International Project Proposal Development Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
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• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

FAO had secured funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness programme, for implementing the project GCP/SRL/079/GCR “Capacity enhancement of the National Designated Authority (NDA) and other relevant stakeholders in Sri Lanka to re-evaluate technical needs for climate change adaptation and mitigation and assess climate finance priorities for agriculture by developing innovative climate smart investment mechanisms through increased partnerships between public and private sectors”. The Project Goal is to enhance the capacity of the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment and other relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, to jointly identify and implement technical needs for addressing Sri Lanka’s climate challenges in its priority sectors, and leverage public and private investment for climate-smart agriculture through scientific knowledge-based planning.
For this purpose, FAO Sri Lanka is recruiting an International Project Proposal Development Specialist, to increase the capacity of the NDA and other relevant authorities including private sector on proposal development for GCF financing and to formulate two project concept notes for GCF with the inclusion of pre- feasibility studies. The specialist is expected to conduct two training programes on GCF proposal writing, conduct pre-feasibility studies and formulate two concept notes for agriculture sector targeting plantation and non-plantation areas with through stakeholder consultations. National Project Proposal Development Specialist will support the International specialist in completing the above mentioned tasks.

Reporting Lines

International Project Proposal Development Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes). He/she will work in close coordination with the PMU of the GCF Readiness Project, National Project Proposal Development Specialist and under the overall technical supervision by the Environment and Climate Change Specialist and the Lead Technical Officer.

Technical Focus

• Capacity building on GCF project proposal development
• Pre- feasibility studies
• GCF concept note development.

Tasks and responsibilities

Capacity building on GCF project proposal development

• Work with the national project personnel in preparation of training material/modules.
• Support the national project personnel and the PMU to conduct an introductory two day session on proposal development for GCF financing.
• Review existing strategic planning documents including NDCs, NAP, CSA investment plans, sector strategies and related programmes and projects etc. to identify the priority areas for the concept note development in Agriculture plantation and non-plantation sector.
• With the support of national project personnel Identification of participants / stakeholders for the workshop on proposal writing.
• With the support of national project personnel and PMU conduct 5 day intensive workshop on proposal writing for a range of stakeholders including development partners.
• With the support of the national project personnel team and the PMU, lead a process to identify prioritize areas and finalize at least two idea notes for concept note development with stakeholder consultation.
• Based on the capacity building exercise define at least two GCF project ideas identified from CSA investment plan that can be developed further into concept notes.
• In consultation with the government counterparts and based on the capacity building activities, co-develop short project idea notes that include:
o The initial target climate problem;
o Barriers to action;
o Required interventions/packages of interventions;
o Possible climate finance solution and modality (grant, loan, guarantee, equity, blend);
o Potential accredited entity partners and executing partners.

Pre- feasibility studies

• Lead preparation of two pre-feasibility studies based on the idea notes developed.
• Review the specific technical and institutional scope and geographical focus of the preliminary draft concept notes.
• Carry out a preliminary analysis of the components/outcomes/outputs and identify climate change related risks and mitigation/carbon sequestration opportunities at each stage of the value chain.
• With support of the national project personnel solicit stakeholder input and validate the findings of the pre-feasibility studies via stakeholder consultation and prepare a draft prefeasibility report including the structure of the project accreditation arrangements and financial modality i.e. Grant project, on-granting, loan, equity, guarantee.
• With reference to the scope and geographical focus of the preliminary idea notes, prepare a preliminary stakeholder analysis.
• Review the barriers/problem analysis in the preliminary draft concept notes and the preliminary theory of change (if applicable).
• Based on the reviews of the preliminary idea notes outlined above and the agricultural product value chain analysis, prepare a revised/updated project design and theory of change including:
o Specification of project components and different alternatives and options if applicable and their technical feasibility with reference to other examples (if possible), and
o Implementation arrangements, resources and organizational structure required to support implementation of the project.
• With reference to the project design and theory of change and associated activities, prepare:
o Quantification of expected climate change specific outcomes in terms of number of people/livelihoods/product value chains with enhanced resilience to climate change or anticipated reduction in GHG emissions/carbon sequestered and the basis and assumptions underpinning this assessment;
o Quantification of other development outcomes and the basis and assumptions underpinning this assessment;
o A preliminary assessment of costs of the project components over the proposed life of the project, the basis for the costing, assumptions and contingencies;
o An assessment of possible sources of co-financing;
o A preliminary assessment of any environmental and social risks that may arise during implementation of the project components; and
o An assessment of potential risks to project implementation, their likelihood and possible mitigation measures.
• Seek feedback and additional guidance from relevant stakeholders.
• Finalize the prefeasibility report summarizing the results of the reviews of the preliminary draft concept note outlined above and agricultural product value chain analysis and the analysis of the revised/updated project design and theory of change and associated activities.
• Support the National Project Proposal Development Specialists and PMU to conduct stakeholder consultation workshops with the relevant stakeholders to receive inputs on the draft concept notes.

GCF concept note development

• With reference to the prefeasibility studies, prepare at least two GCF concept notes in the GCF format.
• Further develop and refine the concept notes through on the-job consultation and instruction with key accredited entity and execution parties.
• Assist FAO to organize a review of the concept notes with key stakeholders.
• Integrate GCF Secretariat feedback received following concept note submission.
• Finalize two concept notes incorporating all the feedback received from GCF Secretariat and relevant stakeholders
• Support in the identification of additional funding sources to support the development of the full project proposal.

• Provide inputs for the national and international consultants of the project for their deliverables.
• Undertake any other related tasks as requested by the FAOR / AFAOR (Programme).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in agriculture, development, economics, social political or environmental sciences, climate sciences forestry, natural resource management, sustainable development, or any other related field
• At least 7 years of experience in concept note and proposal writing preferably for GCF funding.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Familiarity with effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point).
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in developing technical reports – undertaking research, primary and secondary data collection, analysis and report writing.
• Ability to work/deliver independently with minimal supervision.
• Proven experience on international donor-funded projects such as the GEF, Adaptation Fund or the GCF.

Selection Criteria

• Experience in coordinating and liaising with industry, academia, national authorities, UN agencies, donors, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
• Familiarity with the UN System and /or development sector will be considered an asset.
• Working knowledge of a local language will be considered an advantage

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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