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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 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 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).

The GIAHS Secretariat is the operational unit of FAO’s GIAHS Programme and its role consists in providing guidance to FAO member countries for the development and submission of GIAHS proposals, as well as for the implementation of follow- up activities. Furthermore, it has the function of liaising with governments and national/international organizations for the establishment of new partnerships, which may be necessary for the future development and geographic expansion of the Programme.

The position is located in the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Secretariat, in FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the GIAHS Senior Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Support the implementation of the work plan of the GIAHS Secretariat; including the activities of the Scientific Advisory Committee, the expansion of the Programme in new areas, and its technical strengthening on monitoring and agronomic and environmental matters.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support for the organization of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) meetings and follow-up with countries, as well as field missions of SAG to GIAHS sites.
• Perform the screening of GIAHS new proposals submitted by countries to ensure their compliance with the GIAHS selection criteria.
• Provide guidance and briefing to countries and FAO decentralized offices on the overall process for developing and submitting new GIAHS proposals and actions plans.
• Produce guidance materials and documents, talking points, briefs, key messages, and presentations on GIAHS.
• Provide technical support for the implementation, monitoring and reporting of GIAHS Secretariat projects.
• Assist GIAHS countries in resource mobilization to support the formulation of their new GIAHS proposals and the implementation of action plans.
• Strengthen collaboration with UN agencies and international organizations working on related thematic (UNESCO, IUCN, UN-Tourism…).
• Advocate for more funding to support the growing portfolio of the GIAHS programme through engaging actively with donors, international organizations and academia.
• Produce concept notes and new GIAHS project proposals to tap on potential opportunities for South-South cooperation.
• Contribute to the development of the resource mobilization strategy and action plans for the GIAHS Secretariat.
• Contribute to the organization of the biennium GIAHS Certificate Award Ceremony.
• Contribute to the organization of workshops, seminars, webinars and trainings of the GIAHS Secretariat to strengthen the capacity of national institutions (ministries of agriculture, environment…) and GIAHS communities to sustainably manage GIAHS, achieve sustainable development and improve their livelihoods.
• Provide guidance to junior consultants and interns working at the GIAHS Secretariat, as delegated by the Senior Coordinator, GIAHS Secretariat.
• Represent FAO in meetings and international conferences, as and when required.
• Perform other duties, as required.

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 agronomy, forestry, fisheries, agricultural economics, natural resource management, ecology (agroecology), biodiversity, climate change and environment, anthropology, landscape management or sustainable rural development. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience
• One year (for Category C), five years (for Category B) or ten years (for Category A) of relevant experience in developing substantive initiatives related to sustainable agriculture, natural resources and/or environmental management and/or integrated landscape approaches
• Working knowledge (level c) 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, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Relevant experience in agriculture, forestry, fishery, biodiversity, natural resources management and/or rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in collecting, processing, analyzing technical data and in preparing technical reports on topics related to agriculture, forestry, fishery, biodiversity, natural resources management and/or rural development.
• Experience in drafting and revising policy and technical documents and in organizing meetings, seminars and workshops.
• Extent and relevance of work experience with national institutions and local communities in the field of agriculture, forestry, fishery, biodiversity, natural resources management and/or rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in partnership building and resource mobilization.
• Work experience of GIAHS is an asset.
• Working knowledge (Proficiency level C) of Spanish or French 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

• 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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