Peatlands and Climate Change Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO’s work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with member countries, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world’s forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The Forestry Division coordinates FAO’s work on peatlands. Since 2011, FAO supports countries through global work as well as a developing portfolio of projects in advancing sustainable peatland and mangrove management for climate and biodiversity goals.

The post is located in the Forests and Climate Team of the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant reports to the Forestry Officer (Peatlands and high-carbon ecosystems), under the overall guidance of the Senior Forestry Officer/Team Leader of the Forests and Climate Team. S/he will work closely with members of the team and the Division, Decentralized Offices and other relevant FAO units.

Technical Focus 

Technical support, capacity development and policy guidance related to high-carbon ecosystems, especially peatlands.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provides technical and project management support to FAO’s growing portfolio of projects related to peatland conservation, sustainable management, restoration and monitoring in developing countries and regions including the Congo Basin, East Africa, Indonesia, and others.
•    Contributes technical advice and liaises with global partner organizations and partnership networks such as the Global Peatlands Initiative.
•    Assists peatland countries by providing science-based information for measuring and reporting to international agreements and goals.
•    Supports programme development related to peatland conservation, management, and restoration, including formulation of project documents.
•    Supports stakeholder engagement, dissemination, and outreach related to products and the technical work areas.
•    Contributes to the Forestry Division’s work on peatland and restoration monitoring and climate action (adaptation and mitigation).
•    Organizes meetings, workshops, conferences and other events, summarizing and reporting results
•    Coordinates diverse stakeholder groups ensuring timely and effective delivery of project activities and outputs related to peatlands.
•    Contributes to internal and external project communications including the development of related knowledge products.
•    Contributes to regular internal and external project reports.
•    Performs other duties as needed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in rural livelihoods, climate policy, natural resources management, wetlands, forests, land use, soils or a related field.
•    Relevant experience (at least 1 year for a category C, 5 years for a category B or 10 years for category A) in forest or other land use management or monitoring, including of peatlands, mangroves, or other high-carbon ecosystems.
•    Relevant experience in project management and implementation.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Strong communication skills, including proven ability to draft technical documents.
•    High level of organization and ability to work across multiple ongoing workstreams.
•    Demonstrated knowledge of peatland or wetland conservation, sustainable management, or restoration, including climate, biodiversity, and human dimensions.
•    Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a dynamic multicultural environment.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in international organizations, including UN systems.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the development, management, and implementation of international programmes.
•    Familiarity with land use change analysis and greenhouse gas accounting methods and tools.

Selection Criteria 

•    Extent and relevance of experience in the listed tasks, and technical/functional skills.
•    Clarity of expression.
•    Readiness for duty travel missions to capitals and field sites as needed.
•    Work experience in the Congo Basin or elsewhere in French-speaking and/or tropical countries would be an asset.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in monitoring, livelihoods, and management of peatlands.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in capacity development on peatland measurement and/or management.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in coordination, liaison and management of technical projects.
•    Proven record of resource mobilization, stakeholder engagement as well as knowledge management and outreach.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in supporting peatland work in tropical and/or mountain countries.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French would be a strong asset.