Biodiversity specialist

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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 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 Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) promotes integration of innovative approaches in the activities of the Organization, for the sustainable use, management and conservation of natural resources for food and agriculture. OCB assists FAO Members in their responses towards the challenge of climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the development of adaptive capacities of agriculture, fisheries and forestry for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other natural resources. It provides a coordination role on climate change, biodiversity and the environment. The Office also serves as the focal point for a multidisciplinary and global approach to UNFCCC, CBD and topics on bioenergy as well as on Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems, ecosystem restoration and green and climate resilient agriculture.
In 2019, FAO adopted its Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors (Strategy) and in 2021 an Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy (Action Plan).
The Biodiversity Mainstreaming Unit (OCBB) coordinates and supports the Organization in the implementation of the Strategy, with its outcomes 1) Support provided to Members, at their request, to enhance their capacity to mainstream biodiversity; 2) Biodiversity mainstreamed across FAO’s policies, programmes and activities; 3) Role of biodiversity and its ecosystem services for food security and nutrition globally recognized; 4) Coordination and delivery of FAO’s work on biodiversity strengthened.
It also contributes to FAO’s efforts, as implementing agency, to assist stakeholders at national, regional and global levels, in the implementation of relevant FAO agreements, including those in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The purpose of this call is to provide OCBB with a list of qualified candidates to support its work on biodiversity mainstreaming across agricultural sectors.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant / PSA will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Natural Resources Officer, OCBB.

Technical Focus

Biodiversity management and biodiversity mainstreaming across and within agricultural sectors (crop and livestock production, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry).

Tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant / PSA will assist in the delivery of OCBB’s work at global, regional, national and local levels. The tasks and responsibilities of each selected Consultant or PSA will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment. In general, depending on the specific assignment, designated tasks and responsibilities will normally include a number of the following elements:

• Support the implementation and coordination of the FAO Strategy on mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors and its Action Plan;
• Support the provision of technical support to Members and other stakeholders on the implementation of the FAO Strategy including the development of guidelines, good practices, training materials and technical and policy documents;
• Support the implementation and coordination efforts of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration;
• Support the organization of internal and external meetings and events for the delivery of FAO’s work on biodiversity, including consultations, trainings, capacity building, multi-stakeholder dialogues and other technical and policy meetings;
• Support the provision of technical guidance on biodiversity management and biodiversity mainstreaming across and within agricultural sectors;
• Develop, write, technically edit and/or proofread documents, reports and publications, on topics related to biodiversity mainstreaming and biodiversity management across and within agricultural sectors;
• Manage and update the Biodiversity website and other information products;
• Develop and manage communication content and products on biodiversity mainstreaming and biodiversity management across and within agricultural sectors including key messages for external communication (including social media platforms) and advocacy purposes;
All social media assets should be produced must comply with FAO standards, including:
Social Media Branding guidelines: https://www.fao.org/3/cb5044en/cb5044en.pdf
FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf;
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm;
FAO names of countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en;
UN map standards (available to staff);
FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff)
For videos intended for social media, liaise with OCCI to clear the scripts prior to editing. The social media videos should follow the branding guidelines outlined here: https://www.fao.org/3/cb5044en/cb5044en.pdf
Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts, write concept notes and develop project proposals on biodiversity mainstreaming for donors, and participate in project implementation;
• Support the engagement of the Unit with FAO lead experts and divisional focal points on biodiversity to ensure synergies with respective FAO’s thematic strategies and activities;
• Support the monitoring and analysis of policy, legal and technical developments of other international fora/instruments in the fields of biodiversity, agricultural sectors and environment, for their relevance in mainstreaming biodiversity across all agricultural sectors;
• Implement team activities and other assigned tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, natural resources management or related biological sciences, social sciences, international policy or related field;
• One to four years of relevant experience for category C, at least five years for category B, and at least 12 years for COF Category A or 15 years of relevant experience for PSA category A in biodiversity for food and agriculture and sustainable management of natural resources or other relevant fields;
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) for consultants; working knowledge (proficient – Level C) 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 biodiversity management and biodiversity mainstreaming across and within agricultural sectors;
• Extent and relevance of experience in project/programme formulation and implementation of projects, programmes and studies in the pertinent field of expertise;
• Extent and relevance of experience in the organization and management of policy and/or technical meetings;
• 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 mainstreaming;
• Demonstrated ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis, and to formulate, draft and finalize clear technical and policy documents, guidelines and manuals, in English;
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work;
• Experience in working in multidisciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

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