Organizational Setting
The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) works to ensure that countries and stakeholders respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB provides a cross organizational coordination role on these issues and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
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The Office also assists FAO Members in their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation including through facilitating access to climate and environmental financing such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as well as FAO's work on environmental safeguards and leads the Programme Priority Areas on Climate Change (PPA BE1) and Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (PPA BE2).
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The GIAHS Secretariat is the operational unit of FAO's GIAHS Programme, and its role consists in providing guidance to FAO member countries for the development and submission of GIAHS proposals, as well as for the implementation of follow- up activities. Furthermore, it has the function of liaising with governments and national/international organizations for the establishment of new partnerships, which may be necessary for the future development and geographic expansion of the programme.
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This post is located in the GIAHS Secretariat in OCB, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
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Reporting Lines
The Natural Resources Officer (Giahs Secretariat) reports to the GIAHS Senior Coordinator.
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Technical Focus
Supporting various activities to promote the work plan of the GIAHS Secretariat; provide guidance for the development of the programme in new geographic areas and also for technical issues, such as development activities to be implemented in GIAHS sites, agronomic and environmental matters, compliance of country proposals with the GIAHS requirements, liaison and multilateral relations, among others
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Key Results
Collection and analysis of information, data, statistics and project/meeting services to support programmes, projects, products and services.
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Key Functions
Collects and analyses relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related information, data and/or statistics to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.
Undertakes analysis, provides technical input for plans and reports and edits/revises technical/scientific documents.
Participates in the development of improved work methods, tools and systems.
Updates databases and web pages.
Participates in multidisciplinary project/work teams.
Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.
Participates in the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.
Specific Functions
The GIAHS Programme Officer will support the GIAHS Coordinator and other staff in the following working areas:
Provides technical support to member countries for the development of GIAHS proposals and GIAHS-related activities, including formation and implementation of action plans, GIAHS-oriented policies, and community-based activities.
Supports development of technical documents on GIAHS and its contribution to FAO activities, strategic framework, regional initiatives and country Programming frameworks. Liaises with donor countries, in particular with the Government of China, for implementing GIAHS training workshops to be held in China for capacity building on GIAHS programme of FAO member countries.
Assists in organizing workshops and webinars on specific themes relevant to GIAHS.
Supports organizing and delivering training programmes in FAO member countries.
Provides comments and suggestions for the revision of country proposals and national programmes to be implemented under the framework of the GIAHS designation process.
Represenst the GIAHS Secretariat in specific national or regional activities (workshops, seminars, trainings, conferences, project inception workshops, etc.).
Supports organizing the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) meetings, produce technical papers to be discussed, writing meeting reports.
Communicates with donor using Chinese and English.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Advanced university degree (Masterโs degree or equivalent) in agronomy, forestry, fisheries, agricultural economics, natural resource management, ecology (agroecology), biodiversity, human sciences related to agriculture, landscape management, sustainable rural development, political science, social studies, development studies and other related academic backgrounds.
Three years of relevant experience in agricultural policies, development projects, natural resources management and/or various activities for rural development (agritourism, market promotion of agricultural products), supply chain development of foods and agricultural products).
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
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