Climate Change Specialist

HOW TO APPLY

To apply visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate complete and includes your employment records academic qualifications and language skills
Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application

Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED) a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.

Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work character education military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
Incomplete applications will not be considered
Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAOs behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications assessment tests background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time by withdrawing your application in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries please create a one-time registration with FAOs client support team for further assistance: IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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 these issues and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (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 as well as FAOs work on environmental safeguards and leads the Programme Priority Areas on Climate Change (PPA BE1) and Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (PPA BE2).

The position is located under the Climate Change team in OCB which provides policy advice and technical support to FAO Members on climate change including in the areas of mitigation adaptation transparency and loss and damage. The team is also leading the development of knowledge products and tools (i.e. NEXT ABC-Map) and is supporting coordination and technical linkages with international climate processes and bodies including the UNFCCC IPCC and related constituted bodies and workstreams ensuring alignment of programme activities with global climate policy and scientific frameworks.

Reporting Lines

The Climate Change Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Climate Change team leader and the direct supervision of an Officer of the team as appropriate. When activities are carried out in countries the consultant will be required to work in close collaboration with the relevant FAO Representation and Regional or Country Office.

Technical Focus

Support implementation knowledge development training and dissemination of FAOs portfolio of support to countries and partners on climate change adaptation mitigation loss and damage finance or transparency through the provision of technical expertise on climate change and agrifood systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Climate Change Specialist will support FAO national counterparts and partners in the climate change programme of work including country-level activities; concept note development: economic market or value chain analysis; knowledge sharing and generation; capacity building and further development of activities under the climate change strategy. The focus of the support will be primarily on the implementation of ongoing projects and programmes within OCBs portfolio.

Depending on the profile the specific tasks of the incumbent will be related to areas of work of the team related to:

Support countries on all climate-related topics which include Enhanced Transparency Framework Mitigation Adaptation Loss and Damage Finance and covering different aspects such as Policy Access to Finance developing and applying Tools and datasets and Technologies;
Perform climate change adaptation/mitigation/transparency analyses of nationally determined contributions (NDCs); long term strategies (LTS) National Adaptation Plans (NAP) and projects such as GEF and GCF;
Perform financial and market analysis and assessments with a focus on public and private climate finance flows instruments and investment gaps that contribute to the development of ongoing projects and programmes;
Conduct value chain analysis of specific agricultural commodities contributing to the development of ongoing projects and programmes;
Write project concept notes project proposals investment pipelines and other relevant documents that contribute to the development of ongoing and future projects and programmes;
Generate and disseminate knowledge materials related to climate change and agrifood systems including the development of training materials and organisation of workshops contribution to dissemination of information materials;
Review relevant programme documents;
Participate in country missions related to the programme of work;
Provide technical support for the organization of meetings and workshops;
Perform other duties related to the programme of work as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

For Consultants:
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in climate change economics environmental sciences agrifood systems or a closely related field. Consultants with a bachelors degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs:
University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in climate change economics environmental sciences agrifood systems or a closely related field.
At least 1 year (category C) 5 years (category B) or 10 years (category A) of relevant work experience in implementation of projects in the nexus between climate change and food systems in one or more following areas:
oClimate policy and analysis
oClimate Risk assessment
oPrivate sector engagement
oProject development
oClimate finance
oEconomics of climate change
oCarbon Market mechanisms
oGender and social inclusion
Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the following technical areas: climate change and agriculture policy analysis climate finance project development (including GEF GCF etc.) climate investment plans.
Extent and relevance of experience in identification of information and data for analysis of climate change and agrifood systems contexts including country level information agrifood system context environmental context and policy documents.
Extent of relevance of experience in managing partnerships with government non-government organizations and/or private sector companies funds platforms and mechanisms is desirable
Research and analytical skills and the ability to gather information from different sources and present effectively both orally and in writing.
Extend of experience in international cooperation and relevance of field work experience.
Knowledge of FAO tools and activities on climate change is considered an asset.
Working knowledge of other FAO official languages specifically Spanish French is considered as an asset depending on the technical requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender nationality background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold FAOs values
• FAO as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status objectives and mandate including sexual exploitation and abuse sexual harassment abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAOs commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.