Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO's 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's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to its strategic objectives and operations. In this regard, FAO is helping its member countries in strengthening their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, including through facilitating access to climate and environmental financing.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) family of funds is the largest multilateral provider of financing for programming among all these areas; serving as a financing mechanism for five international environmental conventions: the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Working under the guidance of the OCB-GEF Unit, FAO has been able to significantly increase its portfolio of GEF Funded projects in the recent years; including in the English-speaking Caribbean, demonstrating continued and consistent trust from countries in FAO's support as a GEF Agency. 
The consultant will work to support the development and successful implementation of the GEF portfolio of projects in the English-speaking Caribbean. He/she will work closely with countries, country offices, the FAO technical officers in Regional and Sub-regional Offices and FAO partners to continue mobilizing additional resources for the region under the GEF-9 programming period and beyond; including implementation oversight of a selected portfolio of projects from all GEF focal areas, including complex multi-country transboundary initiatives. The consultant will also be supporting  the formulation process of assigned project documents, which may include providing necessary technical inputs or completion of relevant sections of the document, in accordance with donor's expectations and related sources of information that the organization holds. In this regard, one of the consultant's key responsibilities will be to support project proponents through capacity development, guidance towards technical orientations and concept note/project document development support; as well as supporting the successful and effective project implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and closure; in compliance with GEF requirements.

Reporting Lines

Under the technical supervision of the GEF Task Manager for the Caribbean, the GEF Project Design Specialist will work in coordination with the Country Office/Field programme teams, Technical Officers, members of the Multi-disciplinary Teams and members of the GEF Coordination Unit. Specific duties will include:

Technical Focus

Providing strategic thematic advice and guidance on GEF programming priorities and approaches as they relate to FAO's comparative advantages and strategic framework; as well as, supporting identification, design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FAO-GEF projects and programmes. This includes strategic and policy work, with a focus on the nexus of agriculture, biological diversity mainstreaming, climate change and resilience, disaster risk management, land, water, fisheries, forestry, natural capital and ecosystem services.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Provision of technical expertise and input for the development, approval and delivery of projects funded by the GEF family of funds for FAO Member Nations in accordance with FAO Strategic Framework, GEF Programming Directions and country priorities.
•     Providing strategic thematic advice and guidance on GEF programming priorities and approaches as they relate to FAO's comparative advantages and strategic framework; as well as, supporting the coordination of identification, design, formulation. This includes strategic and policy work and providing technical inputs with a focus on the nexus of agriculture, biological diversity mainstreaming, climate change and resilience, disaster risk management, land, water, fisheries, forestry, natural capital and ecosystem services including regional and transboundary governance dimensions. This also includes technical inputs on irrigation development, modernization and related irrigation infrastructure to enhance agricultural production, climate resilience and sustainable water management in agrifood systems.
•     Provides technical expertise and project design guidance to project proponents in the identification, development and implementation of natural resource/environmental project proposals that address country priorities and further FAO and GEF strategic objectives, programme priorities and in compliance with GEF operational policies and procedures.
•     Contributes to the strategic programming of FAO's GEF work and assists in coordinating GEF teamwork for the respective region.
•     Participates in multidisciplinary teams and Decentralized Offices work to assist governments in the identification and formulation of natural resource and environmental management projects for financing by the GEF family of funds.
•     Supports quality control at all stages of the GEF project cycle in line with GEF eligibility criteria, alignment with GEF Programming Directions; ensuring relevant technical expertise is incorporated and compliance with GEF Guidelines for Program and Project Cycle Policy.
•     Identifies and materializes opportunities for synergies with other vertical funds projects and to strengthen a programmatic approach at country and regional levels in the fields of climate change, biodiversity and environment.
•     Pursues co-financing opportunities and coordination with relevant work supported by other donor and development partners; including working closely with private-sector; in order to incorporate private-sector work into project design and implementation, and supports the development of blended financing instruments to mobilize additional or non-traditional resources to achieve wider-scale impact and transformation in relation to the programming directions and country priorities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advance degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, livestock production, aquaculture production, environmental science or any other related field with at least 5 years relevant experience in agriculture production; or
•     Bachelor degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in in agriculture, livestock production, aquaculture production, environmental science or any other related field with at least 7 years of relevant experience in agricultural production
•     Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Computer literacy is required 
•     Quality of both oral and written communication skills.