GEF Project Design Specialists for Latin America and the Caribbean

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

FAO is a partner agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a partnership of 18 agencies and 183 countries to address the world’s most challenging environmental issues related to biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals, and international waters. GEF provides grants to countries to meet these challenges whilst contributing to key development goals, such as food security.

FAO brings to the partnership extensive knowledge and expertise in sustainable agriculture, including forestry and fisheries, as well as project formulation and resource mobilization. It draws on its strong field presence and in-depth understanding of GEF policies and procedures to assist member countries with more than 190 projects balanced across regions and focal areas.

In the Region of Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO implements a portfolio of more than USD 250 million, providing support to the countries in the region in the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of initiatives in agriculture, livestock production, forestry, aquiculture and fisheries, to achieve food security and nutrition under sustainable and resilience production systems.

The regional FAO GEF Unit supports governments, civil society, and FAO Decentralized Offices to conceptualize, develop and deliver strategic GEF co-financed investments. FAO’s GEF portfolio encompasses the range of investment priorities across GEF’s priority areas of work, including biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), land degradation, chemicals and waste, international waters and sustainable forest management.

Reporting Lines

The GEF Project Design Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representation in the relevant country
of assignment, direct supervision of the lead Technical Officer.

Technical Focus

Identification, design, implementation support and monitoring of GEF projects and programmes and those of other
environmental financing mechanisms. It includes strategic and policy work, with a focus on the nexus between global
environmental challenges and sustainable agriculture, including climate change and resilience, land, water, fisheries,
forestry, biological diversity and other environmental services.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise or advice and project design guidance to project proponents in the identification, development
  and implementation of natural resource/environmental project proposals or project documents, in close collaboration with the GEF executing agency, that address country priorities and further FAO and GEF (or other environmental funds) strategic objectives, programme priorities and operational policies and procedures.
• Participate in, and/or leads, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments and Decentralized Offices in the identification
  and formulation of natural resource and environmental management projects for financing by the GEF Trust Fund, Least
  Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) or other environmental funds.
• Ensure quality control of the GEF project concepts and full project proposals in line with GEF eligibility criteria and
  alignment with GEF Programming Directions.
• Coordinate and as required take a lead role in preparing project proposals.
• Participate in the design and delivery of capacity development activities to FAO technical staff in
  RLC and Decentralized Offices on the strategies, priorities and procedures, trends and issues related to GEF,
  adaptation and other environmental funds.
• Contribute to and/or advise on strategic and programmatic concepts for consideration under the four-year phase of
  the GEF (GEF-7).
• Contribute to, and/or advise on FAO GEF implementation support including, conducting mid-term reviews of projects.
• As required, supports the FAO-GEF portfolio and ensures quality control at all stages of the FAO and GEF project cycles.
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in natural resources management, environment, or natural resource economics, or in a field
  directly related to one or more of the following areas: biodiversity, climate change, energy, sustainable land, forest or
  water management.
• For Consultants C category: one to five years of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above
• For Consultants B category: type: at least five years of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above
• For Consultants A category: type: at least twelve of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above
• Working knowledge of English and Spanish.

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.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills with proven ability to write project documents and papers and ability to
  analyse and integrate diverse information from various sources.
• Extent and relevance of experience in preparation of projects and programmatic approaches (particularly GEF projects
  and programmes) and in results-based monitoring and supervision of multidisciplinary projects.
• Extent and relevance of experience with and knowledge of the procedures of GEF and other environmental funds.
• Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the GEF focal thematic areas (biodiversity, climate change,
  international waters, land degradation, sustainable forest management, sound chemicals management/persistent organic
  pollutants) that in turn is relevant to FAO’s priorities and comparative advantages.
• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical expertise or advice to project proponents at national, subregional and regional levels with regard to project development, results-based management, monitoring and evaluation
  planning, and monitoring for project impact.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English and/or Spanish.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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