Forestry Officer (FLEGT-ALA Facility Lead Expert)

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 its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with member countries, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthens 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.

Illegal logging of wood products accounts for a significant part of global forest-related trade which undermines consumer confidence in the use of wood and other derived forest products, especially those from tropical forests. Locally, it reduces sustainable and legal livelihoods, particularly affecting the rural poor of the world. In 2003, the European Union (EU) adopted the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, with Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) being at the core of the action plan. A VPA is a binding trade agreement between the EU and Partner countries and is based on a Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS). To enable VPAs to realize their full potential, it is necessary to accelerate their implementation.

The FLEGT Africa and Latin America Facility (FLEGT-ALA Facility), implemented by NFO, aims to support forest governance and law enforcement in 8 countries at different stages of the operationalization of VPAs: Cameroon, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo. The Facility will assist partner countries to improve forest sector governance and facilitate the implementation of VPAs with the ultimate goal of ensuring legal compliance, leading to the issuance of FLEGT licenses for the EU single market, and equivalent export licenses to access other regulated markets. The FLEGT-ALA Facility is a component of the EU funded 'Support for the implementation of FLEGT VPAs’ led by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

This position is located within FAO and based in FAO's Liaison Office in Brussels, Belgium or in one of the eight countries covered by the project/facility or at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, as per project needs.

Reporting Lines
The Forestry Officer (FLEGT-ALA Facility Lead Expert) reports to the Forestry Officer/EU Forest Governance and Value Chain Programme Manager, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of NFO, and works in close coordination with NFO Division and other FAO Teams and personnel dealing with supply chains, forests and climate change as well as national forest monitoring. The incumbent will work closely with Decentralized Offices and with other relevant FAO units.

Technical Focus
Forest Governance, Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) development and implementation, Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs), Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

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 the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary 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 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 as well as 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 Nations 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
• Oversees a team of experts supporting forest sector governance through the operationalization of the VPAs in target countries.
• Provides advisory services and backstopping to the TLAS development and implementation and efforts to improve forest governance, law enforcement and trade in accordance with FLEGT objectives.
• Supports the oversight and coordination of the implementation of one VPA, including support to the development and update of roadmaps in support of the VPA Joint Implementation Frameworks (JIF) and their formal and technical sessions, as needed.
• Provides technical advice which may lead to recommendations for regulatory revisions.
• Provides guidance and proposes solutions for the design, development, and deployment of TLAS elements, based on context and problem analyses, lessons learnt and international best practices.
• Supports stock takes and joint assessments to inform decision-making on critical issues in FLEGT processes.
• Conducts analyses to identify FLEGT Licensing related problems and propose solutions for a functioning licensing scheme.
• Provides effective support to the implementation of the FLEGT-ALA Facility, including coordination of logistical and administration arrangements, monitoring of field project resources/progress and resolving outstanding operational problems, and advising and/or briefing technical officers on operational aspects.
• Provides demand-driven technical backstopping to targeted VPA countries towards improved forest governance, law enforcement and the trade of legal and sustainable timber and timber products and services.
• Leads the development of periodic progress and terminal reports for review by those units having technical, financial and operational responsibility, all for the eventual submission to the Programme Task Force (PTF), Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and donors, as appropriate.
• Represents the FLEGT-ALA Facility in international meetings and in high-level regional and national meetings and undertakes missions as appropriate to monitor programme progress and takes corrective action, as required.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in forestry, natural resources management, international law, forest policies and economics or another relevant field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in legal and policy experience, including within relevant international organizations, on international environmental agreements, particularly related to Forest Law Enforcement, and EU forest policies.
• 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, is desirable.
• Work experience in one or more of the target countries is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing, operationalizing, and implementing forest sector assurance systems.
• Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of VPAs,FLEGT and relevant EU policy frameworks.
• Extent and relevance of experience in working within public administrations and international organizations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation.
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.
• Ability to provide competent advice in regard to financial actions, human resource processing, procurement, project cycle management and innovative solutions to complex operational problems.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of French and/or Spanish is desirable.