Technical Officer (Regional GEF/Eastern Europe Central Asia)

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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 persons 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 staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

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 Secretariats of the International 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). FAO is a specialized technical UN Agency, applying unique technical knowledge, information and capacity to one of the world's great challenges: feeding 9 billion people while maintaining and restoring the environment. The FAO-GEF portfolio - currently comprised of over 400 projects worth over USD 2 billion in GEF investments - is growing steadily as countries demand more of what FAO has to offer. As a GEF Agency, FAO works with Member Nations and partners to access GEF financing for strategic projects that help countries achieve sustainable food systems transformation to improve agriculture production, access value chains, reduce hunger and improve nutrition all while sustainably utilizing and conserving biodiversity, improving land and water management, reducing pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. The GEF Programme is aligned with FAO's core competencies and strategic priority areas, including sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land and water management. FAO's GEF portfolio extends across all five of GEF's focal areas (Biodiversity, Climate Change, Land Degradation, International Waters, and Chemicals and Waste) as well as the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Special Climate Change Fund (LDCF/SCCF) and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).' The Europe and Central Asia Region is a small but mighty part of FAO's GEF programme, comprising 7% of the total FAO-GEF portfolio. The OCB-GEF Unit provides thematic advice and guidance to FAO in the key priority programming areas of the GEF and works closely with colleagues from across FAO to help Member Nations in developing projects for GEF financing and their implementation. This position will serve as a key member of the FAO-GEF team in the Europe - Central Asia region while providing high-quality thematic guidance and specific technical knowledge to OCB-GEF team, FAO-GEF teams in other regions, countries, and partners to support project development and implementation.

This position is located in the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Technical Officer (Regional GEF/Eastern Europe Central Asia) reports to the Executive Coordinator, OCB-GEF Unit, and works in close coordination with REU-GEF Focal Point, REU BH and the OCB-GEF team.

Technical Focus
Identification, design, implementation support and monitoring of FAO-GEF projects and programmes and those of other environmental financing mechanisms. It includes supporting and contributing to strategic and policy work, with a focus on the nexus between global environmental challenges and sustainable agriculture, including climate change and resilience, land, water, fisheries, forestry, biological diversity and other environmental services.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions
• Researches and analyses technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.
• Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
• Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes and databases.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres and promotes best practices. • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

Regional GEF Technical Officer:
• Supports OCB-GEF regional teamwork and strategic programming in REU and participates in regular OCB-GEF management meetings
• Collaborates with Finance and Project Implementation Support (FPIS) and Monitoring - Reporting (M-R) teams to maintain regional GEF portfolio information, ensures the timely implementation of project milestones across the regional portfolio, facilitates follow up on at risk projects, identifies and mitigates implementation challenges, and provides targeted support to Country Offices in the implementation, operation and monitoring of GEFs projects.
• Works with Executive Coordinator to set and achieve resource mobilization targets for the region for a typical GEF replenishment period.
• Supports the implementation of the FAO-GEF Strategy and Action Plan in the region and contributes to establishing and strengthening strategic partnerships in the region.
• Serves as the main point of contact for RAF and RNE on GEF programme and policy development and when requested, participates in regular Regional Office management meetings to support resource mobilization and pipeline planning reviews with RO management and FAO Representation
• Promotes and ensure synergies with regional programming and policy priorities and supports the development of a high-quality GEF project pipeline in the RAF and RNE based on regional priorities, GEF replenishment opportunities, and FAO-GEF Programmatic Areas of Work (PAWs).
• Works with FPIS, M-R lead, Regional Office field programme officers and technical leads to support the RO and SRO operational and technical roles in delivering the FAO-GEF portfolio
• Supports and contributes to knowledge management and sharing in regional portfolio, working with the Regional Offices and the M-R and Communications team in OCB-GEF to capture and disseminate lessons learned and success stories between countries, headquarters, and Regional Offices.

FAO-GEF Technical Officer:
• Serves as a FAO-GEF Technical Officer (GTO) for selected programmes and projects in the Europe and Central Asia region and serves as a member of the FAO Project Task Force (PTF) for each of the projects under her/his responsibility.
• Supports the formulation and implementation of complex GEF programmes and projects within the regional portfolio, ensuring operational viability and due compliance with the FAO policy standards and best practices, as well as convergence with GEF policies and priorities
• Collaborates with OCB-GEF Unit colleagues to ensure programmes and projects in the region are prepared effectively and efficiently within the specified project preparation phase from concept approval to project document submission/approval and are managed efficiently to achieve milestones and results throughout the cycle in a timely manner, including start up, first disbursement, full implementation and closure.
• Provides critical technical inputs to robust GEF regional portfolio management including improvements of FAO project operation implementation modality and risk management and the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information and FAO project information/knowledge management systems.
• Provides high-quality products, inputs and support to meet the standards of the Project Implementation Reviews, Midterm Reviews and Terminal Evaluations.
• Supports the OCB-GEF Unit and FAO-GEF community in the development of a robust portfolio of projects and programmes targeting one of the global priorities in the emerging GEF-9 program and subsequent GEF programmes. Works with the Executive Coordinator and OCB-GEF team to strengthen the efficiency of GEF team operations.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities for synergies with other vertical funds and to strengthen a programmatic approach at country level in the fields of climate change, biodiversity and environment.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, or natural resources management or related biological sciences.
• Five years of relevant experience in vertical fund programming on the nexus between agrifood systems and environmental management.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in Vertical Fund project and programme development and experience in the REU region is a strong asset.
• Extent and relevance of experience in mobilizing resources, building a GEF portfolio, and supervising multidisciplinary projects and programmes across two or more of the GEF priority areas (biodiversity, climate change mitigation, land degradation, international waters, chemicals and waste, climate change adaptation) is an asset.
• Good analytical and conceptual skills with ability to formulate project documents and write technical papers and ability to analyse and integrate diverse information from various sources.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and integrate diverse sources of information into coherent stories in the form of compelling project and program proposals (particularly GEF projects and programmes), results-based budgeting and monitoring and supervision of multidisciplinary projects.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the procedures of GEF and other environmental funds is highly desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in communicating with a wide range of stakeholders and in providing clear technical and policy advice to project proponents at national, subregional and regional levels about GEF priorities, results-based management and monitoring.

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

• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds

• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
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CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct

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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;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;
• 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.

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