Organizational Setting

Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are required to communicate through the UNCCD secretariat on measures undertaken to implement the Convention. National reporting serves as an indispensable tool for effective planning and implementation of the Convention and the achievement of strategic objectives (SOs) at both global and national levels. Progress in implementing the UNCCD Strategic Framework is regularly reviewed through national reporting processes within the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS). 
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has received support from GEF 8 to establish an Enabling Activity project to support twenty-one countries, including Brazil, in effectively reporting through PRAIS during the 2025-2026 UNCCD reporting cycle. The project adopts an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach and focuses on strengthening national institutional and technical capacities to monitor land degradation in a spatially explicit manner and to estimate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Indicator 15.3.1, as required in PRAIS. This is done in line with the SDG 15.3.1 Good Practice Guidance and by integrating national knowledge and data into the reporting framework. This approach will empower Parties to submit reports that are not only more accurate and comprehensive, but also instrumental in driving impactful and informed decision-making at national and local levels. 
To strengthen the current process of reporting, FAO Brazil has also been requested by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to execute the remaining funds that were allocated to the previous UNCCD reporting cycle one (2021-2022). This collaboration aims to enhance the comprehensiveness, data base and stakeholders’ consultation for the second reporting cycle, which requires the recalculation of indicators for the base line (2000-2015), the first and the second reporting periods. Through this effort, FAO Brazil will help streamline the national monitoring, evaluation and reporting process to the UNCCD and foster greater national ownership of the results contributing to a more informed decision making. 
 

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Assistant to Representative - Programme.

Technical Focus

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Representative of FAO Brazil, and under the technical orientation of the the Better Environmental Technical Area (FAO Brazil), the technical coordinator is responsible for the overall technical coordination, quality assurance, integration, and timely delivery of the UNCCD national reporting outputs by February 2027, ensuring coherence across all Strategic Objectives (SO1, SO2, SO3, SO4, SO5), alignment with UNCCD guidance, and effective coordination of specialized experts.

Tasks and Responsibilities

•     Lead the planning, coordination, and supervision of all technical experts involved in the UNCCD reporting process.
•     Ensure the identification and collection of national data required for SO1 (Land degradation), including sub-indicators, false positives and negatives, hotspots and brightspots, voluntary targets (National Voluntary Targets & Implemented Actions) and institutional framework (Policy and planning & Actions on the ground) components.
•     Support the co-development of decision-support tools and contribute to their institutionalization to ensure their effective use upon completion of the report.
•     Ensure methodological coherence and consistency across:
o    SO2 (Socioeconomic & livelihoods)
o    SO3 (Drought resilience)
o    SO4 (Biodiversity & global environmental benefits)
o    SO5 (Financial and non-financial resources)
•     Serve as the primary technical interface with FAO, UNCCD Secretariat, and national counterparts.
•     Validate all indicators, narratives, voluntary targets, and institutional frameworks before submission.
•     Consolidate inputs from experts into a single, coherent national report.
•     Lead responses to technical comments from FAO, UNCCD, and peer reviewers.
•     Ensure integration between narrative sections, indicator tables, and spatial outputs.
•     Oversee timelines, deliverables, and risk management related to reporting.
•     Contribute to addressing cross-cutting issues such as gender, generational and intercultural approaches, knowledge/ communication planning and M&E parts of the project. 
•     Participate in relevant workshops and meetings providing inputs from their expertise and the information gathered.
•     Undertake any other work as mutually agreed between FAO and consultant/s.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING:

Minimum Requirements  

•     Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, environment, natural resource management, economics, geography, anthropology, or related fields;
•     At least 5 (five) years of documented professional experience related to the area of work in this position; 
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English and Portuguese.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Solid experience with socio-environmental analysis, indicator-based frameworks, and results-based management, particularly in international reporting processes;
•     Strong understanding of institutional arrangements, policy frameworks, and governance mechanisms related to environmental and climate agendas;
•     Excellent analytical, writing, and technical editing skills, with the ability to ensure consistency across narratives, indicators, and annexes; 
•     Ability to communicate complex technical content clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
•     Proven experience in coordinating or leading projects, components, or reporting processes within international organizations, development agencies, or large-scale donor-funded projects;
•     Familiarity with socio-environmental policies and safeguard frameworks of international institutions (e.g. FAO, GEF, UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD);
•     Previous experience interacting with government counterparts, UN agencies, and international partners is highly desirable.
•     Spanish Knowledge will be considered an important additional asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION