Gender, Environment and Climate Change Consultant

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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

The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. REU also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. REU develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, sustainable food systems, and facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization in the region.

Reporting Lines

The Gender, Environment and Climate Change Consultant will work under the overall supervision and technical guidance of the REU Senior Gender and Social Protection Advisor and FAO REU Agricultural Officer, and in close collaboration with FAO REU Gender and Social Protection Specialist and other technical officers working on natural resource management and disaster risk reduction governance in the context of climate change (milestone 12900).

Technical Focus

FAO’s Policy on Gender Equality 2020-2030 commits to mainstream gender across its all areas of work, while the FAO’s Climate Change Strategy prioritizes social inclusion and gender-specific vulnerabilities, promoting inclusive and diversified sustainable food and agriculture systems to help reduce rural poverty and avoid crises linked to distress migration, conflict over resources and discrimination over social groups. FAO Regional Gender Equality Strategy for Europe and Central Asia (2019-2022) reinforces the corporate pledge to gender-sensitive technical assistance in the context of current regional challenges and trends, including climate change, while the Climate Change Strategy recognizes women’s important role in climate change adaptation and mitigation given their complex functions in the agricultural sector, and in livestock, fisheries, energy, forestry, water and land management sectors. Gender equality and climate change are also key for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as reflected in SDG 5 and 13 respectively, as well as in a number of other targets linked to gender, social inclusion, rural poverty, resilience and climate-related extreme events, throughout all the SDGs.

Climate change has direct impact on the productivity of the agricultural sector, and as such, it alters food systems and affects livelihoods of rural population. Climate change is not gender neutral and evidence generated globally suggests that it has disproportionate effect on women and girls; however, with regard to Europe and Central Asia, little information and data is available which would demonstrate this through regional specificities.

To address this gap, FAO REU supports production of a Guidebook for gender mainstreaming in the climate finance investments in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector based on accumulated experience with GEF and GCF projects (Guidebook) in the region (Regional result 12492, milestone 12898). This Guidebook will target FAO technical officers and gender focal points engaged with the AFOLU sector in Europe and Central Asia, but also national policy-makers, civil society actors, including NGOs, academia, and private sector, and other stakeholders.

The Guidebook will present the evidence on how gender-responsive interventions can shape inclusive and climate resilient enterprises, value chains, communities, and policies through a) an extensive review and analysis of accumulated experience with Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund projects in Europe and Central Asia, b) study of global and national policy processes and efforts relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation and gender equality. Relevant contributions to the SDGs and other key elements related to the Agenda 2030 will be also highlighted. The Guidebook will include recommendations for gender mainstreaming in the future climate finance investments in agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) based on project and country examples and best practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant will assist in generating knowledge on gender and climate change as relevant to the region: identifying the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change, as well as cases and promising practices tackling these issues in view of SDG achievement. The Guidebook will be based on the review of region-specific cases, particularly, the FAO experiences in the region, in implementing GEF, GCF, and other projects and programmes. In more detail, in close coordination with the Gender Team, the consultant will:

• Develop the methodology and an outline of the Guidebook (2 days),
• Conduct desk research, reviewing relevant programme and project outputs (assessments, studies, reports, etc.), including all relevant proceeding of GEF, GCF, GCP and other FAO and joint initiatives in the region (15 days);
• Conduct interviews with relevant national stakeholders/informants (experts from governmental entities, academia and CSOs), online, to complement secondary data and identified gaps in the projects’ documentation (5 days);
• Develop and submit the draft Guidebook to FAO for review and comment (15 days);
• Address comments and integrate suggestions received from the first review round and submit the second draft of the Guidebook (10 days);
• Test the Guidebook, by conducting an online validation workshop with relevant FAO staff, government and civil society representatives (2 days);
• Ensure technical inputs in the process of the Guidebook finalization, proofreading, and its translation into Russian (5 days);
• Present the Guidebook during dedicated FAO events on tools and techniques to mainstream gender into climate action, in at least 3 events (4 days).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in environmental policy, sustainable development, sociology, social anthropology, gender or other relevant social sciences
• Three years of relevant experience in in knowledge generation, policy formulation, capacity building in relation to gender equality and climate change, preferably in an international development context
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the following: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish for Consultants; working knowledge of English for PSA subscribers

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming gender issues or research in AFOLU sector
• Familiarity and experience with GEF, GCF, or other climate finance mechanisms
• Analytical and research skills with focus on gender inequalities
• Familiarity with and/or prior working experience in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and Western Balkans
• Working knowledge of Russian will be considered an asset

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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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