Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO’s work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with Member Nations, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects analyses and disseminates information on the world’s forest resources and, on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.
The position is located in the Halting Deforestation, Degradation, and Emissions Team in the Forestry Division, which supports developing countries in their efforts to mitigate climate change through the implementation of REDD and broader halting deforestation, degradation and emissions activities while contributing to national sustainable development and agrifood systems transformation.

FAO works in support to forest tropical countries advancing in their efforts in halting deforestation and in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD , more info at www.fao.org/redd )  In this endeavour a key area of work is to develop knowledge and provide technical assistance on enhancing synergies and managing trade-offs between agriculture and forestry, as well as identifying innovative solutions to boost governments and private sector actions decoupling agricultural production from deforestation towards emission reductions, agrifood systems transformation and enhanced livelihoods along the rural-urban continuum.

During its 26th Session, held in October 2022, the Committee on Forests (COFO) “invited FAO to support Members, upon request, to further identify opportunities and implement actions to improve complementarity between the agriculture and forestry sectors”, as well as “on drivers of deforestation and land degradation; requested FAO and Members to put greater emphasis on ways to decouple growth in agricultural production from forest and other biodiversity loss keeping in mind the necessity of poverty alleviation and fighting hunger and the needs of developing countries in terms of financial assistance and capacity building” (COFO-COAG decision).

Guided by this decision, FAO support countries in decoupling agricultural supply chains from deforestation, implementing integrated landscape management and the transformation of food systems as key strategies. Multi-stakeholder and cross-sectorial approaches are encouraged, as well as strengthening capacities and investments in forest monitoring, sustainable farming practices, legality, and responsible business and trade. The Halting deforestation, degradation, and emissions team develops methodologies and tools to support stakeholders at all levels for creating a future where agriculture and forest conservation go hand in hand.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the Forestry Officer in the Halting Deforestation, Degradation, and Emissions team, under the overall supervision of the Senior Forestry Officer – Team Leader and in collaboration with Monitoring and Data Platforms team, Greening cities or other teams/units as needed. Depending on the assigned project, the specialist will work in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and/or Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the projects it works for, and the incumbent will work in close coordination with the country offices as needed.

Technical Focus 

The Specialist will contribute to activities complementing the understanding of the interactions between agriculture and forestry (including nature-based solutions) in relation to FAO’s work on halting deforestation and food system transformation. In his/her endeavours the specialist will contribute in the support to FAO Member States and generation and dissemination of knowledge, technology and tools.
This topic is multi-dimensional and cross-sectoral, the consultant will therefore need to engage with other FAO units, notably in the divisions in charge of plant production, livestock production, market and trade, agricultural economy and statistics. Additionally, the consultant will support technical exchanges with partner organizations within the context of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Tasks and responsibilities

For Category B:
•    Support the development of FAO’s strategic positioning and role in mainstreaming forests in policies, strategies, and programmes aimed at halting deforestation and promoting food systems transformation and contributions to the fight against climate change.
•    Support countries with technical advice on at least one of the following areas: decoupling agricultural supply chains from deforestation, implementing integrated landscape management and nature-based solutions, and transforming food systems as key strategies.
•    Support countries in applying cross-sectoral approaches by strengthening capacities and investments in one or more areas among forest monitoring, sustainable farming practices, legality, and responsible business and finance practices.
•    Elaborate and develop guidance materials, analytical frameworks, or tools to support technical capacities in countries to halt deforestation, degradation and emissions while strengthening sustainable agriculture (for example, e-learning courses, analytical methodologies, or gap assessment tools).
•    Develop the technical content of outreach products and communication materials together with technical and outreach experts in the team/NFO and/or partner agencies.
•    Organize and/or facilitate meetings, workshops, technical trainings, webinars etc and coordinate with relevant units in FAO.
•    Provide technical support to FAO forests and food systems activities and projects/initiatives where specific expertise is of value.
•    Any other duties as required.

For Category C:
•    Provide inputs and support the process for the development of FAO’s thematic work and / or project proposals on halting deforestation, forest monitoring or improved natural resource management along the rural-urban continuum.
•    Assist in the organization and delivery of awareness raising and capacity development activities to (one or more among) halt deforestation, including related forest monitoring aspects, sustainable farming practices, nature-based solutions, legality, and responsible business and finance practices.
•    Support the collection of evidence literature reviews and case studies, and contribute to their analysis, working with relevant teams in NFO and other divisions.
•    Support policy analysis of country wide and local strategies on food systems and halting deforestation aimed to contribute to multiple objectives on climate, food security, biodiversity and livelihood outcomes, guiding effective technical assistance actions/strategies.
•    Support the smooth implementation and reporting of programmes and projects aiming at knowledge transfer or capacity development linked to halting deforestation.
•    Support the development of forests and food systems technical materials (for example, e-learning courses, analytical methodologies, or gap assessment tools).
•    Support the development of outreach products and communication materials together with NFO’s technical and outreach teams.
•    Support organizing meetings, workshops, technical trainings, webinars etc and coordinate with relevant units in FAO.
•    Any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in Forestry, Environmental sciences, Environmental policies, Agronomy, Agriculture or a related study (for Consultants) / University degree in Forestry, Environmental science, Environmental policies, Agronomy, Agriculture or a related study (only for PSA)
•    For the assignment at Category B: at least 5 years of professional experience in developing and implementing programmes and initiatives related to REDD / halting deforestation, natural resource management promoting sustainability and sustainable supply chains, and one or more aspects related to good governance or forest monitoring; demonstrated experience in strategic positioning of international organizations operating in development contexts.
•    For the assignment at Category C: at least 1 year of professional experience providing administrative, policy and/or programme support on at least one area among REDD / halting deforestation, sustainability, governance, sustainable community development, sustainable supply chains, forest monitoring, and natural resource management.
•    Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of any other official language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in/with developing countries
•    Excellent oral and written communications skills, including the ability to draft technical documents in English.
•    Knowledge of agriculture and supply chain-related approaches to reduce deforestation and forest degradation; or forest monitoring; or nature based solutions and adaptation.
•    Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently and in multi-disciplinary teams

Selection Criteria 

•    Extent of understandings and experience in rural development, REDD , halting deforestation, agricultural supply chains, sustainable community development, forest monitoring, and nature based solutions.
•    Extent of experience in contributing to research and analytical reports and technical publications on rural development and land use, linkages between agriculture and forestry and nature-based solutions.
•    Extent of written and verbal communication skills in English
•    Demonstrating good sense of organization, capacity of synthesis and ability to meet deadlines.