government agencies to coordinate and implement the VPA and other potentially relevant sustainable forest management and governance mechanisms and provide support towards the overall strengthening of SFM framework/system.
• Provide demand-driven technical backstopping to improved forest governance, law enforcement and the trade of legal and sustainable timber and timber products and services, under the VPA framework and beyond whenever relevant.
• Lead the preparation of periodic progress and terminal reports for review by relevant (technical, financial, and operational) internal units with submission to the Programme Task Force (PTF), Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meetings for consideration and subsequent sharing with the EU, as appropriate.
• Participate in regular technical meetings with the EU on project progress and challenges.
• Lead the development, implementation and M&E and reporting of and facilitates programme evaluations.
• Provide technical advice, as required, to the PMU members.
• Identify priorities, liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate potential win-win partnerships and propose follow-up actions on audits, independent evaluations for the successful implementation of the VPA and other pertinent forest governance related systems in Liberia.
• Direct the preparation and review of relevant documents and reports, VPA specific as well as wider governance related, assessment of issues and trends that could affect forest governance, as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or monitoring on local communities.
• Serve as the Secretary to the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) and the Programme Task Force (PTF). In this capacity, prepare periodic reports for submission to the Committee/Task Force, which will include information on results achieved, constraints and possible solutions, impact evaluation, as well as administrative and financial updates.
• Oversee the preparation and execution of the programme’s annual work plan and budget.
• Support efforts aimed at enhancing intragovernmental and intersectoral partnerships between national and local stakeholders towards the achievement of improved transparency and effective governance in the forest sector including measures that strengthen trade relations.
• Support the FAOR/Budget Holder, in ensuring that all expenditures and commitments authorized are in support of the relevant work-plan and consistent with the general rules and regulations governing the administrative, financial, and budgetary procedures of the Organization.
• Oversee PMU members, consultants (national and international), and institutions including FDA responsible for programme tasks and assignments.
• Coordinate, collate and analyse monitoring data and progress reports to gauge the impact of programmatic interventions.
• Manage the sharing of knowledge emerging from the progamme to ensure information is widely disseminated within FAO, particularly the co-LTOs, the government, EU, the implementing community involved in the promotion of sustainable forest management and improved forest governance and the wider external community.
• Oversee awareness development and implementation of the forest governance related communication strategy;
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced University degree in forestry, forest economics, forest engineering or another related field..
• Five years of experience in public policy implementation, trade and bilateral agreement facilitation, including within relevant international organisations, on international environmental agreements, particularly related to forest governance, law enforcement and trade and EU forest policies
• Full proficiency of English Language (level C)
FAO Core 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.
• Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to forestry, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a multicultural team.
• Extent of knowledge of forest governance, law enforcement and trade and relevant EU policy frameworks.
• Extent and relevance of experience in working within public administrations, community-based structures, civil society and international organizations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project formulation, analysis, planning, and implementation
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.
• Ability to provide competent advice regarding financial actions, human resource processing, procurement, project cycle management and provide innovative solutions to complex operational problems.
Selection Criteria
• Knowledge in capacity development in the forest sector
• Experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in forest governance
• Knowledge of Liberia’s forestry sector is an added asset;
• Leadership and supervisory experience in managing projects/programmes