Forest Finance Specialist

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• 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 Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with Member Nations, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

FAO collaborates with countries and the global agenda on Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) through the UN-REDD Programme (a joint initiative of FAO, UNDP, UNEP) as well as through other initiatives and projects with multilateral and bilateral donors. It works to strengthen capacities ensuring positive social and environmental impacts, and to promote climate finance and public-private partnerships to scale up investments for REDD+ implementation.

The position is located in the Halting Deforestation, Degradation and Emissions Team (HatlDDef), which supports countries to strengthen and align actions and policies, incentives and investments to halt deforestation, degradation and emissions while contributing to ensure sustainable agrifood systems and meeting international commitments on REDD+ and other forests and climate-related frameworks.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Senior Forestry Officer/Team Leader Halting Deforestation, Degradation and Emissions (HatlDDef), and the direct supervision of the HatlDDef team decentralized Forestry Officer at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), with technical guidance from the Forestry Officer (climate finance) in Rome, and the senior forestry officer in RAP, and in coordination with other team members, relevant forest monitoring Team technical experts, decentralized regional/country specialists and in collaboration with other FAO team(s), units, and country offices.

Technical Focus

Provide capacity development and strategic advice on issues related to climate finance opportunities by supporting countries and enhancing knowledge on advancing with requirements under different modalities (including carbon finance opportunities), bringing in cutting edge knowledge on benefit-sharing arrangements, and related institutional and governance structures that are necessary to access and manage climate finance, in the context of the national commitments and Paris Agreement modalities.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Act as forest finance specialist (including climate and carbon finance), advise and provide technical support to national counterparts, where needs are identified and finance secured (and agreed with supervisor / Team leader), and in collaboration with regional and headquarter colleagues, to meet requirements under UNFCCC framework, including Article 5 and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, or other forest and climate standards including for ART-TREES.
• Addressing aspects related to programme design and requirements of various jurisdictional standards and assist countries upon request in the development of funding proposals and registration documents, monitoring reports or other documents to support the reporting and verification process.
• Upon country request, support the development and implementation of national forest financing strategies and roadmaps to enhance coordination, and pursue inclusive and innovative financing by combining public, private, and market-based sources and instruments.
• Upon country request, support the development and implementation of benefit-sharing arrangements and use of proceeds.
• Deliver training courses/sessions in the framework of REDD+ for carbon finance based on country needs and jointly identified with supervisor.
• Support the Halting deforestation, degradation and emissions decentralized team with technical review and revisions of technical material generated in the framework of UN-REDD programme, GCF and/or other REDD+ implementation / Results – based payment project or initiative.
• Participate in internal and external expert discussion groups surrounding topics of climate finance, REDD+ carbon finance, and related emerging standards. Closely monitor evolving of carbon finance opportunities, to ensure that high-quality considerations and up-to-date information are incorporated into all areas of work.
• Support cross-country exchanges and knowledge sharing on forest climate and carbon finance.

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 Forestry/ Environmental Economics, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in climate finance, forest finance, REDD+, carbon markets, or land-use-related climate mitigation, including technical advisory support to countries.
• Full proficiency/Working knowledge 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, with specific reference on field experience on the technical topics in Asia and the Pacific would be an asset.
• Extent and relevance of experience in capacity development, including the design and delivery of training or technical workshops for government counterparts and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with programme and proposal development, including contribution to funding proposals, registration documents, monitoring reports, or similar technical documentation for climate or forest finance mechanisms.

Selection Criteria

• Extent and relevance of experience in carbon finance modalities (compliance and/or voluntary), benefit-sharing arrangements, and institutional and governance frameworks relevant to accessing climate finance at national or jurisdictional level.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting national institutions to meet requirements under UNFCCC-related frameworks and/or jurisdictional forest and climate standards, including design, reporting, monitoring, verification, or results-based finance processes.

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

• 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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