Organizational Setting

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) works to ensure that countries and stakeholders respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB provides a cross organizational coordination role on these issues and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Office also assists FAO Members in 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 such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as well as FAO’s work on environmental safeguards and leads the Programme Priority Areas on Climate Change (PPA BE1) and Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (PPA BE2).

The GIAHS Secretariat is the operational unit of FAO’s GIAHS Programme and its role consists in providing guidance to FAO member countries for the development and submission of GIAHS proposals, as well as for the implementation of follow- up activities. Furthermore, it has the function of liaising with governments and national/international organizations for the establishment of new partnerships, which may be necessary for the future development and geographic expansion of the Programme.

The position is located in the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Secretariat, in FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the GIAHS Senior Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Support the implementation of the work plan of the GIAHS Secretariat; including the activities of the Scientific Advisory Committee, the expansion of the Programme in new areas, and its technical strengthening on monitoring and agronomic and environmental matters.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Provide technical support for the organization of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) meetings and follow-up with countries, as well as field missions of SAG to GIAHS sites. 
•     Perform the screening of GIAHS new proposals submitted by countries to ensure their compliance with the GIAHS selection criteria.
•     Provide guidance and briefing to countries and FAO decentralized offices on the overall process for developing and submitting new GIAHS proposals and actions plans. 
•     Produce guidance materials and documents, talking points, briefs, key messages, and presentations on GIAHS.
•     Provide technical support for the implementation, monitoring and reporting of GIAHS Secretariat projects.
•     Assist GIAHS countries in resource mobilization to support the formulation of their new GIAHS proposals and the implementation of action plans.
•     Strengthen collaboration with UN agencies and international organizations working on related thematic (UNESCO, IUCN, UN-Tourism…).
•     Advocate for more funding to support the growing portfolio of the GIAHS programme through engaging actively with donors, international organizations and academia.
•     Produce concept notes and new GIAHS project proposals to tap on potential opportunities for South-South cooperation. 
•     Contribute to the development of the resource mobilization strategy and action plans for the GIAHS Secretariat.
•     Contribute to the organization of the biennium GIAHS Certificate Award Ceremony. 
•     Contribute to the organization of workshops, seminars, webinars and trainings of the GIAHS Secretariat to strengthen the capacity of national institutions (ministries of agriculture, environment…) and GIAHS communities to sustainably manage GIAHS, achieve sustainable development and improve their livelihoods.
•     Provide guidance to junior consultants and interns working at the GIAHS Secretariat, as delegated by the Senior Coordinator, GIAHS Secretariat.
•     Represent FAO in meetings and international conferences, as and when required.
•     Perform other duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agronomy, forestry, fisheries, agricultural economics, natural resource management, ecology (agroecology), biodiversity, climate change and environment, anthropology, landscape management or sustainable rural development. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience
•     One year (for Category C), five years (for Category B) or ten years (for Category A) of relevant experience in developing substantive initiatives related to sustainable agriculture, natural resources and/or environmental management and/or integrated landscape approaches
•     Working knowledge (level c) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
•     Relevant experience in agriculture, forestry, fishery, biodiversity, natural resources management and/or rural development.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in collecting, processing, analyzing technical data and in preparing technical reports on topics related to agriculture, forestry, fishery, biodiversity, natural resources management and/or rural development.
•     Experience in drafting and revising policy and technical documents and in organizing meetings, seminars and workshops.
•     Extent and relevance of work experience with national institutions and local communities in the field of agriculture, forestry, fishery, biodiversity, natural resources management and/or rural development.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in partnership building and resource mobilization. 
•     Work experience of GIAHS is an asset.
•     Working knowledge (Proficiency level C) of Spanish or French is an asset.