Climate and Disaster Resilience Specialist (Various profiles)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Regional office for Asia and the Pacific support member countries in the development of knowledge products, capacity development and implementation of programmes and projects in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing in developing countries and countries in transition, assisting governments and country stakeholders, main development partners, regional and national institutions with the policy and strategic planning to achieve food security and nutrition, make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more sustainable and productive, reduce rural poverty, make food value chains more efficient and inclusive and promote climate change adaptation and/or mitigation.

Under the FAO-RAP regional priority on “Accelerating sustainable natural resources management for biodiversity conservation and climate action,” FAO aims to support Members to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and combat climate change in realizing more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems. With this priority FAO is implementing work programmes including actions to strengthen policy advice to Members for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sectors engagement in 2030 Agenda processes to address climate change and foster multi-risk management. 

This work is coordinated at the regional level by the FAO-RAP Climate change, resilience, land and water Module (CRLWM). The Module supports the development and implementation of FAO’s field program across the region and responsible for the technical quality and coherence of projects under the program at national and regional levels. 

The purpose of this call is to provide the FAO Regional office for Asia Pacific in the region with a list of qualified candidates for a number of profiles with different technical specializations as indicated below. The contract can be home-based with required travel for field missions.
 
Requested Profiles (or Job Titles):
•    Climate Finance and Investment Specialist
•    Global Environment Facility (GEF) Programme, Green Climate Fund (GCF) Programme and Project Development Specialist
•    Climate Policy Specialist
•    Climate and Irrigation Specialist
•    Climate Change Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Specialist
•    Climate Information and Agro-meteorological Services Specialist
•    Disaster Risk Management and Anticipatory Action Specialist
•    Anticipatory Action Specialist
•    Communications Specialist

Reporting Lines

The Technical Specialist will work under the overall technical supervision of the FAO Regional Representative and the direct supervision of a RAP Officer, in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment. 

Technical Focus 

Provision of technical advice or expertise and capacity development for (i) provision of policy advice to member countries on climate change, disaster risk management, anticipatory action, and climate-resilient agriculture, in collaboration with IFIs and other partners; (ii) the design of investment operations to mobilize climate finance (e.g. GCF, GEF) for food security, rural development, and climate adaptation/mitigation; and (iii) implementation support, technical backstopping, and evaluation of climate-related investment operations and disaster risk management activities, in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Tasks and responsibilities

General Tasks (applicable to all profiles)

•    Lead or assist in multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification, assessment, and preparation of investment operations (regional and country level) in the fields of environment, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation.
•    Promote international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocating best practices and engaging in policy dialogue.
•    Prepare background reports for concept notes and funding proposals, in accordance with government and financing partners’ requirements.
•    Lead or contribute to the formulation of GEF, GCF, and Adaptation Fund (AF) concept notes and full funding proposals.
•    Perform other related duties as required.

Specific Tasks by Profile

Climate Finance and Investment Specialist

•    Advise on and develop innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms to implement investment operations, targeting the GEF, GCF, AF, and other financing windows, including the private sector.
•    Provide financial and economic analysis and support the development of budgets for investment operations, in line with FAO and financial partner requirements.

Global Environment Facility (GEF) Programme, Green Climate Fund (GCF) Programme and Project Development Specialist

•    Lead or support the design and development of GEF, GCF and other climate finance project proposals, ensuring alignment with FAO, national, and GEF, GCF and other requirements.
•    Coordinate with country stakeholders and partners to gather technical inputs and align project objectives with national environmental priorities.

Climate Policy Specialist

•    Advise on climate policy alignment and integration with national adaptation and mitigation strategies.
•    Support countries in implementing agriculture sector and food system components of their NDCs.
•    Engage in climate-related policy dialogue and contribute to institutional capacity building for climate governance.

Climate and Irrigation Specialist

•    Provide technical expertise in identifying investment needs and addressing technical gaps related to farm management and modernization of irrigation infrastructure and services.
•    Support the integration of climate-resilient irrigation solutions in investment operations.

Climate Change Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Specialist

•    Provide technical expertise in analyzing climate change impacts on agriculture, natural resources, and ecosystems.
•    Conduct vulnerability and risk assessments to support the preparation of sound justifications for funding proposals.
•    Support a process to identify gaps and needs to scale up support for implementing agriculture and food system priorities in member countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Climate Information and Agro-meteorological Services Specialist

•    Advise on the development and implementation of sustainable climate information systems and agro-meteorological services.
•    Support the engagement of government agencies, farmers, private sector actors, and stakeholders in co-producing and disseminating actionable climate information.

Disaster Risk Management and Anticipatory Action Specialist

•    Strengthen the capacity of agriculture sectors for multi-hazard risk management, including conflict, biological, and natural hazards.
•    Develop and support the implementation of damage and loss information systems and strategies to address the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
•    Provide technical expertise on the design and implementation of early warning systems for anticipatory action using hydrometeorological, seasonal, and vulnerability data.
•    Support capacity building on anticipatory action across country offices and mainstream it into FAO’s Emergency and Resilience Framework.
•    Support implementation of anticipatory action in high-risk countries through the development of protocols and exploration of flexible financing mechanisms.

Communications Specialist

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:
•    Develop and implement communication strategies for climate-related projects in relation to FAO Standards and Guidelines.
•    Coordinate the collection of multimedia materials from country offices and produce content including articles, press releases, and social media outputs to raise awareness and visibility of project outcomes.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•    Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en 
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia  
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE (https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en)  
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en    
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff). 
•    Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
•    Ensure that all publications and documents to be disseminated via the FAO document repository are timely processed through the corporate Publications Workflow System (PWS), from their planning to production and dissemination. 
•    Work in constant contact with the Publishing Group at FAO and ensure that all corporate publishing standards are adhered to in publications and documents.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in natural resources management, climate change, climatology, disaster risk management, economics, agricultural and environmental economics, agribusiness management, international relations or a related field as appropriate for the specific profile. 
•    5 years (for PSAs) / 7 years (for consultants) of relevant experience in analytical studies, and/or in planning, design, supervision of natural resources management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk management, agricultural and rural projects and programmes, including in developing countries and/or countries in transition. 
•    Working knowledge (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 the formulation of programmes/projects and financial strategies.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in preparation of sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of natural resource management, climate change adaptation and/or mitigation, disaster risk management activities
•    Extent and relevance of experience in performing climate change impact and vulnerability and risk assessments, developing climate information, agro-meteorological services and other support tools and analyses in support of climate change mitigation and adaptation and resilience building activities.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in due diligence of programmes/projects in food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation including but not limited to environmental and social safeguards, gender equality and Indigenous People
•    Extent and relevance of experience in development of technical knowledge products, project design and implementation 
•    Extent and relevance of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, climate change adaptation and/or mitigation and disaster risk management investments
•    Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners, the private sector and other country level stakeholders (for consultants); 
•    Relevance of experience in different geographical areas.

Selection Criteria:

•    Working knowledge of Chinese, French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian seen as an asset. 

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ 
• For more information, visit the FAO employment website
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT