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:

•     advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•     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.  

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

Under the FAO TCP/RAS/4008 project, the Philippines is one of four participating countries undertaking national-level actions to strengthen the country’s technical and institutional capacity to access and utilize the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and related technical support mechanisms, including the Santiago Network, thereby averting, minimizing, and addressing climate-induced losses and damages in the agri-food systems. National activities build on regional-level assessments, methodologies, and typologies and aim to localize these outputs through capacity development, strategic planning, and project pipeline development.

The position is located in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Reporting Lines

The National Expert on Loss and Damage from Climate Change (Agriculture Sector) will report to the Assistant FAO Representative for Programmes and the Environment Program Coordinator and will be in close coordination with FAO RAP technical teams and national focal points.

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of FAO Philippines and in close coordination with FAO RAP and relevant national counterparts, the National Expert will provide technical and coordination support for the implementation of country-level activities related to loss and damage from climate change in the agriculture sector. The assignment will support alignment with FAO priorities, national institutional frameworks, and effective engagement with the Department of Agriculture (DA), concerned bureaus, local government units (LGUs), and other relevant stakeholders.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Lead the country-level baseline review of national and sector-specific disaster and L&D information systems in accordance with FAO templates and methodologies
•     Identify gaps related to agriculture-sector L&D data, particularly for non-economic and slow-onset impacts, and assess alignment with FRLD eligibility requirements. 
•     Coordinate closely with the International Expert on Vulnerability and Risk Assessment to ensure methodological coherence with regional outputs.
•     Provide technical support to the organization and delivery of country-level training workshop(s) on tools, methods, and approaches for assessing climate-induced L&D in agrifood systems.
•     Support development of training materials, workshop proceedings, pre- and post-training assessments, and capacity assessment summaries.
•     Ensure lessons from regional scoping assessments and typologies are effectively contextualized for national stakeholders.
•     Provide technical and organizational support to the conduct of multi-sectoral national consultations involving DA bureaus, LGUs, climate finance institutions, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
•     Draft a National Agriculture Sector L&D Response Strategy covering key sub-sectors (crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and relevant infrastructure).
•     Develop an accompanying FRLD Engagement Plan, including institutional mapping, roles, coordination arrangements, and capacity needs.
•     Support the organization and facilitation of validation workshops and consultations, and revise draft strategy and engagement documents based on consolidated stakeholder feedback.
•     Ensure coherence with national DRRM, climate finance frameworks, and the forthcoming Philippine Country Roadmap on Climate Change–related L&D.
•     Support identification and preparation of a portfolio of 3–5 potential project concepts aligned with FRLD modalities and emerging funding windows.
•     Lead drafting of at least one FRLD-ready concept note, including problem statement, intervention logic, expected outcomes, indicative budget, and institutional arrangements.
•     Provide technical validation inputs on proposed project concepts as part of the FAO internal quality assurance process.
•     Provide regular progress updates and technical inputs to FAO Philippines and FAO RAP.
•     Assist, as required, in relevant national-level meetings, consultations, and technical fora related to climate change, disaster risk reduction, and agriculture.
•     Contribute to project documentation, lessons learned, and final evaluation processes.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university degree in climate change, agriculture, environmental economics, disaster risk management, or related field
•     At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in climate resilience, climate finance, DRRM, or agriculture sector planning
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English and Filipino
•     A national of the Philippines or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
•     Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
•     General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)

Selection Criteria

•     Demonstrated experience in stakeholder coordination, strategy development, and project formulation
•     Strong familiarity with Philippine agriculture, government systems, and climate policy frameworks
•     Excellent analytical, writing, and facilitation skills.