Forestry Officer (Measurement, Reporting and Verification)

1H061H06

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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 persons 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO 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.

Organizational Setting
The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including contributions of forests and trees to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. Staff of the Division liaise with Member Nations, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthening the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The post is located in the National Forest Monitoring (NFM) Team of the Forestry Division, which supports FAO Member Nations on all aspects of forest monitoring to provide reliable information for national forest and land use related policy development, planning and sustainable management. The data collected is also used by countries for satisfying international reporting requirements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement and for accessing results-based payments and carbon credits. The Team also supports countries on technical issues related to National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS), Restoration Monitoring in support of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and the development, of cost effective and high integrity Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) that meets carbon accounting standards. The NFM Team develops and maintains Open Foris and SEPAL (Digital Public Goods for forest and land use monitoring). It works closely with the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) and REDD Teams. The work of the team supports implementation of Programme Priority Areas for Better Environment under FAO's Strategic Programme.

The post is located in NFO at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Forestry Officer (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) reports to the Senior Forestry Officer, Team Leader of the National Forest Monitoring Team, in coordination with the Team Leader, REDD , Team Leader, FRA, and under the overall guidance of the NFO Director. S/he will work closely with the Decentralized Offices, Technical Experts within NFO and other relevant FAO units.

Technical Focus
The Forestry Officer (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) will contribute to the Forestry Division's work related to high integrity Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) for REDD under the UNFCCC and other forest carbon accounting standards. In specific, the Forestry Officer (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) will inform the NFM team about relevant developments on carbon markets and Article 6 operationalization to guide the team's support in this important context. The Forestry Officer (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) will also ensure technical linkage with other REDD Team and other FAO teams as needed and partner organizations within the context of FAO's Strategic Framework and in alignment with the Organization's Policy on Gender Equality.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with divisional objectives and FAO's Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc., to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions
• Supports the NFM team in framing the technical support in the context of important carbon finance development. Supports the adoption of innovative monitoring technologies to advance high-integrity MRV, and accompanying learning resources.
• Supports the team in maximizing the value of MRV systems for indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) and coordinates with other teams as relevant for enhancing engagement in this regards.
• Responds to country requests for technical assistance on MRV methodologies, tools and solutions including enhancing integrity of reporting, and provides technical backstopping to field projects. Advice includes reporting on nationally determined contributions from Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) and the necessity for corresponding adjustments in the context of participation in the voluntary carbon market and/or transactions under article 6.
• Leads harmonization of MRV methodological challenges, identifies and supports deployment of solutions.
• Ensures data collected through NFMS is used to inform national policies and decision making.
• Advances efforts toward country institutionalization of NFMS and MRV systems.
• Supports the development and deployment of Country-Led Planning for NFMS and MRV in close collaboration with the Global Forest Observations Initiative.
• Organizes and implements regional/national capacity development initiatives related to MRV.
• Leads the development of normative products and thematic capacity building material for high-integrity MRV, which respond to country capacity needs.
• Provides support to implementation of MRV work of the NFM and REDD Teams.
• Contributes to the Forestry Divisions work on forest monitoring and results based finance.
• Performs other related duties as required.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in forestry, natural resource management or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in MRV and forest monitoring.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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.
• Depth of knowledge of measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), and methodological challenges.
• Depth of knowledge of emerging forest and climate accounting standards and their MRV requirements.
• Depth of knowledge of innovative monitoring technologies to advance high-integrity MRV.
• Extent and relevance of experience in country support on high-integrity MRV and country-led planning.
• Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries.