Ecosystem/Biodiversity Expert

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• 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

Organizational Setting

At the country level, the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Viet Nam has been serving as the basis for FAO’s works in Viet Nam for the period of 2022-2026. Climate Change Response, Disaster Resilience and Environmental Sustainability is one of the four FAO strategic priorities under the CPF. The Country Office (CO), with technical support from RAP GEF team, has successfully mobilized significant resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to address the issues related to water resources management, fisheries and aquaculture, environment, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration in Viet Nam.
FAO Vietnam, in partner with the Agriculture Projects Management Board (APMB), is formulating the GEF-8 project “Supporting sustainable fisheries development through the promotion of initiatives, environmentally-friendly technologies and climate adaptation”, of which the Concept Note has been endorsed by the GEF Secretariat. The project’s aim is to safeguard critical marine ecosystems and reverse coastal biodiversity loss in Viet Nam's priority productive seascapes by mainstreaming Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management and Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture frameworks into spatial planning, expanding shared-governance Other effective area-based conservation measures (such as Fisheries Resource Protected Areas), and scaling biodiversity-positive production systems.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall administrative supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) in Viet Nam, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) from RAP, and in collaboration with FAO GEF specialists, the GEF Design Expert and the entire PPG team.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support the formulation of the Project Document for GEF, and be responsible for generating and collating information to inform the technical content, structure and implementation approach of the project

Tasks and responsibilities

Specifically, the Ecosystem/Biodiversity Expert will support the GEF Design Expert in carrying out the following tasks:

• Review, assess and document proposed interventions’ potential impacts and risks; ensure alignment with biodiversity conservation objectives within and around the national parks and other protected areas in the project target provinces; identify measures to minimize potential negative impacts of proposed interventions on water resources, forest areas, wildlife habitats, and ecological connectivity.
• Contribute to the development of practical screening criteria and safeguards to ensure that proposed activities do not adversely affect critical habitats, wildlife, ecosystem functions, or protected area values.
• Identify opportunities to promote biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient practices.
• Support the integration of biodiversity considerations, environmental safeguards, and sustainable natural resource management principles into the project design and implementation framework.
• Collate, analyze and document all information on ecosystems, current baseline policies related to biodiversity, ecosystem, environment; provide technical input on ecosystem information in relevant sections on baseline and background in the Project Document.
• Synthesize information on changes in the conditions of ecosystems in the project target provinces, good practices and lessons learnt
• Work as part of the formulation team to rationale connections of the proposed interventions with the GEF focal areas (Biodiversity, Land Degradation, Climate Change and Ecosystem Restoration) and resonate the project’s contribution to the Global Environment Benefits (GEBs).
• Participation in field visits and workshops as required throughout the PPG process.
• Support the processes of drafting project documentation and responding to reviews.
• Support the development of biodiversity and environmental monitoring indicators relevant to the proposed interventions.
• Support the development the ProDoc (Vietnamese version) and it annexes as required by Decree 242/2025/NĐ-CP, review and draft comments to address comments/ feedbacks from relevant Departments as well as related Ministries.
• Any other tasks required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• High level academic degree (Master or PhD) in Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Fisheries or related field;
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the biodiversity and fisheries sector or a related field in Viet Nam;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Vietnamese;
• National of Viet Nam or resident in the Country with a valid permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Previous experience working on GEF projects or other international donors’ projects preferred;
• Relevant experience in working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, particularly in multilateral organizations;
• Experience in working with partners in Viet Nam at all levels (Ministries, provinces, private sectors, etc.);
• Good command of computer skills;
• Good research, analysis, and report writing skills;
• Proven ability to deliver quality outputs working under tight deadlines.

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

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• 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 other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required. Vaccination status will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

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

• 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/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• 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

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