Organizational Setting

Under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with six countries of Southeast Asia, will implement a three-year project of strategic regional action entitled “Agriculture Sector Readiness for enhanced climate finance and implementation of Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture priorities in Southeast Asia”. The countries included under this collaborative project are: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The project will be implemented in close coordination with the respective National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and ministries of agriculture through the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network focal points of each participating Southeast Asian country. This regional project will build capacity to access climate finance for the agriculture sector and create opportunities to scale promising models at national and regional levels. The project will also enable countries to share experiences and co-create proposals for sector specific climate action at the regional level with public and private sector climate and agriculture finance experts. Investment plans will focus on facilitating farmer’s access to capacity to access capacity, resources and finance to address climate change risks.

A regional project team and six country-based national project teams will be established for the effective implementation of the project. While the regional project team will oversee project implementation progress and maintain communication with the rest of the Project Management Unit (PMU) to ensure a smooth flow of work, the national project team will lead the implementation of the project activities in the country and coordination for the regional activities.

To support the implementation of the project activities, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is seeking a motivated, dynamic candidate to serve as a Technical Specialist (Climate Finance) in Malaysia as well as to support the Regional Project Team. The successful candidate will lead the implementation of the project in Malaysia and provide support to the implementation of the project at the regional level.
The position may require some field visits in the project coverage areas. This is a home-based position.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Specialist (Climate Finance) will work under the overall supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) from FAO-RAP and in collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and International Agriculture and Climate Change Specialist and Regional Project Team based at FAO-RAP, the FAO-GCF Coordination Unit, and with dedicated project staff and operational partners in Malaysia such as the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS).

Technical Focus

Climate change and Agriculture, Adaptation, Mitigation, Economics, Climate Finance, Project Management

Tasks and responsibilities

The Technical Specialist (Climate Finance) is expected to lead, monitor and coordinate the project activities in Malaysia and support the implementation of the project activities at the regional level.
Most specifically, s/he will undertake the following tasks:
●    Lead implementation of the project in Malaysia including oversight of the national expert team and monitoring the day-to-day implementation and progress of the project activities.
●    Preparation of regional written outputs and reports, with assistance from Malaysia representatives and project members specifically on climate finance in the agriculture sector and Accredited Entities and Direct Access Entities for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as well as for other Climate Funds, including background papers, analyses, and detailed sections of studies and publications.
●    Lead the development Concept Notes for the GCF, focusing on the agriculture sector in Malaysia.
●    Lead the coordination of a Climate Foresight Assessment Study at the national level: Support the regional team of climate foresight assessment in the assessment and investment prioritization in Malaysia.
●    Support the organization of regional consultative and other meetings, conferences, including preparation of documents and presentations and coordinating the organizational efforts of the regional project team and partners.
●    Collect baseline information and prepare inception phase reports.
●    Lead coordination of the agriculture climate change investment planning and project design process under Outcomes 2 and 4 of the project.
●    Prepare inputs and materials on climate, climate change and climate change impacts on agriculture.
●    Work with international experts to implement national level assessment exercises.
●    Coordinate with relevant stakeholders at the national level including Project Steering Committee (PSC) members from the NDA and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as ASEAN CRN members, Direct Access Entities, public, private and civil society actors.
●    Support the Regional Project Team including the monitoring of project activities at the national level, national budget.
●    Coordinate national participation on national and regional level trainings, workshops, and knowledge exchanges.
●    Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

●    Advanced university degree (for consultants)/ University degree (only for PSA) in climate change, natural resources management, environmental economics, or other related fields.
●    At least five years’ experience in agriculture project management and climate finance.
●    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet).
•    Demonstrated knowledge of international climate finance, specifically the green climate fund architecture and adaptation and mitigation agendas of the UNFCCC.
•    Knowledge of the administrative policies and procedures of the United Nations and International Organizations.
•    Effective communication skills that emphasize teamwork.
•    Knowledge and experience in institutional capacity development.
•    Knowledge of and familiarity with agriculture and sustainable natural resource management.
•    Proven capacity to conduct fieldwork and ability to work in teams and establish working relationships central and local government institutions and civil society organizations.
•    Prior experience with the UN and/or international organizations is an asset.

Selection Criteria

●    Demonstrated knowledge of international climate finance, specifically the green climate fund architecture and adaptation and mitigation agendas of the UNFCCC.
●    Working knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia.