Organizational Setting
Agriculture is both a contributor to environmental challenges and a cornerstone of food security. FAO's mission is to promote the sustainable use of natural resources for food security, human well-being, and global development. The intersection of environmental concerns with socio-economic policies, strategies, and practices has gained increasing global attention. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights biodiversity as a critical factor in economic activities, particularly in achieving food security and nutrition for all.
Sustainable development in agriculture is essential for generating multiple livelihood benefits, strengthening ecosystem services, and increasing resilience to economic, social, and environmental shocks, including climate change. However, sustainability still needs to be fully mainstreamed across all sectors. Agriculture, while vital for economic growth and food production, often contributes to environmental degradation due to unsustainable practices.
The role of the agricultural sectors in sustainable resource management has grown significantly, as reflected in global frameworks such as FAOโs Climate Change Strategy, the Paris Agreement, and the UNCCDโs land degradation neutrality framework. Countries in the Europe and Central Asia region are increasingly facing challenges related to climate vulnerability, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, which require strengthened institutional frameworks, enhanced data collection systems, the promotion of sustainable technologies, and increased access to climate finance. FAOโs regional office for Europe and Central Asia provides assistance to governments in addressing these challenges by supporting climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, promoting nature-based solutions (NbS), and enhancing the enabling environment for sustainable agriculture.
Reporting Lines
The Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the ADG/Regional Representative for the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, and under the direct supervision and technical guidance of LTOs for the related projects and in close collaboration with technical officers at the regional, sub-regional and country offices.
Technical Focusย
The incumbent will focus on areas related to sustainable agricultural and climate-smart practices in the AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use), including the development of plans and strategies, provide multi stakeholder engagement and dialogue as well as develop training and capacity building content.
Tasks and responsibilities
The sustainability specialist will undertake the following tasks:
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โข ย ย Develop methodologies and provide technical guidance for the application of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), SLM, and other approaches in agriculture, forestry, and land-use sectors to enhance climate resilience and mitigate environmental impacts.ย
โข ย ย Support the mobilization and integration of climate finance mechanisms (e.g., GEF, GCF, Adaptation Fund) into national policies and investment strategies.ย
โข ย ย Assist in strengthening institutional capacities for climate action by providing technical support to governments in policy formulation, data collection enhancement, and the establishment of climate information systems.ย
โข ย ย Facilitate the development and dissemination of sustainable agricultural technologies and climate-smart practices in the AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) sector.ย
โข ย ย Provide guidance on mainstreaming climate change considerations into national and regional agricultural development plans and strategies.ย
โข ย ย Support private sector engagement in climate adaptation and mitigation through innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and sustainable business models.ย
โข ย ย Develop training materials and capacity-building programs for policymakers, technical experts, farmers, and private sector actors on sustainable agriculture, climate risk management, and NbS implementation.ย
โข ย ย Contribute to national and regional dialogues on policies related to the 3 RIo Conventions (UNFCCC. UNCCD and CBD) facilitating stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange on best practices in climate adaptation and mitigation.ย
โข ย ย Conduct assessments of climate vulnerability and risk in agricultural systems, providing recommendations for policy and programmatic interventions.ย
โข ย ย Support the organization of workshops, knowledge-sharing events, and multi-stakeholder dialogues.
โข ย ย Perform other tasks if required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย Bachelorโs degree(s) in economics, agriculture, natural resources, sustainable development, climate policy, rural development, or related fields
โข ย ย A minimum of 5 years of work experience in sustainable agriculture and related areas preferably in the targeted countries
โข ย ย Working knowledge of Englishย
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Selection Criteria
โข ย ย Ability to work on international teams and with remote supervision.ย
โข ย ย Knowledge of sustainable policies and guidelines in different setups