Organizational Setting

The FAO Regional office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) support member countries in the development of knowledge products, capacity development and implementation of programmes and projects in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing in developing countries and countries in transition, assisting governments and country stakeholders, main development partners, regional and national institutions with the policy and strategic planning to achieve food security and nutrition, make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more sustainable and productive, reduce rural poverty, make food value chains more efficient and inclusive and promote climate change adaptation and/or mitigation. RAP’s Forestry and Biodiversity Team supports regional forestry and biodiversity related activities, including those related to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This is relevant in the context of accelerating global momentum in forest and landscape restoration (FLR), as part of achieving the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals, the Bonn Challenge and other global and national targets. FLR is also an important component under FAO’s Programme Priority Area (PPA) Better Environment, aiming to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and combat climate change through more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. Accordingly, FAORAP is contributing to enhance the role of FLR for a meaningful transition to more sustainable, inclusive, equitable and resilient food systems through FLR which contributes to regional priority 2 (RP.2 – Sustainable NRM, Biodiversity and Climate Action). FAO RAP is supporting its members in the implementation of the Regional strategy and action plan for FLR in Asia-Pacific, and recently helped launch RESULT Asia-Pacific, a regional initiative to help 20 countries restore and sustain 100 million ha of degraded landscapes. This initiative with 37 partners will help advance the six strategic priorities of the aforementioned Regional Strategy and Action Plan on FLR in Asia-Pacific.

This position will be based in the RAP office in Bangkok.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the RAP Forestry Officer who is the focal point for FLR, in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment.

Technical Focus 

The Programme Specialist will assist with technologies and technical inputs for (i) coordinating the planned efforts on RESULT Asia Pacific with a programmatic approach within and outside the FAO (ii) mobilizing resources to advance restoration at scale, in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and (iii) the advancement of normative work and knowledge/communication products related to advancing FLR investments.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Budget Holder and direct supervision of the Focal Point of FLR in FAO RAP, the Programme Specialist will perform the tasks below.

•    Facilitate relevant networks and support organization of events related to FLR.
•    Advance resource mobilization and monitoring framework to operationalize RESULT Asia-Pacific.
•    Prepare knowledge/communication products needed for advancing RESULT Asia-Pacific, as per governments’ and partners’ requirements, including through investment gap analysis.
•    Provide advice and technical expertise in shaping FLR projects in the context of RESULT Asia-Pacific.
•    Provide technical inputs for the analysis of FLR data and information and compiling them to the regional knowledge hub.
•    Provide advice and technical expertise to knowledge management/dissemination activities, including documentation of lessons learned.
•    Perform other related duties as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•    Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
•    Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in forestry, economic, social or biological sciences or engineering as appropriate for the specific profiles listed above, or a first level degree with 2 years of relevant experience may be considered as equivalent.
•    Minimum 1 year of relevant experience for category C, 5 years for category B, 10 years for category A in analytical studies, project formulation and implementation, capacity development and resource mobilisation related to natural resource management.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, partners, the private sector and other stakeholders.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation of projects related to natural resource management.
•    Demonstrated experience in development of knowledge/information products and dissemination.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in resource mobilization and investment gap analysis.