Legal Specialist (Forestry)

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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 Legal Office of FAO ensures that FAO’s activities are carried out in accordance with its Constitution and the other Basic Texts of the Organization, consistent with its status as an intergovernmental organization of the United Nations system, and that its relations with governments, organizations, and individuals are based on a sound legal basis.

The Development Law Service (LEGN) provides legal advisory and technical services to governments on food, agriculture, and natural resources, including land, water, fisheries and aquaculture, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, environment, climate change and biodiversity, as well as on related agricultural issues, such as institutions, trade, and economic reform. LEGN is responsible for supporting Members in strengthening legal frameworks that promote sustainable and responsible governance of natural resources and related sectors.

The ForestLEX Programme—Strengthening National Legislation for Sustainable Forest Management—is an FAO-led initiative designed to support Members by providing normative, legal, and technical assistance to enhance forest governance. Recognising the critical role of legal frameworks in sustainable forest management, the Programme aims to strengthen knowledge and expertise through a global study, legal diagnostic tools, and a dynamic digital platform featuring country profiles and legislative resources. By facilitating capacity-building initiatives, including training workshops and e-learning courses, ForestLEX equips stakeholders—lawmakers, policymakers, legal professionals, and forest-dependent communities—with the necessary tools to assess and improve legal and institutional frameworks in alignment with international commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through structured knowledge-sharing and collaboration with governments, international organisations, academia, and civil society, the Programme fosters informed decision-making and promotes coherence in forestry legislation, ensuring that national legal frameworks are fit for purpose and effectively implemented.

The Governing for Sustainable Agrifood Systems\: Strengthening Legislation and Building Capacity to Support Implementation, Compliance, and Enforcement Programme (ACE Programme) is an FAO-led initiative designed to enhance governance frameworks for agrifood systems by improving legislative capacity and institutional mechanisms. Recognising the essential role of national legal frameworks in ensuring food security, sustainability, and environmental protection, the Programme supports Members through legal reviews, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives. Current activities under the Programme include climate change-related work, which strengthens the resilience of agrifood systems through regulatory support, compliance mechanisms, and institutional capacity-building. In the foreseeable future, the Programme will also address forestry-related objectives, ensuring coherence in legal and policy frameworks governing natural resource management. Through a structured approach that integrates legal diagnostics, targeted training, and multi-stakeholder engagement, the Programme aims to equip governments and enforcement bodies with the tools to implement, comply with, and enforce laws effectively, thereby fostering sustainable agrifood systems in alignment with national priorities and international commitments.

Reporting Lines

The Legal Specialist reports to the Chief, LEGN, with day-to-day supervision provided by a designated Legal Officer (LEGN).

Technical Focus

Legal research and advisory services to governments on forestry legislation, sustainable forest management, forest governance, biodiversity protection, and related development law issues. The specialist will primarily support the ForestLEX and the ACE Programme, and other related FAO legal initiatives, providing programmatic support across multiple legal and governance frameworks.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide legal advisory services to FAO Members on forestry legislation, including legal frameworks for sustainable forest management, land tenure, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and indigenous peoples' rights.
• Support awareness-raising and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen national capacities to develop, enact, and implement forestry laws and policies.
• Assist in the drafting of legislation, including constitutional provisions, framework laws, and sector-specific regulations related to forest governance, timber legality, and community-based forest management.
• Conduct legal research and analysis on national and international legal frameworks related to forestry and document comparative legal approaches.
• Identify synergies between forestry legislation and related areas such as land tenure, food security, environmental governance, and climate change adaptation.
• Provide technical inputs to legal assessments, guidelines, and policy recommendations to support FAO’s work on forestry governance.
• Contribute to FAO’s engagement in global and regional initiatives on forest-related legal frameworks, including compliance with international treaties and voluntary partnership agreements.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (LLM) in law with demonstrated academic work or research in international law, forestry law, environmental law, or natural resource governance
• At least one year of relevant legal work experience in the field of development law, climate-related law, natural resources and/or forestry law
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong knowledge of legal issues related to forestry governance, environmental protection, and natural resource law.
• Experience in developing national legislative and regulatory measures to implement international agreements, codes, guidelines, or other instruments related to forests and biodiversity.
• Legal drafting experience, particularly in developing countries or in the context of international forestry law.
• Ability to conduct legal research and analysis and write clear and concise legal texts, including legislative and regulatory instruments.
• Experience working with international or regional organizations on forestry and environmental legal frameworks is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

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

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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