Climate Transparency Specialist

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.
FAO is supporting the Government of Vanuatu with the GEF funded project entitled “Strengthening capacity in the Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land-use Sectors for Enhanced Transparency in the Implementation and Monitoring of Vanuatu’s Nationally Determined Contribution”. FAO is co-executing the project in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management (MoCCA). The objective of the project is to develop Vanuatu’s institutional and human capacities for complying with Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) reporting requirements of the Paris Agreement, and implementation and monitoring of Vanuatu’s Nationally Determined Contribution focusing on Energy, Agriculture, Forestry and other Land Use Sectors. The project works under three components. I. Strengthening Vanuatu’s institutional arrangements for a robust MRV system for NDC climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. II. Provision of an online platform, tools, and training for a robust MRV system focusing on Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land use Sectors. III. Monitoring and Evaluation. The project is terminating in December 2026

Reporting Lines

The Climate Transparency Specialist will work under the overall guidance of National Project Director (DOCC), and supervision of the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator (SRC) for the Pacific, and the technical guidance of the Forestry Officer (SAP), and closely work with CBIT team, and the Transparency in OCB at Headquarters, the Regional and Sub-regional offices and relevant Ministries of Vanuatu.

Technical Focus

The Climate Transparency Specialist will be a part of FAO execution team and support the specific intended outputs related to the project and technically support the implementation of the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Specialist will ensure coordination with the Global CBIT- AFOLU experts delivering trainings in Agriculture and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry, and perform the following tasks:

Conduct hands-on training in climate transparency

•     Based on the capacity gap undertaken by University of Vanuatu, identify training needs to enhance the knowledge on climate transparency of Government officials assigned to respond to the UNFCCC reporting requirements, ensuring the involvement of non-state sectors (academia, research institutes, private sector, Civil Society Organization).
•     Prepare GHG Inventory training materials, including presentations, case studies, and practical exercises tailored to the needs of the country as per the request area of support for the Energy, including Transport, and Waste sectors.
•     Conduct gap and need assessment in sectors’ respective departments on the data availability, sharing agreements and data management system
•     Conduct hands-on training sessions on the use of the 2006 IPCC guidelines and Inventory Software, assisting participants in mastering inventory management and Country Reporting Table
•     Support the trainees to implement the improvement plan included in the first BTR1 for the sector-specific GHG Inventory
•     Conduct training and provide technical support to the country and guidance in tracking and reporting on their NDC progress (support from Transparency team HQ) including facilitating the understanding and the production of the Common Tabular Format.

Support in upgrading/strengthening the integrated MRV (iMRV) and related framework

•     In conjunction with the IT specialist, conduct a rapid assessment of the existing integrated MRV system at DoCC, and related content framework 
•     Provide information on the latest ETF reporting requirements to support the IT specialist in identifying potential upgrade (architecture & software), in consultation with DoCC and relevant stakeholders.
•     Capacitate the government officials on the importance of the iMRV system to sustain the development of data -driven policies, monitor results of climate actions and report to the UNFCCC.
•     Develop a guideline/manual for Training of Trainers (ToT) to support capacity building for sectoral departments/Ministries and at the DoCC on to use the iMRV system.
•     Conduct training based on the manual to the focal persons of sectoral departments/Ministries to develop 1st tier experts on data collection, management, and reporting.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     For Consultant: Advanced University degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Science and Policy or related field is required. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSA.SBS: University degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Science and Policy or related field is required.
•     5 years of relevant experience in climate change, climate transparency, energy, natural resource management and capacity building initiatives
•     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 developing country, particularly in Small Island Developing States/LDCs with more than one location or area of work 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in GHG Inventory methodologies, use of IPCC 2006 guidelines and inventory software, or international climate reporting standard or related fields
•     Extent and relevance of experience in climate change, GHG inventory cycle, data collection, management, QA/QC and reporting
•     Extensive track record of technical services and capacity building on ETF implementation including MRV for governments and institutional clients