International Forest Management Standards (Environment and Social) Specialist

Organizational Setting

As per Global Environment Facility (GEF) CEO’s PPG approval letter dated 4 May 2020, FAO is developing a full project document that elaborates on the approved PIF entitled “Integrated Forest Landscape Management for Strengthening the Northeastern and Eastern Forest Corridors”. The proposed project involves mitigating the barriers which will enable coordinated and participatory approaches to address land degradation and watershed management issues by improving forest and land management at critical corridor locations around and between the protected areas. Accordingly, the objective of the project is to strengthen the conservation of globally significant biodiversity in four landscape complexes of Northeastern and Eastern Thailand through improved management of forests between and around protected areas, which as reserved forest land falls under the management of the Royal Forest Department (RFD). FAO is assisting RFD to prepare a full project document, based on the PIF, to be submitted to the GEF CEO. As part of this process, FAO is assembling a team of international and national experts to develop the full project document and associated documents, including description of detailed outputs and activities. This team includes an international expert on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Standards, with a focus on Environmental and Social criteria.

Reporting lines

The incumbent will work under the overall managerial administrative leadership of the Assistant Director-General (ADG) for Asia and the Pacific, direct supervision of the International Project Formulation Expert with the overall technical guidance of the International GEF Expert and technical backstopping of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and Project Task Force members at FAO RAP and in collaboration with PP in-country team.

Technical Focus

In close collaboration with the National Forest Products and Industry Expert review:

• The potential for international SFM standards and systems (including FSC, PEFC) to promote and enhance habitat connectivity in the project area;
• The effectiveness of existing national government initiatives (e.g. Sor Tor Kor; Cor Tor Chor) in promotion of biodiversity-sensitive and productive forest management in private and community-managed areas;
• The potential for the Community Forestry Bill to support the connectivity of wildlife habitats while enhancing benefits of biodiversity for local communities; and
• The role of the private sector in contributing to biodiversity conservation outside protected areas, especially Province-level Private Forest Producer Associations or Cooperatives.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Elaborate the project’s contribution to the development of a Safeguards Information System (SIS) compatible with international best practice, particularly with reference to UNFCCC and UNCBD;
• Review existing national and provincial systems, criteria and indicators for assessing environmental and social impacts of interventions in the forest and land use sector (ESIAs), the practical limitations of these systems and the potential for information developed by private and community-based forest enterprises to strengthen them;
• Support design of stakeholder consultation and participation methodologies for the project formulation phase (including provisions for ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), as needed), the facilitation of consultation and participation processes, and the systematization of results; and
• Formulation of stakeholder participation strategy and action plan for project implementation.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, Environmental Science or any related discipline;
• At least five years’ experience in the field of international forest management standards, certification and forest product trade, preferably in the Lower Mekong Region;
• Working knowledge of English language;

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• In-depth knowledge of international mechanisms and systems to promote sustainable forest management and trade, including voluntary certification, timber legality verification, traceability/chain-of-custody, CITES, public and private procurement policies, etc.;
• Proven track record of advising and collaborating with government institutions and other stakeholders such as NGOs in developing countries;
• Knowledge of climate change negotiations, REDD , MRV procedures and associated IPCC methodologies is an advantage; and
• Strong inter-personal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience of designing environmental and social safeguard framework for forest/biodiversity/climate change/land degradation management related projects;
• Proven capacity to conduct fieldwork and ability to work in teams and establish working relationships central and local government institutions and civil society organizations;
• Ability to use standard office software such as MS-Office;

Additional Selection Criteria

• Good knowledge of the Thai language will be an asset.