MRV and Carbon Accounting Specialist

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants 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
• 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.

Organizational Setting

The LEAF program in Viet Nam is a jurisdictional REDD program operating under the framework of the LEAF Coalition and the Architecture for REDD Transactions (ART) through its TREES framework. The program is led by the VNFOREST within the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE).
As a key requirement of the ART/TREES framework, the program is committed to regular monitoring and reporting of its performance in reducing emissions and enhancing removals from the forestry sector. To this end, Viet Nam has already successfully completed and submitted its Initial TREES Monitoring Report (IMR), which covered the reporting period from January 1st, 2021, to December 31st, 2022.
This support is provided in the context of the ongoing assistance that the UN-REDD Programme is delivering to the Government of Viet Nam to strengthen its forest monitoring and REDD implementation capabilities, especially in supporting Viet Nam's LEAF jurisdictional area to receive Results-Based Payments (RBP).
The LEAF program is now proceeding with the development of its second TREES Monitoring Report (TMR) to cover the subsequent reporting period from January 1st, 2023, to December 31st, 2024. This report will provide an updated assessment of the program's progress within its sub-national accounting area, which includes 11 contiguous provinces of Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong.
Completing the TMR and undergoing the independent Validation and Verification (VV) process by the appointed VVB (AENOR) are complex tasks requiring rigorous data collection, compilation, analysis, and documentation, as well as robust internal processes and clear communication to address verification queries.
Therefore, this Terms of Reference (TOR) outlines the need of technical support for critical activities required for successfully developing the TMR (2023-2024) and navigating the VV process.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision by the FAO Representative, technical supervision by the Forestry Officer, Forestry Division in FAO Rome, day-to-day management by Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and in collaboration with the Project Coordinator at FAO in Vietnam and the international consultant for the project. The specialist will report to the FAO Representative, in close collaboration with Forestry Officer NFO.

Technical Focus

The MRV & Carbon Accounting Specialist will provide specialized technical expertise in Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and carbon accounting processes for forest-related activities. This includes providing technical inputs for monitoring reports, supporting the Verification and Validation (VV) process for ART/TREES, developing technical MRV sections for the Program Operations Manual (POM), and enhancing national capacity in carbon accounting and uncertainty assessment. The incumbent will work to ensure the timely implementation of the project and timely providing all relevant deliverables of the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of MRV sections for the Program Operations Manual (POM) with a focus on technical aspects and alignment
• Provide technical expertise and direct support in the compilation, analysis, and quality assurance of activity data and emission factors required for the Second TREES Monitoring Report (TMR 2023-2024).
• Support the development and delivery of specialized training on advanced MRV topics, including statistical analysis for carbon accounting uncertainty and quality control procedures.
• Providing comprehensive support for responding to queries arising from the Verification and Validation (VV) process led by the appointed VVB - AENOR.
• Provide ongoing technical guidance and capacity building to VNFOREST and other relevant national agencies involved in forest monitoring and carbon accounting for REDD within the LEAF program context.
• Participate in technical meetings and discussions with national and international stakeholders relevant to the LEAF program's MRV and carbon accounting components.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in forestry, environmental science, remote sensing, geographic information systems, carbon accounting, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in carbon accounting, MRV systems for forestry/land use, or related fields.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Python) for data analysis and modelling relevant to carbon accounting.
• Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese
• National of Viet Nam or resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proven experience in leading the development of national or sub-national REDD monitoring reports or similar technical documents.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in managing and analyzing large datasets related to forestry and land use.
• Demonstrated experience in developing Program Operations Manuals (POMs) or similar procedural documents for complex programs.
• Experience in designing and delivering technical training workshops on MRV and related topics.
• Familiarity with the Vietnamese forestry sector, policies, and institutional landscape is highly desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Vietnamese.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to meet tight deadlines.

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 a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact\: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• 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.

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

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