Climate Risk and Agrometeorologist Specialist

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 incumbent will work for the Environment Team which is located in OCB at FAO Headquarters.

Reporting Lines

The specialist will report to the Natural Resources Officer in the OCB (Risk) Environment Team.

Technical Focus

Provide technical support in climate services (including hydrometeorological, agrometeorological and impact assessments), particularly climate risk management with assessment of climate risks in agri-food systems in member states, together with FAO headquarters and Decentralized Offices.

Tasks and responsibilities

In general, assigned tasks and responsibilities will usually include one or more of the following elements depending on the assignment and the expertise of the incumbent.

•     Prepare technical documents (hydrometeorological, agrometeorological, and climate impact assessments) to evaluate the effects of climate risks in agrifood systems, for climate change adaptation project formulation and policy development.
•     Analyze technical, social, economic, environmental information and data to characterize climate impacts and climate risks in agriculture (crop, livestock, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture) and in agrifood systems
•     Provide technical support to development and implementation of climate risk assessment tools and methodologies.
•     Support multi-hazard agricultural climate services as a weather risk management solution by improving access to, and use of, weather monitoring, forecasting, and early warning services across FAO’s work.
•     Support the Environment Team with transferring risk knowledge (including tools, datasets, and methodologies) to FAO country/regional offices and Member States.
•     Participate in relevant meetings and technical trainings.
•     Participate in multidisciplinary teams and promote climate risk management and climate services across FAO’s work areas
•     Provide technical support to FAO’s work on climate services and climate risks as required.
•     Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     For Consultants:
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agrometeorology, meteorology, climate science, agriculture, hydrology, crop science, soil science, animal science, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environmental sciences, physical geography, remote sensing, statistics, data science or a related field; Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs:
University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agrometeorology, meteorology, climate science, agriculture, hydrology, crop science, soil science, animal science, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environmental sciences, physical geography, remote sensing, statistics, data science or a related field.
•     A minimum of one year (for CAT C), a minimum of 5 years (for CAT B) and a minimum of 10 years (CAT A) of relevant experience in assessment of climate impacts on agriculture, climate services, climate risk assessment, risk management applied to agrifood systems.
•     Working knowledge (Proficiency Level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Extent and relevance of experience in assessing climate impacts on agriculture, analyzing climate risks in agricultural sectors, or related technical assessments, with a variety of approaches including impact models (e.g. crops, hydrology, ecosystem), and economic/econometric approaches.
•     Demonstrated ability to analyze interlinkages among climate variability including extremes (e.g., drought, flood, extreme heat), climate change, agriculture, environment, and socioeconomic factors from transdisciplinary risk management perspective.
•     Demonstrated capacity to conduct technical analysis in relation to climate services (from the production to its dissemination to farmers) and climate risks in agrifood systems
•     Demonstrated understanding of hydrometeorological and agrometeorological instruments and observation methods, weather forecasting models, early warning products and services, communication channels of climate services, and user-needs, particularly farmers. 
•     Demonstrated ability to draft technical documents, guidelines and manuals
•     Excellent skills in writing scientific papers and reports in English
•     Demonstrated data analysis and management skills with climate, agronomic, socioeconomic, remote sensing, and environmental data
•     Demonstrated ability to work independently to produce quality outputs and meet the deadline with minimal supervision
•     Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of training materials and delivery of training.
•     Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish
•     Familiarity with formulation of projects such as those funded by GEF and GCF is an asset.
•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work, or as part of an interdisciplinary team, is an asset.
•     Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with data analysis software such as R, Stata, or similar tools

Selection Criteria

•     Candidates will be assessed against the requirements and skills listed above.
•     Limited knowledge (Intermediate Level B) of French, Spanish Arabic, Chinese or Russian is an asset.