Climate Transparency Specialist

Port-Vila

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Port-Vila
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Meteorology, Geology and Geography
    • Climate Change
  • Closing Date: 2025-12-11

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT\:

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.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind.
FAO is supporting the Government of Vanuatu with the GEF funded project entitled “Strengthening capacity in the Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land-use Sectors for Enhanced Transparency in the Implementation and Monitoring of Vanuatu’s Nationally Determined Contribution”. FAO is co-executing the project in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management (MoCCA). The objective of the project is to develop Vanuatu’s institutional and human capacities for complying with Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) reporting requirements of the Paris Agreement, and implementation and monitoring of Vanuatu’s Nationally Determined Contribution focusing on Energy, Agriculture, Forestry and other Land Use Sectors. The project works under three components. I. Strengthening Vanuatu’s institutional arrangements for a robust MRV system for NDC climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. II. Provision of an online platform, tools, and training for a robust MRV system focusing on Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land use Sectors. III. Monitoring and Evaluation. The project is terminating in December 2026


Reporting Lines

The Climate Transparency Specialist will work under the overall guidance of National Project Director (DOCC), and supervision of the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator (SRC) for the Pacific, and the technical guidance of the Forestry Officer (SAP), and closely work with CBIT team, and the Transparency in OCB at Headquarters, the Regional and Sub-regional offices and relevant Ministries of Vanuatu.


Technical Focus

The Climate Transparency Specialist will be a part of FAO execution team and support the specific intended outputs related to the project and technically support the implementation of the project.


Tasks and responsibilities

The Specialist will ensure coordination with the Global CBIT- AFOLU experts delivering trainings in Agriculture and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry, and perform the following tasks\:

Conduct hands-on training in climate transparency

• Based on the capacity gap undertaken by University of Vanuatu, identify training needs to enhance the knowledge on climate transparency of Government officials assigned to respond to the UNFCCC reporting requirements, ensuring the involvement of non-state sectors (academia, research institutes, private sector, Civil Society Organization).
• Prepare GHG Inventory training materials, including presentations, case studies, and practical exercises tailored to the needs of the country as per the request area of support for the Energy, including Transport, and Waste sectors.
• Conduct gap and need assessment in sectors’ respective departments on the data availability, sharing agreements and data management system
• Conduct hands-on training sessions on the use of the 2006 IPCC guidelines and Inventory Software, assisting participants in mastering inventory management and Country Reporting Table
• Support the trainees to implement the improvement plan included in the first BTR1 for the sector-specific GHG Inventory
• Conduct training and provide technical support to the country and guidance in tracking and reporting on their NDC progress (support from Transparency team HQ) including facilitating the understanding and the production of the Common Tabular Format.

Support in upgrading/strengthening the integrated MRV (iMRV) and related framework

• In conjunction with the IT specialist, conduct a rapid assessment of the existing integrated MRV system at DoCC, and related content framework
• Provide information on the latest ETF reporting requirements to support the IT specialist in identifying potential upgrade (architecture & software), in consultation with DoCC and relevant stakeholders.
• Capacitate the government officials on the importance of the iMRV system to sustain the development of data -driven policies, monitor results of climate actions and report to the UNFCCC.
• Develop a guideline/manual for Training of Trainers (ToT) to support capacity building for sectoral departments/Ministries and at the DoCC on to use the iMRV system.
• Conduct training based on the manual to the focal persons of sectoral departments/Ministries to develop 1st tier experts on data collection, management, and reporting.


CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING


Minimum Requirements

• For Consultant\: Advanced University degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Science and Policy or related field is required. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSA.SBS\: University degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Science and Policy or related field is required.
• 5 years of relevant experience in climate change, climate transparency, energy, natural resource management and capacity building initiatives
• Working knowledge of English


FAO Core Competencies

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


Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in developing country, particularly in Small Island Developing States/LDCs with more than one location or area of work
• Extent and relevance of experience in GHG Inventory methodologies, use of IPCC 2006 guidelines and inventory software, or international climate reporting standard or related fields
• Extent and relevance of experience in climate change, GHG inventory cycle, data collection, management, QA/QC and reporting
• Extensive track record of technical services and capacity building on ETF implementation including MRV for governments and institutional clients

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

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.
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