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 crosscutting scientific and technical analysis on climate, biodiversity and environment 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 scenario development, macroeconomic modelling, forecasting and analysis, technical and socioeconomic research for policy support.

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 programmes and reviews the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects, as well as the preparation of impact assessments or equivalent studies.
•    Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. 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 approaches and solutions for using agrifood systems interventions to address climate, biodiversity and environment challenges. In particular, he/she:
•    Leads technical and scientific assessments of agrifood systems related interventions with climate, biodiversity and/or environmental benefits.
•    Leads macroeconomic modelling, forecasting and/or foresight analysis of agrifood systems vis-à-vis climate, biodiversity and environment including pathways at the national, regional and global levels.
•    Undertakes research and provides advice in scenario analyses and socioeconomic research, 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 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) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), among others.
•    Leads the development of relevant tools and guidelines for science-policy assessments.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, climate science 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 developing policy-relevant research, including macroeconomic modelling, forecasting and/or foresight analysis related to climate, biodiversity, environment and agriculture.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in developing science-policy assessments through multilateral scientific processes (such as IPCC, IPBES).
•    Understanding of science processes associated with climate, biodiversity and other environmental conventions is highly desirable.