Senior Technical Advisor

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 oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for Central Asia. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with offices and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. REU advises the Country Offices in the region on corporate priorities defined through the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget. REU formulates programmes, implements approved programmes, monitors the level of programme implementation in the region and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. REU develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). 

REU is also heading the programme development in Serbia by performing the Country Office functions and implementation of projects. The recently approved Green Climate Fund (GCF) project “GCP/SRB/008/GCF: Enhancing the resilience of Serbian forests to ensure energy security of the most vulnerable while contributing to their livelihoods and carbon sequestration (“FOREST Invest”)”, aims to enhance the resilience of Serbian forests to climate change, thereby ensuring energy security for the most vulnerable populations, contributing to their livelihoods, and increasing carbon sequestration. The project will be implemented over a period of seven years in collaboration.

The position is located in the FAO Project Office in Belgrade, Serbia.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Technical Advisor reports administratively to the Budget Holder and technically to the Lead Technical Officer. 

Technical Focus 

Provide high-level technical expertise and strategic guidance to the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the project executing entities on all technical aspects of the \"“FOREST Invest”\" project, playing a key role in facilitating knowledge transfer, developing national capacities, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, academic institutions, and local communities.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and the Budget Holder (BH), and in close collaboration with the Project Manager and the National Technical Coordinator, the Senior Technical Advisor will undertake the following specific tasks:

•    Act as “FOREST Invest” technical focal point, along with the National Technical Coordinator, vis-à-vis the Government counterparts, Serbia-based donors, civil society actors, and other stakeholders outlined in the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) as contributors to the “FOREST Invest” implementation. 
•    Ensure synergies between the different components and deliverables attributed to FAO and the co-financing executing entities in the “FOREST Invest” project and that all technical activities are conducted in accordance with FAO and GCF environmental and social safeguards policies.
•    Provide expert technical advice and support on sustainable forest management (SFM) and climate-adaptive silviculture (CAS) practices relevant to the Serbian context.
•    Contribute to the establishment and operationalization of the National Forest Monitoring System (NFM), ensuring its methodological and statistical soundness.
•    Advise on the development and dissemination of guidelines for decision-makers on Agriculture, Forestry, and Land Use (AFOLU) and the design of an offset mechanism for the AFOLU sector, linking to Serbia's Emissions Trading System (ETS) plan.
•    Contribute to the development of Serbia's Article 6 strategy related to \"AFOLU\" opportunities under the Paris Agreement and considering cooperative approaches (Art 6.2) and international carbon market mechanism (6.4).
•    Provide technical input in the creation of national standards for biomass production and handling for energy purposes, building on existing FAO tools and international frameworks such as GBEP indicators and BEFS and aiming to improve energy efficiency and utilization.
•    Support the development of the national strategy, action plan, and execution guidelines for Short Rotation Plantations (SRP) for sustainable wood energy production.
•    Oversee the support provided by the project for access to voluntary carbon finance (VCM) for forestry-based emissions reductions beyond Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets.
•    Advise on the design of an enabling framework for carbon insetting mechanism and guidelines for carbon accounting and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV).
•    Provide technical guidance on the production of climate-adaptive seedlings in public and private nurseries through technology and knowledge transfer.
•    Support the development of training modules and the delivery of training programs on CAS for various stakeholders.
•    Advise on the upgrade of national curricula of forestry faculties and vocational schools to incorporate introduced CAS practices and technologies.
•    Provide technical guidance on the restoration and afforestation of public forest land using CAS principles.
•    Advise on strategies for engaging the private sector in climate-adaptive silviculture and low-carbon investments, including the conversion of degraded coppice stands and the establishment of shelterbelts and agroforestry systems aligned with decarbonization goals and strategies.
•    Contribute to the development of platforms involving stakeholders for a modern and transparent biomass energy value chain, integrating sustainability criteria.
•    Advise on the support provided by the project for mobilizing private finance for agribusinesses involved in decarbonization processes, including the development of decarbonization strategies and financial plans.
•    Advise on and support the capacity development activities by the project, including for financial institutions, consultancy service providers, and academia on climate-related challenges and opportunities in the forestry and agribusiness sectors.
•    Contribute to the monitoring of achievement of indicators related to SFM, CAS, carbon finance, and decarbonization.
•    Contribute to the preparation of technical reports, presentations, and other knowledge products related to the project's technical components, as well as to the development and dissemination of communication to promote “FOREST Invest” results, best practices and success stories.
•    Provide technical inputs and review of project work plans, monitoring of indicators and reports to be shared with FAO, the GCF and other stakeholders.
•    Contribute to gender mainstreaming in relevant technical activities, ensuring the participation and empowerment of women.
•    Support FAO and GCF missions and undertake periodic field missions as needed.
•    Contribute to the preparation and leading, as needed, of the technical meetings, conferences, and workshops. 
•    Participate in possible donor working group(s) whose members are active in projects similar to “FOREST Invest”, for sharing information and align donors’ respective interventions and funding to optimize CC adaptation in Serbia.
•    Participate in the selection processes of “FOREST Invest” technical experts, including as a member of interview panels, where applicable.
•    Perform any other duties as requested by FAO;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced University degree in forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, climate change, or a related field
•    At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation in the forestry sector, carbon finance, biomass energy, or related areas
•    Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extensive knowledge of climate change issues in the forestry and land-use sector, including relevant international frameworks such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
•    Demonstrated experience in providing technical advice and strategic guidance to complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
•    Experience in capacity development and knowledge transfer to government agencies, private sector entities, and local communities.
•    Familiarity with forest monitoring systems, carbon accounting methodologies, and climate finance mechanisms, including specifically with regards to forest-related carbon market instruments
•    Experience working in Eastern Europe or similar contexts would be an advantage.
•    Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, including excellent report-writing abilities in English.
•    Knowledge of Serbian or another language spoken in the region would be an asset.