International Forest Management Planning 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 Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. REU also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Background

The projects GCP/KOS/007/SWE and GCP/KOS/008/EC “Support to strengthening sustainable and multipurpose forest management to improve rural livelihoods and address climate change in Kosovo” aim at increasing the contribution of forest sector’s to the Kosovo economy through a participatory and gender-responsive forest management and is strengthened in accordance with relevant rules on forests and supported with value-chains for poverty alleviation. The focus of the projects is to contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources in the country through strengthening the enabling environment for the forestry sector, introduction of multipurpose forest management planning, restoration of degraded forest lands, and forest protection measures.

Kosovo has adopted Forest Management Plans (FMPs) in approximately 86 % of its public forests, but numbers are lacking in private forests. In addition, the implementation rate of FMPs is poor, leading to a situation where 90% of harvested wood is not produced in accordance with FMP’s actual guidance. In the framework of project GCP/KOS/007/SWE, FAO intends to pilot and introduce multipurpose forest management (MP-FM) approach into FMPs in Kosovo.

Reporting Lines

The International Forest Management Planning Specialist reports to the Lead Technical Officer and will work in close collaboration with the Local Team Leader and the Local Forestry Officer.

Technical Focus

Lead the process for enabling sustainable management of the resources and changing the mind-set of forest custodians and of the general public to better understand the impact of forestry sector in the society. By working with, and passing knowledge to, Kosovar counterparts he will be instrumental in rooting the multipurpose perspective into the local process of preparing of FMPs.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Serves as the lead local forestry expert, and contributes to the successful achievement of activities and outputs under the Forestry Programme;
• Liaises with FAO Lead Technical Officer(s) and HQ Technical Officer as well as with the implementing partners to ensure the provision of appropriate technical support services in accordance with the workplan of the Programme;
• Prepares programme annual work plans and ensures implementation of its activities;
• Designs the Terms of References for the local forestry experts (LFEs) considering the overall workplan of the Programme;
• Provides overall guidance to the work of LFEs; coordinates their works; reviews reports/guidelines/training and communication materials prepared by them and coordinates the review and technical guidance from FAO forestry staff as well as international forestry experts;
• Provides technical support to development and implementation of multifunctional forest management plans in pilot areas and supports relevant inventory and data collection works;
• Undertakes regular backstopping field missions to the Programme, monitors pilot sites and provides technical advice to facilitate smooth implementation of field activities;
• Participates in and provides technical and policy supports to the trainings, workshops, meetings, communication events etc, organised under the Programme;
• Contributes in the development and implementation of related forest policies and strategies, action plans, legal documents, information systems, awareness rising campaigns etc, supported throughout the Programme;
• Ensures smooth technical collaborations with relevant state forestry partners and other stakeholders at national and local levels for the timely delivery of the Programme outputs and activities;
• Introduces new concepts of multipurpose forest management for improved rural livelihoods to forest authorities and gains consensus on, and commitment to, a participatory approach suitable to the Kosovar setting (involvement of forest user groups, extension service delivery to private owners etc.)
• Helps creating public awareness and mobilize the youth, women and ethnic minorities to use their local knowledge to grasp the opportunities in MP-FM for improved livelihoods.
• Provides proposals for establishing an enabling legal environment for MP-FM and new forest value chains to be developed in target areas, specifically provide inputs to the by-law on MP-FM
• Develops road map for expanding MP-FM plans centrally, including opportunities for authorities in Kosovo to promote MP-FM through subsidies
• Contributes to the preparation and implementation of Letters of Agreement (LoA), contracts with the national partners;
• Provides overall technical support to the project monitoring, including contributions to the regular project reports, meetings, workshops, seminars, study tours, task force meeting, translation of the programme materials, etc;
• Performs other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in forestry or related fields;
• At least 5 years of experience in forest management planning or a related fields;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (Arabic, Spanish, French, Russian and Chinese). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

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;
• Good interpersonal communications skills;
• Extent and relevance of experience in formulating long term forest management plans

Selection Criteria

• Extent of knowledge and experience in forest management planning;
• Specialization on multipurpose forest management and/or participatory or community forestry is considered an asset
• Familiarity with forestry in the Balkans as well as with broadleaves and mixed forest management is an asset;
• Ability to effectively communicate with and engage multi-stakeholders into forest management planning process.
• Experience in working in international environment, especially in developing countries: experience in more than one country is desirable
• Good writing skills

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