Director, Forestry Division

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. The Division liaises with FAO Members, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The position is located in the Forestry Division at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Director, NFO, reports to the Deputy Director-General of FAO.

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director-General of FAO, the Director of NFO will:

• Provide strategic vision and leadership to FAO’s work on forestry and the work of the Division in contributing towards the achievement of the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and FAO’s Strategic Framework, Medium Term Plan and Programme of Work and Budget;
• Advise the Core Leadership of FAO as well as the Heads of other FAO units on matters of strategy and policy relating to FAO’s mandate in forestry;
• Ensure liaison and coordination with, and provide information, guidance and support to, all units of the Organization, both at headquarters and the Decentralized Offices (DOs);
• Maintain liaison with FAO Members and provide them with relevant information and policy and technical advice, as necessary;
• Ensure cooperation and coordination with the organizations of the United Nations (UN) system, other global, regional and national institutions and relevant partners and stakeholders including development banks, the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• Provide overall guidance and technical quality assurance for the Division’s work and monitors progress and reports progress in the implementation of FAO’s forestry programme;
• Promote FAO’s efforts for resource mobilization from resources partners in support of priority activities within the forestry programme at global, regional and national levels;
• Maintain a motivated and effective workforce by supporting the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, coaching and supporting their career development;
• Leverage and promote innovation, science and technology in the forestry sector, in cooperation with public, private, academia and civil society;
• Promote international dialogue and action on global and regional forestry issues through intergovernmental and non-governmental channels including through the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) and Forest Statutory Bodies of FAO, such as the Regional Forestry Commissions;
• Direct the preparation of forest flagship publications (State of the World’s Forests, Forest Resource Assessment), UNASYLVA and other forest related publications;
• Provide guidance and leadership in interdepartmental, interdisciplinary bodies related to the work of the Division;
• Chair the Collaborative Partnership on Forests;
• Co-lead the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration;
• Represent the Organization in high-level meetings and other relevant events dealing with the Division’s mandate of activities and negotiate effective working relationships with international and national partners;
• Advocate FAO’s policy position with respect to the areas under his/her mandate and communicate its messages;
• Exercise overall management and internal control responsibility over activities, programme and sources of funds, oversee and deal with risk management in the Division, ensure any significant control weaknesses are addressed or escalated.