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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 incumbent will work for the Environment Team which is located in OCB at FAO Headquarters.
Reporting Lines
The specialist will report to the Natural Resources Officer in the OCB (Risk) Environment Team.
Technical Focus
Provide technical support in climate services (including hydrometeorological, agrometeorological and impact assessments), particularly climate risk management with assessment of climate risks in agri-food systems in member states, together with FAO headquarters and Decentralized Offices.
Tasks and responsibilities
In general, assigned tasks and responsibilities will usually include one or more of the following elements depending on the assignment and the expertise of the incumbent.
• Prepare technical documents (hydrometeorological, agrometeorological, and climate impact assessments) to evaluate the effects of climate risks in agrifood systems, for climate change adaptation project formulation and policy development.
• Analyze technical, social, economic, environmental information and data to characterize climate impacts and climate risks in agriculture (crop, livestock, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture) and in agrifood systems
• Provide technical support to development and implementation of climate risk assessment tools and methodologies.
• Support multi-hazard agricultural climate services as a weather risk management solution by improving access to, and use of, weather monitoring, forecasting, and early warning services across FAO’s work.
• Support the Environment Team with transferring risk knowledge (including tools, datasets, and methodologies) to FAO country/regional offices and Member States.
• Participate in relevant meetings and technical trainings.
• Participate in multidisciplinary teams and promote climate risk management and climate services across FAO’s work areas
• Provide technical support to FAO’s work on climate services and climate risks as required.
• 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 agrometeorology, meteorology, climate science, agriculture, hydrology, crop science, soil science, animal science, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environmental sciences, physical geography, remote sensing, statistics, data science or a related field; 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 agrometeorology, meteorology, climate science, agriculture, hydrology, crop science, soil science, animal science, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environmental sciences, physical geography, remote sensing, statistics, data science or a related field.
• A minimum of one year (for CAT C), a minimum of 5 years (for CAT B) and a minimum of 10 years (CAT A) of relevant experience in assessment of climate impacts on agriculture, climate services, climate risk assessment, risk management applied to agrifood systems.
• 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
• Extent and relevance of experience in assessing climate impacts on agriculture, analyzing climate risks in agricultural sectors, or related technical assessments, with a variety of approaches including impact models (e.g. crops, hydrology, ecosystem), and economic/econometric approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze interlinkages among climate variability including extremes (e.g., drought, flood, extreme heat), climate change, agriculture, environment, and socioeconomic factors from transdisciplinary risk management perspective.
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct technical analysis in relation to climate services (from the production to its dissemination to farmers) and climate risks in agrifood systems
• Demonstrated understanding of hydrometeorological and agrometeorological instruments and observation methods, weather forecasting models, early warning products and services, communication channels of climate services, and user-needs, particularly farmers.
• Demonstrated ability to draft technical documents, guidelines and manuals
• Excellent skills in writing scientific papers and reports in English
• Demonstrated data analysis and management skills with climate, agronomic, socioeconomic, remote sensing, and environmental data
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to produce quality outputs and meet the deadline with minimal supervision
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of training materials and delivery of training.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish
• Familiarity with formulation of projects such as those funded by GEF and GCF is an asset.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, or as part of an interdisciplinary team, is an asset.
• Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with data analysis software such as R, Stata, or similar tools
Selection Criteria
• Candidates will be assessed against the requirements and skills listed above.
• Limited knowledge (Intermediate Level B) of French, Spanish Arabic, Chinese or Russian is an asset.
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
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