Junior Professional Officer (Climate Change and Just Transition)

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.

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, keeping food and agriculture sustainability high on the agenda. OCB contributes to all FAO aspirations, focusing on how the work for a better environment can contribute to better production, better nutrition and better livelihoods, while promoting the integration of multidisciplinary and innovative approaches in the activities of the Organization, for the sustainable use, management and conservation of natural resources for food and agriculture. OCB assists member countries in their responses towards the challenge of climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the development of adaptive capacities of agriculture, fisheries and forestry for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other natural resources. It provides a coordination role on climate change, biodiversity and the environment. The Division also serves as a focal point to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) and providing support and guidance on Disaster and Risk Reduction issues. In addition, it works on support to the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and enabling member states to ensure mainstreaming of climate change concerns in agrifood policies, practices and approaches.

The post is located in FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

• The Junior Professional Officer (Climate Change and Just Transition) reports to the Senior Natural Resources Officer in the Climate Change Workstream and the Gender Focal Point and works in close cooperation with relevant Officer(s) in the FAO Regional/Country Offices and/or FAO relevant Units.

Technical Focus 

• The Junior Professional Officer (Climate Change and Just Transition) provides technical, policy and programme support and support to countries in the formulation and implementation of integrated evidence-based climate change policies and practices for sustainable agrifood systems that are inclusive of rural communities, youth women and vulnerable groups.

Key Results

• Collection and analysis of information, data and statistics and project / meeting services to support programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions

Collects and analyses relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional related information, data and/or statistics to support the development and delivery of programme projects, products and services;

• Undertakes analysis, provides technical input for plans and reports and edits/revises technical/scientific documents;
• Participates in the development of improved work methods, tools and systems;
• Updates and maintains databases and web pages;
• Participates in multi-disciplinary project/work teams;
• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars etc.;
• Participates in the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions 

• Supports the development of new FAO data, methods, tools and services for climate change and social linkages used for practices, policies, programs and investment projects in agrifood sectors;
• Assists in the provision of technical support for the design and the implementation of FAO’s projects and programmes aimed at scaling up climate action in agrifood systems at a global, regional and national level in a gender-sensitive and inclusive manner;
• Contributes to the technical assistance and capacity building supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations and non-party processes relevant to agriculture and food security;
• Supports the establishment of the FAO’s climate change and socio-economic linkages knowledge platform in close consultation with technical divisions and decentralised offices in FAO;
• Supports the coordination process of the FAO’s Programme Propriety Area (PPA) on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation under Better Environment priority area and contributes to other relevant PPAs with the focus on climate-related socio-economic impacts on agriculture, food security, just transition, human mobility, gender equality and other impact areas;
• Supports establishing partnerships with relevant international organizations, both inter-governmental, non-governmental, and the private sector.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in development, development economics, agriculture economics, natural resources management, environmental economics, climate change, climate science or a related field;
• Three years of relevant experience in analysing scientific and related policy questions, conducting research and writing reports, and project/programme management in the field of development, climate change, migration, fragile and conflict resolution, gender;
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian).

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2402527