Job Description

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 Members, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to the promotion of forestry and livelihoods, 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 Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) team is a partnership between FAO, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and AgriCord, managed within NFO and supported under an umbrella programme and of FAO in Rome. FFF is a proven delivery mechanism to sustain Climate Resilient Landscapes and Improved Livelihoods at a very practical level through support to governments and forest and farm producer organizations in countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

The FFF empowers the Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs), with special focus on gender equality, indigenous peoples and youth, to achieve four interconnected outcomes: increase their linkage and participation in policy advocacy; improve their technical and business capacities to develop enterprises and to access finance in order to achieve sustainable livelihoods; develop technical and organizational solutions which both mitigate and help their adaptation to climate change in their own landscapes; and provide better social and cultural services to their Members.

The position is located in the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) team of the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Forestry Officer (Forest and Farm Facility) reports to the Deputy Director/Team Leader of Forest and Farm Facility, NFO.

Technical Focus
Operational implementation and closing of Phase II of the Forest and Farm Facility in the wider context of FAO Forestry work on enhancing sustainable production and building sustainable livelihoods in climate-resilient landscapes. Work focuses on i) oversight and overall backstopping of programme implementation in countries; ii) operational guidance and management of all on-going FFF grants 'and their closure at end of Phase II; iii) operational oversight and management of FFF implementation monitoring, tracking and reporting systems and FFF formal reports; iv) operational leadership on development and maintenance of FFF knowledge management platform, related knowledge networks as well as global and regional knowledge and experience sharing events; v) operational liaison with and management of cooperation with FFF partner organizations (IIED, IUCN, AgriCord) as well as global or regional programmes in which FFF is implementing partner, in particular GEF7 DLS-IP and AFR100 Support Programme.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional and cross-divisional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks.
Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis of'activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or ongoing programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning and on-line tools.
Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

Manages the FFF team at FAO headquarters and provides operational guidance and interaction with FFF Facilitators in FAO Country Offices in the 15 countries in which the FFF has an operational programme.
Oversees and guides FFF operational programme implementation in 15 countries supported through the FFF programme.
Manages implementation of approximately 200 FAO-signed grants (Letters of Agreement and Direct Beneficiary Grants) of the FFF programme, including technical and financial delivery and timely closure in view of closure of FFF Phase II.
Acts as the focal point for FFF implementing partners, including liaising on implementation of related contracts and operational coordination.
Coordinates FFF programme monitoring, knowledge management, reporting and communications, including FFF regional and global events and FFF progress and final reports.
Coordinates implementation support to other programmes in which the FFF is engaged.
Supports the Manager on overall programme management and related tasks and duties.
Performs any other duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in forestry, agriculture, natural resources management, political and social science or economics.
Ten years of relevant experience in sustainable forestry or natural resources production and building sustainable and resilient livelihoods, including in developing countries.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

Results Focus
Leading, Engaging and Empowering
Communication
Partnering and Advocating
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
Extent and relevance of experience in providing support to countries addressing hunger, poverty and environmental issues.
Extent and relevance of experience working with forest and farm producer organizations, small-scale producers and/or local community enterprises.
Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with an ability to manage programmes, budgets, contracts and human resources efficiently.
Demonstrated ability to working as a team with partners in international programmes and initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to manage data, evidence and knowledge, including dissemination and communication.
Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, events and trainings.