National Environmental Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in October 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger, improving nutrition and standards of living by increasing agricultural productivity. FAO coordinates the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for developing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources. It also carries out research; provides technical assistance on projects in individual countries; operates educational programs through seminars and training centres; maintains information and support services, including keeping statistics on world production, trade, and consumption of agricultural commodities; and publishes a number of periodicals, yearbooks, and research bulletins.

FAO headquarters are in Rome, Italy and the organization has more than 180 members with offices throughout the world. Through the Botswana Office, FAO is supporting the Government of Botswana in two important areas of the economy, (i) agricultural development including all aspects related to food security and nutrition; and, (ii) natural resources management including sustainable forest and wildlife management, combatting desertification and land degradation, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation. The natural resources management portfolio is rapidly growing with ongoing and upcoming projects. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a “Resilient Recovery Rapid Readiness Support” project for Botswana, intended to lay the foundation for the development of a National Strategy for Green Resilient Recovery in Botswana and a Concept Note for a future project that will be formulated in frame of this initiative. The Readiness project has the following objectives:
1. Conducting a comprehensive stakeholder mapping exercise to identify partners who will be part of the development of the National Strategy for Green Resilient Recovery for Botswana, which will include in its annex the National Water Master Plan (NWMP) outline describing water management value chain from exploration, aquifer characterization, development (drilling and equipping of boreholes), and water distribution with a strategic aim to achieved sustainability.
2. Producing a diagnostic analysis report on impacts and opportunities, building on preliminary assumptions that water security is key in tackling the impact of COVID19 on vulnerable sectors that have been impacted by the pandemic; especially tourism and agriculture. A verification of the selected area for the potential GCF project will also be undertaken.
3. Based on the outcome of the diagnostic analysis and interviews with local experts, use appropriate economic and fiscal models to asses contribution of considered measures. The output will be reflected by the Green resilient recovery strategy and investment plan document.
4. Development of the GCF Concept note (Output 4.1.1). The GCF Concept Note will address the water sector with the aim to ensuring sustainable water consumption in the target area; while focusing on agriculture and tourism (and partly mining). The project will propose strategies to keep aquifers in good and sustainable condition and prevent over-extraction of groundwater without recovery.
5. Building the population's resilience by providing relevant data to inform water planning and development and ensuring access to a constant and reliable source of water.

Reporting Lines

The National Environmental Specialist will work under overall managerial and operational guidance of the FAO Representative in Botswana and technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), with support and from guidance from the Head of Environment Portfolio.

Technical Focus

Provide technical input to the project, by ensuring environmental soundness of the proposed concept note(s) and the National Strategy for Green Resilient Recovery for Botswana, as well as consolidating the various project outputs/ deliverables and liaising with key stakeholders.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Facilitate all consultation processes, including through the identification of and liaison with key stakeholders at national and local level.
• Facilitate adherence to the standard FAO and GCF requirements to the highest quality for all relevant documents, and will ensure fluid communication between all stakeholders of the project (including FAO, the NDA and other stakeholders).
• Liaise with all the consultants and consolidate project documents, output, and deliverables for environmental soundness to ascertain feasibility of the proposed outputs.
• Undertake stakeholder engagement and consolidate reports of project activities at national, district and site level;
• Organize and facilitate the final validation for the presentation of the concept note prepared under output 4.1.1., and prepare the workshop report.
• Carry out any other tasks relevant to this assignment.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Environmental Science or Natural resource management.
• Ten (10) years of relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of English with good writing and communication skills. Knowledge of other language used in Botswana is considered an asset.
• National of Botswana.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in organizing participatory processes and contribution to processes related to program development through engagement of a wide range of stakeholders from the government, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
• Any qualification in Project management or other relevant fields is an advantage.
• Experience with development of strategies and environmental based projects.
• Specific professional experience with project development and project resource mobilization is required.
• Experience with projects in Botswana.
• Experience with UN projects is desired.
• Experience with GCF and other multilateral funds is highly desired.
• Experience in organizing participatory processes and contribution to processes related to program development through engagement of a wide range of stakeholders from the government, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
• Good analytical, presentation and training skills.
• Leading, engaging, empowering and an excellent team player.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks, work under pressure and deliver assignments on time.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION