ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

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 to 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 GEF and the 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 FAO’s work on environmental safeguards.

The Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) performs the tasks established under the ITPGRFA and arranges for and provides technical, logistic and administrative support for sessions of the ITPGRFA’s Governing Body and for any subsidiary bodies, as may be established, and assists the Governing Body in carrying out its functions, including the performance of specific tasks that the Governing Body may decide to assign to it.

Reporting Lines

The incumbents will report to the Secretary or the relevant Technical Officers of the Secretariat, depending on their specific assignment.

Technical Focus 

Support the work of the Secretariat related to the implementation of the work programme of the Governing Body and assisting Contracting Parties’ efforts to meet their obligations in the implementation of the ITPGRFA.

Tasks and responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities of each selected Consultant or PSA Subscriber will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment.

In general, assigned tasks and responsibilities will usually include one or more of the following elements depending on the assignment and the expertise of the incumbent:

•    Provide policy analysis and technical advice on the implementation and strengthening of the Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing, the Global Information System and other relevant systems and mechanisms of the ITPGRFA.
•    Conduct research and prepare policy documents, standard proposals, technical reports and studies on the implementation of relevant provisions of the ITPGRFA.
•    Provide technical support for the operations of various systems and mechanisms of the ITPGRFA.
•    Contribute to the preparation of pre-session/background documents for the sessions of the Governing Body and its subsidiary bodies.
•    Support the organization of technical and intergovernmental meetings and events in relation to the implementation of the ITPGRFA.
•    Develop training and information materials for capacity building and organize relevant workshops for Contracting Parties.
•    Prepare legal and policy papers and draft texts for negotiations of the Governing Body and its subsidiary bodies.
•    Support the preparation and running of training workshops and regional consultations, including pre-workshop surveys and outreach materials.
•    Provide technical support to existing implementation tools of the ITPGRFA, such as the Toolbox for Sustainable Use, the Farmers’ Rights Inventory, the Portal of the Global Information System.
•    Write concept notes and project proposals for donors.
•    Liaise with relevant partners both within and outside of the FAO in relation to the implementation of the ITPGRFA.
•    Participate in relevant meetings organized by partner organizations to the management of PGRFA
•    Attend and represent the Treaty Secretariat in relevant events or meetings, or as may be assigned by the Secretary.
•    Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced degree in agriculture, natural resources, environmental sciences, law, rural development, international development/relations/cooperation, agricultural economics, bioinformatics, political science, social sciences or a related field
•    At least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B) or 10 years (Category A) in management of agro-biodiversity, including conservation, use and/or, access and benefit-sharing of plant genetic resources, as well as on activities related to the organization and management of inter-governmental and/ or technical meetings and events at international or regional level
•    Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian can be considered a good asset.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Demonstrated capacity to conduct technical and/or policy analysis in relation to plant genetic resources or other natural resources management
•    Demonstrated ability to formulate, draft and finalize technical and policy documents, guidelines and manuals
•    Experience in the organization and management of inter-governmental, technical meetings, events and training workshops
•    Excellent communication skills
•    Experience with fieldwork, such as technical cooperation projects, stakeholder consultations, training workshops in particular in developing countries
•    Project management skills