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 issues related to climate change, biodiversity and the environment and is the focal point for major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
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 (CGRFA) as well as FAO's Framework for Environmental and Social Management (FESM).
The post is located in the Programme Support Hub of OCB at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Programme Support Hub is responsible for undertaking and supporting scientific and technical assessments and analysis on how agrifood systems interventions can address climate, biodiversity and environment challenges in support of OCB's actions and support to countries.
Reporting Lines
The Senior Technical Officer (Climate Change, Biodiversity Environment) reports to the Director, OCB.
Technical Focus
Science- and modelling-based assessments on how agrifood systems interventions can address climate, biodiversity, and environmental challenges. The work includes undertaking and overseeing the development of technical/scientific reports, scenario development, macroeconomic modelling, forecasting and analysis, as well as technical and socioeconomic research for policy support, including major science-policy assessments and reports designed to influence policy and decision-making at different scales.
Key Results
Leadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of programmes of work, projects, related products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
Key Functions
- Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of technical issues of assigned programmes/projects; directs the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
- Coordinates and reviews the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
- Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. science-policy reports, background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports as well as studies, and inputs to publications.
- Directs substantive support to consultative meetings and conferences, to include the proposition of agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
- Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
- Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
- Provides advice to develop policies and strategies as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.
Specific Functions
The Senior Technical Officer (Climate, Biodiversity, Environment) supports OCB and its teams in undertaking scientific and technical analysis of how agrifood systems interventions can address climate, biodiversity and environment challenges and opportunities with the aim to provide a clear vision and strategic direction on FAO's work and global positioning. In particular, he/she:
- Leads technical and scientific analysis of agrifood systems interaction with climate, biodiversity and/or environment including tradeoffs and multiple benefits of interventions.
- Builds and leads cross disciplinary teams to undertake assessments designed to influence policy and decision making that include macroeconomic modelling, multi criteria analysis, forecasting and/or foresight analysis of agrifood systems vis-à-vis climate, biodiversity and environment.
- Undertakes research and provides advice on socioeconomic modeling, multicriteria analysis, scenario development and analyses, applied statistics and data analysis.
- Undertakes in-depth review of FAO and OCB technical and scientific documents and reports, including to ensure alignment with the latest science.
- Supports multi-partner initiatives and intergovernmental research and technical processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) among others.
- Leads the development of relevant tools and guidelines for science-policy assessments.
- Represents FAO in high level scientific panels and/or UN meetings.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, climate science, systems modeling or related field.
- Ten years of relevant experience in science to policy-oriented research and analysis related to agriculture, climate, biodiversity or environment.
- Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
Competencies
- Results Focus
- Leading, Engaging and Empowering
- Communication
- Partnering and Advocating
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
- Strategic Thinking
Technical/Functional Skills
- Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
- Extent and relevance of experience in leading, actively contributing to and developing policy-relevant assessments and research designed to influence policy and decision making at different scales, including macroeconomic modelling, multicriteria analysis, forecasting and/or foresight analysis related to climate, biodiversity, environment and agriculture.
- Demonstrated experience in leading and actively contributing to high-level advisory roles within multidisciplinary teams. This includes guiding complex assessments and providing strategic input in senior-level panels or expert groups.
- Extent and relevance of experience of building and leading teams in developing science-policy assessments, including the use of macroeconomic modelling, multicriteria analysis, forecasting and/or foresight analysis.
- In depth knowledge of science of climate and/or biodiversity and/or environment and their interactions with agriculture and food systems as demonstrated through peer reviewed publications.
- Knowledge and experience of working with and providing strategic input to international and intergovernmental science-policy fora and processes and senior-level panels, e.g. IPCC, IPBES, UNFCCC, CBD, CCAC etc. highly desirable.
- Understanding of science processes associated with climate, biodiversity and other environmental conventions is highly desirable.