Adviser Access and Benefit-sharing

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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

Organizational Setting

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission) provides the only permanent forum to discuss and negotiate matters specifically relevant to biodiversity for food and agriculture. The Commission aims to reach international consensus on policies for the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity, including genetic resources for food and agriculture, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use. Since its establishment, the Commission has overseen global assessments of the state of the world’s plant, animal, forest and aquatic genetic resources, overall biodiversity for food and agriculture, and negotiated major international instruments. The Commission is supported by multiple subsidiary advisory bodies, including its Intergovernmental technical working groups on animal, aquatic, forest and plant genetic resources and the Team of Technical and Legal Experts on Access and Benefit-sharing.

The Strategic Plan for the Commission, including its rolling Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW) guides the work of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, see https://www.fao.org/3/ca8345en/ca8345en.pdf for additional information. In the follow up to the Commission’s 18th Regular Session in 2021, activities will have to be implemented, in particular, in two areas:

• Access and benefit-sharing for genetic resources for food and agriculture (ABS for GRFA)
• “Digital sequence information” on genetic resources for food and agriculture (DSI on GRFA)

The purpose of this call is to provide the Secretariat of the Commission (OCBC) with a list of qualified candidates to enhance the Commission’s work. The Secretariat of the Commission is located in the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. OCB promotes the integration of innovative approaches in the activities of the Organization, for the sustainable use, management and conservation of natural resources for food and agriculture, and provides a coordination role on climate change, biodiversity and the environment.

The consultant will be based in FAO HQ or home-based. The consultant may be required to travel for meetings and field missions.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Secretary of the Commission and the direct supervision of the Commission officers, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the intergovernmental technical working groups and other offices/divisions in FAO HQs and/or FAO decentralized offices, as appropriate. When activities are carried out in countries, the consultant will be required to work in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment, as well as the relevant FAO regional office.

Technical Focus

Supporting the policy process, implementation, further knowledge development, and training and dissemination activities of the Commission’s MYPOW through the provision of expertise in ABS for and DSI on GRFA.

The consultant should be able to cover activities on ABS for and DSI on GRFAand have expertise in the following:

• Assisting in global policy processes, including expert consultations and intergovernmental meetings
• Reporting on intergovernmental meetings, preferably in the field of genetic resources and biodiversity for food and agriculture
• Preparation of pre-session documents for intergovernmental meetings
• Experience in biodiversity and genetic resources for food and agriculture and related fields, including cross-sectoral matters

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant will conduct an analysis of the information provided in various sources, and highlight the potential implications at national, regional and global levels, achieving one or more of the following tasks related to ABS for and DSI on GRFA:

• Develop, write, technically edit and proofread pre-session and background documents, reports, publications and work plans, as lead author, on topics listed above.
• Provide technical and logistical support to the Secretariat, for example by communicating with experts, National Focal Points and international organizations, and organizing internal (FAO) and external review process for documents.
• Provide support to the Secretariat for the organization of technical and intergovernmental meetings and in the finalization of documents that may arise as a follow-up to such meetings.
• Liaise with relevant FAO units and other organizations relevant to the assignment to obtain guidance and advice on specific elements.
• Prepare concept notes and project proposals for donors.
• Any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, natural resources, social sciences, law, environment and/or economic sciences, nutrition or related field
• One to four years of relevant experience for base level consultants, and at least five years of relevant experience for middle level consultants, in issues related to genetic resources and biodiversity for food and agriculture, including conservation, use and/or, access and benefit-sharing, as well as on activities related to the organization and management of inter-governmental and/ or technical meetings.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two, or of Arabic, Chinese or Russian (for Consultants). Working knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian (for PSAs)

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of work experience in genetic resources for food and agriculture
• Extent and relevance of experience in ABS for and DSI on GRFA
• Demonstrated ability to formulate, draft and finalize clear technical and policy documents, guidelines and manuals, in English
• Extent and relevance of experience in the organization and management of inter-governmental and/or technical meetings
• Familiarity with global assessments and policy processes
• Extent of knowledge of developments in other relevant international fora and the capacity to conduct technical and policy analysis of on-going processes on biodiversity and genetic resources

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