- 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 FAO's 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
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 to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
OCB hosts the FAO-Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coordination Unit. GEF is a global funding mechanism for five environmental conventions. The Unit supports eligible countries to access GEF resources. FAO’s global GEF portfolio has grown rapidly and currently exceeds USD $1.8 billion, with more than 300 approved projects, mostly implemented through the Operational Partnership Implementation Modality (OPIM). Such rapid growth comes with increasing demand for portfolio monitoring, quality assurance and implementation support, in close coordination with Project Task Forces (PTF), Decentralized Offices (DO) and Corporate Units, as the GEF prioritizes enhanced efficiency in the project cycle phases and links resource availability to projects’ achieving key milestones within hard deadlines
The GEF is a multilateral family of funds dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, and supporting land and ocean health. The GEF is a financing mechanism for five international environmental conventions: the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the UNCBD, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UNFCCC that could be financed by the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF).
FAO is one of the top GEF partner implementing agencies worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300 projects valued at more than USD 1.8 billion. FAO supports eligible countries in accessing resources from all of the GEF family of trust funds. Brazil is one of the top recipients of GEF grant assistance worldwide. The project portfolio in Brazil has a crucial importance for GEF-7 and GEF-8 cycles, and a significant potential for GEF-9.
Reporting Lines
The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Brazil. The incumbent will work closely with FAO colleagues in the Office of Climate, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), the technical divisions at FAO Headquarters (Rome), and FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAORLC).
Technical Focus
The GEF Portfolio Specialist will work at the FAO Office in Brazil, in close coordination with the OCB-GEF Unit and FAO RLC to design, monitor, operationalize and implement various projects - from all GEF focal areas - and mobilize additional resources in 2025 and 2026. One of the incumbent’s key responsibilities will be to speed up the implementation of GEF-5, GEF-7 and GEF-8 projects in Brazil, and support project proponents with the development of GEF and GBFF eligible projects at the nexus between sustainable agriculture and environment. This integration can contribute to developing concepts fully aligned with GBFF and GEF-9 programming directions aimed at achieving the targets of the above-mentioned conventions, embracing the healthy planet, healthy people approach, while contributing to the achievement of FAO's 4 betters. The GEF Portfolio will lead the project implementation processes in the Country Office.
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Ensure the efficient and timely implementation of GEF-5, GEF-7, and GEF-8 projects in Brazil:
- Lead the operationalization of GEF-7 and GEF-8 projects in final consultation stages for smooth implementation, speeding up the start-up and implementation phases, reaching the 1st Disbursement milestone in the expected time
- Provide guidance to project management units in addressing management challenges,
- Ensure the development of annual work plans and budgets, quality-check budget revision requests, and their alignment with the approved GEF Project Documents.
- Ensure approved projects’ Environmental and Social Management risk mitigation plans are implemented and monitored.
- Chair FAO Project Task Force meetings, co-chair Project Steering Committee meetings and other management mechanisms to secure continued alignment with GEF policies and FAO policies and procedures.
- Ensure that good quality annual Project Implementation Review (PIR) and FAO’s Project Progress Reports (PPR) are prepared in English and delivered to the FAO PTF in due time.
- Serve as the Country Office’s focal point for the Mid-Term Reviews and Terminal Evaluations of GEF projects.
- Monitor the FAO GEF portfolio in Brazil, based on approved project documents, annual work plans and budgets and reports. to secure continued delivery and progress of all projects, troubleshooting and making recommendations for improvement where needed, and search for appropriate technical guidance within FAO.
- Discuss, anticipate and troubleshoot eventual execution challenges, while keeping a direct line of dialogue with the Operational Partners of GEF projects, FAO PTF, and the ROPs in RLC.
- Perform supervision missions to field areas, at least twice a year.
- Lead the Operational Partners Implementation Modality (OPIM) matters, including the preparation of the Operational Partners Agreement (OPA) packages, in close consultation with the Regional Operational Partners Specialist (ROPS) in RLC, PSS Division, and the OCB GEF Unit.
- Lead the negotiation of the OPAs with operational partners, in a timely and prompt manner, meeting expected deadlines. Ensure the buy-in and understanding of the OPIM modality and agreement by the national partners, in due time.
- Lead the Due Diligence processes required for non-state operational partners, in a timely and prompt manner, meeting expected deadlines.
- Facilitate the organization of audits and spot check exercises, once the projects are operationalized.
- Conduct troubleshooting missions, as required, in coordination with the OCB GEF Unit and RLC.
- Perform other related duties as required.
- Lead projects under development (Project Preparation Grant PPG phase):
- Perform BH functions responsibilities for projects under development, whenever requested by the FAO Representative.
- Secure FAO project documents and annexes are timely prepared for submission to the GEF, having addressed the comments of the FAO Project Task Force (PTF) and government counterparts.
- Secure co-financing letters and government’s no objection well before project submission to the OCB GEF Unit.
- Coordinate the process of addressing GEF and STAP comments at national level.
- Conduct a preliminary quality assurance of FAO-GEF Project Preparation Grants, Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs) and Project Document with all annexes (including project budget), well before submitting the documents to the OCB GEF Unit.
- Conduct project design mission to field areas, as required.
Liaise with Brazil’s GEF Operational Focal Point and other partners in Brazil to ensure robust GEF-9 planning and GEF project pipeline maintenance:
Based on the country’s demand, the incumbent will:
- Lead the development of the GEF-9 and GBFF pipeline:
- Develop a clear timeline and deliverables for new projects with milestones and deadlines.
- Reach out to FAO technical teams, under the leadership of OCB-GEF Unit and the LTO, to ensure the best use of FAO tools and approaches that cut across different technical areas.
- Assess partnerships and ongoing/planned investments to build a strong baseline scenario.
- Coordinate inputs from project partners to prepare a draft PIF/ GBFF PPG request resulting from the assessment of existing information and data that is fully aligned with GEF/GBFF programming directions and GEF policies.
- Secure a final PIF/ GBFF PPG request is prepared for submission addressing comments from the FAO Project Task Force(s), in a timely and prompt manner, meeting expected deadlines.
- Prepare a GBFF PPG Operationalization Plan with a detailed description of PPG activities, calendar, budget and TORs for PPG project national consultants.
- Engage in national discussions on GEF-9 planning with the Operational Focal Point to GEF, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other national.
- Conduct project design mission to field areas, as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING:
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced university degree in Environmental and/or Social Sciences, preferably master in one of the same areas, or any other linked to natural resource management and sustainable development.
- At least 5 years of experience:
- Working knowledge (level C) of English and Portuguese.
- National of Brazil.
FAO Core Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
- Proven analytical and conceptual skills with ability to write bankable project documents, and ability to analyse and integrate diverse information from various sources.
- Extent of experience in leading or facilitating inter-institutional processes, at the federal/national, regional, and local levels.
- Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of projects and programmes (particularly GEF or GCF projects and programmes), results-based monitoring and supervision of multidisciplinary projects.
- Extent and relevance of experience in securing funding, negotiating and implementing GEF or GCF projects at national, sub-regional and regional levels.
- Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.
- Relevance of experience in Brazil and/or the Latin America region.
- Knowledge of FAO's internal processes, OPIM, and IFC Environmental and Social Safeguards would be an assetWide knowledge of financial and portfolio management tools.
- Intermediate level of Spanish (B2) would be an asset.
- FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
- Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
- 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 http://www.whed.net/
- For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
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
- 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 FAO’s 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 FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp
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