International Social Forestry and Climate Change Specialist

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• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
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• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The UN-REDD Programme is the United Nations collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD ) in developing countries. The Programme was launched in 2008 and builds on the convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UN-REDD Programme assists developing countries to prepare to implement REDD , including the development of National REDD Strategies, following guidance issued by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
As part of the Technical Assistance component of the UN-REDD Programme, and with specific support from the Swiss Government, a new initiative was launched for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, titled Climate change mitigation through social forestry actions in ASEAN countries. The technical assistance (TA) provided by FAO (lead agency) and UNEP aims for the generation of evidence and scaled up social forestry contribution to climate mitigation in/for a number of countries in the ASEAN region, building on ongoing programmes and lessons learnt from previous work. It will be implemented at the regional level with targeted interventions in three ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia and Lao PDR. The work will be closely coordinated with the ASEAN Working Group (AWG) on Social Forestry (AWG SF) and AWG Forest and Climate Change (AWG FCC) member states.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the REDD team coordinator in FAO HQ, and the direct supervision of the Forestry Officer (REDD ) at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), with technical guidance from the senior forestry officer in RAP, and in coordination with the REDD regional advisors for UNEP in Asia-Pacific and the ASEAN secretariat and ASEAN Working Group (AWG) on Social Forestry (AWG SF) and AWG Forest and Climate Change (AWG FCC), the International Social Forestry and Climate Change specialist will support implementation of activities under the UN-REDD initiative Climate change mitigation through social forestry actions in ASEAN countries.

Technical Focus

Climate change mitigation through social forestry actions. This includes building capacities, mitigation assessments, monitoring of social forestry interventions, building partnerships, stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.

Tasks and responsibilities

The International Social Forestry and Climate Change specialist is responsible to deliver on a set of activities under the UN-REDD Technical Assistance on Climate change mitigation through social forestry actions in ASEAN countries, as part of the UN-REDD Global Technical Assistance (TA) programme (UNJP/GLO/795/UNJ Baby 2), including:

• Conduct a comparative assessment of mitigation contribution of different social forestry models, including potential of community forestry, private social forest initiatives, and different forest management practices and tenure regimes;
• Combine assessment of the potential extent of social forestry interventions in the ASEAN (3 pilot countries) with mitigation contribution and support exchanges between ASEAN working group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) and AWG Forest and Climate Change (AWG-FCC) with recommendations on social forestry interventions to contribute to climate change mitigation;
• Assist country work on identifying and including specific social forestry interventions as mitigation and adaptation actions in the implementation of NDCs and their future revisions;
• Support countries in participatory discussions to decide on methods to integrate social forestry monitoring in National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS);
• Based on recommendation and agreed action plans, support target countries in building local capacities on social forestry monitoring in line with the NFMS;
• Facilitate participatory discussions at the ASEAN regional level to inform on methods and the integration of social forestry monitoring in National Forest Monitoring Systems;
• Organize online knowledge exchange sessions At the ASEAN regional level to facilitate AMS interaction on identifying and including specific social forestry interventions as mitigation and adaptation actions in country NDCs;
• Assess current and potential incentives for social forestry mitigation actions, and support 3 countries to develop incentive schemes that support climate-friendly and socially responsible forestry;
• Build the relevant evidence base to attract climate finance (private sector, GCF, others) and provide support to mobilize investment in two [/three] identified social forestry mitigation programmes. This activity will be coordinated with Output 4. Promote and accelerate responsible private investments in social forestry led by UNEP;
• Support workshops and technical events planned under the initiative;
• Support national experts in drafting inception work plan, combined annual and semi-annual work plans, and reports against work plans in approved inter-agency format;
• Support coordination and communication during implementation of above activities with UNEP regional team;
• Undertake any other relevant tasks assigned in the context of the UN-REDD Programme technical assistance.

Specific Functions

• Lead a comparative assessment of mitigation contribution of different social forestry models
• Provide recommendations on social forestry interventions potential to contribute to climate change mitigation in ASEAN, in consultation with ASEAN working group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF) and AWG Forest and Climate Change (AWG-FCC)
• Draft options paper on methods to integrate social forest monitoring in National Forest Monitoring Systems
• Work with national expert to build local capacities on social forestry monitoring
• Identify specific social forestry interventions for inclusion of future country NDC, country dialogues supported
• Develop options paper on incentive schemes that support climate-friendly and socially responsible forestry
• Document relevant evidence to facilitate climate finance and support to mobilize investment in two/three identified social forestry mitigation programmes provided;
• Report on regional workshops and technical event, including from online knowledge exchange sessions at the ASEAN regional level to facilitate AMS interaction on identifying and including specific social forestry interventions as mitigation and adaptation actions in country NDCs;
• Contribute to annual and semi-annual work plans, and project progress reports;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in forestry, natural resources management, environmental sciences or other related fields
• Three years of relevant experience on social forestry, preferable linked to climate change mitigation.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian).

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;
• Extent and relevance of work experience on social forestry/community based forestry
• Extent and knowledge of climate change negotiations, measurement, monitoring and reporting processes
• Extend and relevance of experience in working with intergovernmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams;
• Demonstrated ability to formulate, draft and finalize clear technical and policy documents, guidelines and manuals, in English
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships, including government institutions and agencies
• Excellent communication skills and ability to topics to a variety of audiences

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