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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.


The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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

FAO is a partner agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a partnership of 18 agencies and 186 member countries to address the world’s most challenging environmental issues related to biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals, and international waters. GEF provides grants to countries to meet these challenges whilst contributing to key development goals, such as food security.

FAO brings to the partnership extensive knowledge and expertise in sustainable agriculture, including forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as project formulation and resource mobilization. It draws on its strong field presence and in-depth understanding of GEF policies and procedures to assist member countries with more than 300 projects balanced across regions and focal areas.

In the Latin America and the Caribbean region, FAO implements a portfolio, providing support to the countries in the region in the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of initiatives in agriculture, livestock production, forestry, aquiculture and fisheries, to achieve food security and nutrition under sustainable and resilience production systems.

The regional FAO GEF Unit supports governments, civil society, and FAO Decentralized Offices to conceptualize, develop and deliver strategic GEF co-financed investments. FAO’s GEF portfolio encompasses the range of investment priorities across GEF’s priority areas of work, including biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), land degradation, chemicals and waste, international waters and sustainable forest management.


Reporting Lines

The GEF Project Design Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment, in coordination with the Lead Technical Officer of the project, and the FAO GEF Technical Officer (GTO).


Technical Focus

Identification, design, implementation support and monitoring of GEF projects and programmes and those of other environmental financing mechanisms. It includes 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.


Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise or advice in identification and design of natural resource/environmental project proposals or project documents, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders, that address country priorities and further FAO and GEF strategic objectives, programme priorities and operational policies and procedures.
• Participate in, and/or leads, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments and FAO Decentralized Offices and Regional/Subregional Offices in the identification and formulation of natural resource and environmental management projects for financing by the GEF Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), Global Environmental Framework Fund (GBFF) or other environmental funds.
• Coordinate and as required, take a lead role in preparing the full project documentation (PIF, EOIs, ProDocs) to be submitted to the GEF Secretariat, including Theory of Change, Results Framework and all relevant requirements and Annexes, in coordination with FAO and government technical experts.
• Ensure quality control of the GEF project concepts and full project documents in line with GEF eligibility criteria and alignment with GEF-9 Programming & Policy Directions.
• Contribute to and/or advise on strategic and programmatic concepts for consideration under the four-year phase of the GEF (GEF-9).
• As required, support the FAO-GEF portfolio and ensure quality control at all relevant stages of the FAO and GEF project cycles.
• Perform other related duties as required.


CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING


Minimum Requirements

• For Consultants:
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in natural resources management, international relations, social or environmental sciences, natural resource economics, or equivalent. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs:
University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in natural resources management, international relations, social or environmental sciences, natural resource economics, or equivalent.
• At least five years (for Category B) or ten years (for Category A) of relevant experience in GEF projects design in a field directly related to one or more of the following areas: biodiversity, climate change, energy, sustainable land, forest and/or water management.
• Working knowledge of English and Spanish.


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, particularly in field positions is desirable.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills with proven ability to write project documents and papers and ability to analyse and integrate diverse information from various sources.
• Extent and relevance of experience in preparation of projects and programmatic approaches (particularly GEF projects and programmes) and in results-based monitoring and supervision of multidisciplinary projects.
• Extent and relevance of experience with and knowledge of the procedures of GEF and other environmental funds.
• Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the GEF focal thematic areas (biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, sustainable forest management, sound chemicals management/persistent organic pollutants) that in turn is relevant to FAO’s priorities and comparative advantages.
• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical expertise or advice to project proponents at national, subregional and regional levels with regard to project development, results-based management, monitoring and evaluation planning, and monitoring for project impact.
• Experience in designing projects in the Latin America and the Caribbean region or working with governmental counterparts in the region is desirable.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English and/or Spanish.

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

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.