International Expert Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind.
The FAO projects in Nepal currently involve building technical capacity, developing policies, enhancing agri-production, strengthening food systems, improving food & nutrition security, and mitigating the adverse impact of natural disasters and climate change. The FAO also embraces the One Health approach to address threats posed by zoonotic diseases to human health. Within the framework of the food security cluster, the FAO helps to coordinate humanitarian assistance and the recovery of livelihoods in the agriculture sector.
The FAO endeavours to eradicate hunger and malnutrition through its global initiatives. The key priorities of the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Nepal (2018-22) entail enhancing natural resource management and agricultural production system resilient to climate change and disasters. For this reason, resilient livelihoods are critical to the efforts of the FAO to help the most vulnerable people achieve food security and the freedom from hunger — one of the most basic human rights. Thus, protecting people’s livelihoods from shocks, and strengthening their capacity to absorb the impact of, and recover from, disruptive events is important.
The International Forest Land Restoration (FLR) Expert will work for the project “Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal” (BRCRN) being implemented in 26 river systems of three provinces i.e. Bagmati, Madhesh and Province 1. The project aims to promote widespread adoption of climate-resilient land use practices, confront the challenges of deforestation and forest degradation, better maintain the forest ecosystem in the Churia hills, and build resilience to climate-induced hazards. The expert will be working closely with the project team i.e. FAO-TA and the project and provincial project management units (PMU and PPMUs) of Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE).
The overarching objective of this GCF funded project is to enhance the climate resilience of ecosystems and vulnerable communities in Nepal´s Churia region through integrated Sustainable Natural Resource Management (SNRM) approaches.

Reporting Lines

The International FLR Expert will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Nepal, in coordination with Assistant FAOR (Programme) of FAO Nepal, under technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer, and in close consultation and collaboration with the National Project Manager (NPM), Deputy Project Manager of FAO TA and National Project Director (NPD) under MoFE.

Technical Focus

The expert will support to implement the activity be a part of Activity 1.3.3: Train government field staff and CBOs on Forest Landscape Restoration, and support CBOs to implement Assisted Natural Regeneration on 15,990 ha., as listed in the Funding Proposal and Project Implementation Manual.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Task 1: Develop detailed training plan (5-year plan) and training material for Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR):

• Develop detailed five years training plan for FLR and ANR.
• In close collaboration with Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager/National Forest Management Specialist and in coordination with other relevant specialists of the project, prepare a training manual on FLR and ANR with training materials for forestry field staff under the provincial forest ministries

Task 2: Strengthen national and provincial institutional capacity on FLR and ANR

• Deliver 4 training events (25 participants/training) for about 100 provincial forestry field staff (“Professional Beneficiaries”) during the contract period
• Support in identifying equipment/tools required for ANR and develop a list of equipment/tools with the Provincial Project Management Units and submit the final list to Project Management Unit for procurement
• Backstop and assure quality of the trainings to be delivered by the trained forestry staff (20 training events for the CBO beneficiaries) to enhance their understanding and ability to apply FLR approaches in their respective communities

Task 3: Validate and support suitability assessment for FLR and ANR areas from the CERPs in 26 target river systems of BRCRN project

• Collaborate with PMU, MoFE in the design of a methodology for planning process in targeted river systems, to prioritise the implementation of project interventions regarding FLR and ANR on 15,990 ha of community-managed forest land
• Ensure and assess with PPMU’s technical officers and the national Forest Management Specialist that selected sites are on forest areas of any management category (CF, LF, and ColFM) focusing in particular on the Churia hills and Bhabar zones in the 26 targeted river systems; and that proposed sites were degraded or deforested within the past 20 years; were not converted to agricultural use; the proposed area is in close proximity to upstream sites of high vulnerability

Task 4: Oversee and backstop in the timely delivery of FAO’s technical assistance to the project ensuring technical integrity and quality

• Ensure technical integrity of project activities to achieve project targets through review and refinement
• Review and/or draft project technical documents, reports etc., to ensure technical integrity and quality
• Advise Budget Holder as appropriate on project’s strategic level risks and mitigation measures, particularly from a technical integrity perspective

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Forestry, Forest Management or Forest Sciences
• At least 10 years of work experience on forest management, natural resource management, and climate change related projects in developing countries. Working experience in the socio-political context of the countries in Asia and the Pacific region
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages. For PSA, working knowledge of English would suffice.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong experience on development of forest related guidelines and designing training manuals.
• Experience on designing and delivering technical trainings on forestry or landscape restoration to government counterparts in developing countries
• Proven track record of advising and collaborating with government institutions and other stakeholders such as NGOs in developing countries
• Proficiency in technical report writing and communication
• Computer skills in Office applications including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Ability to plan, organize, and administer workshops and training sessions

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated practical and technical experience in Forest Landscape Restoration and Management
• Ability to manage and work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Proven ability to coordinate and work with government and community-based stakeholders, rights holders sensitively, cooperatively, and productively
• High degree of team ethics, well-organized, results-focused, and dynamic personality
• Proficiency in English language (both spoken and written) with good communication skills
• Previous experience working with UN agencies is an asset

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation and educational certificates to the online profile, along with other supporting documents to the online profile.

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