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 Members, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issue 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.

FAO is the lead agency for mountains within the United Nations Common System and as such it hosts the Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership (MP) since the establishment in 2003. The Mountain Partnership is a United Nations voluntary alliance of governments and organizations committed to working together with the common goal of achieving sustainable mountain development around the world.

This position is located in the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) of the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Forestry Officer (Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat) reports to the Deputy Director, NFO and works under the overall guidance of the Director, NFO. The incumbent leads the Mountain Partnership Secretariat team of the Forestry Division.

Technical Focus

The Senior Forestry Officer (Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat) supervises the work, staff of the MPS and related projects and initiatives. S/he is responsible for the annual work planning, the relations with the MP members, Steering Committee and resource mobilization, globally promoting the sustainable mountain development agenda and the collaboration among MP members.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional and cross-divisional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates on Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams, and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies. 
• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies. 
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks. 
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis of activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or ongoing programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services. 
• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes. 
• Leads and/or 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, on-line tools. 
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders. 
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework. 

Specific Functions

• Promotes, provides and leads advocacy of the Mountain Partnership globally and supports the representation of the Mountain Partnership and its members at key events, guided by the Steering Committee. 
• Leads the work of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, including planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on work and budget as well as management of staff. 
• Collects, analyses and disseminates data and information on issues and leads FAO’s global normative work on sustainable mountain development. 
• Fosters, strengthens and manages strategic partnerships and initiatives with relevant institutions at international, national and local levels, including the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors. 
• Promotes innovation and interdisciplinary work within the team and strengthens synergies and collaboration with other partners. 
• Mobilizes financial resources, including developing and maintaining linkages with resource partners, and provides financial and budgetary oversight for the trust funds that are established in support of the sustainable mountain development work and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. 
• In consultation with the Chair of the Steering Committee, organizes regular meetings of the Steering Committee. 
• Liaises within other FAO units and Decentralized Offices to ensure collaboration and integration of the mountain agenda with other relevant technical work in the context of the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework. 
• Performs other duties as required. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• Advanced university degree in agriculture, forestry, natural resource management or sustainable development, political science, international relations, environmental science related to mountain ecosystems. 
• Ten years of relevant experience in promoting international alliances, sustainable mountain development, forestry and agricultural development, natural resource management. 
• Working knowledge of (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. 
• Depth of familiarity with the global mountain agenda and Sustainable Mountain Development. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in working and supporting international partnerships. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting United Nations processes and activities (including Conferences of the Parties – COPs and other high-profile processes and events). 
• Demonstrated results-based management capabilities and ability to manage programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities. 
• Ability to mobilize resources. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.