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

Vietnam’s National REDD Action Programe (NRAP) for 2017-2030 was approved by the Prime Minister with Decision No 419/TTg -QD dated April 5th, 2017.

This is a policy document with a multi-sectoral approach and the overall goal to: Contribute to protecting and improving the quality of the existing natural forests, expanding the forest area, and improving the quality of plantation forests; linking with the implementation of national goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, forest protection and development, green growth; mobilizing international support, getting access to carbon markets; and improving people’s lives and the country’s sustainable development.

(NRAP, 2017 Overall Goal).

The main content of the NRAP focuses on developing and finalizing the policies and measures responses to the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. 
The NRAP is split into two periods: 2017-2020 and 2021-2030. It can be said that the first period is readiness phase towards achieving REDD results and expanding forest cover to 42%; whereas the second period is the maturity phase where the objective shifts to “integrate fully REDD into sustainable forestry development programmes”, and forest cover by 45%.

The second phase further speaks to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) emissions reduction target of a 15.8% unconditional reduction target and 43.5% conditional target.

The LULUCF contributes 3.5% against the baseline scenario (unconditional), and 5% for conditional. 
The NRAP decision, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s mandates the responsibility to “Review and evaluate the Programme implementation results for the period 2017- 2020 and propose to the Prime Minister for amendment and adjustment for the period 2023-2030″ (point l, item 6.2.1, Article 1).

Therefore, a review of the NRAP implementation is proposed to be undertaken, as a first step towards informing the NRAP for the next period.

In addition, after 5 years of REDD implementation, the context of both international negotiation processes and national circumstances have changed.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Viet Nam, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR-Programme in the FAO Representation in Viet Nam.

Operationally and technically, the incumbent will work with the responsible Forestry Officer (based in RAP), the National Coordinator, the Forestry Expert as well as other colleagues within the UN-REDD team.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for evaluating the progress, challenges, and achievements of the strategy implemented from 2017 to 2022.

He/She will also provide recommendations for the next phase of implementation (2023-2030), including an assessment of the potential integration of NRAP into broader sectoral strategies.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    To assess the implementation of the Policies and Measures (PAMs) for 2017-2022 (or beyond, as possible and relevant), (Annex 1 Decision 419/2017), including:
o    Policies and measures to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
o    Policies and Measures to conserve and enhance forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests.
o    Achieve full REDD readiness and engage in stepwise improvements.
•    Review and assessment of the implementation Action Plan 2018-2020 for NRAP implementation (Decision No 5264/QD-BNN dated 28/12/2018-Part 2: Tasks of the Action Plan; Part 5: Monitoring and Evaluation; Part 6: Implementation Organisation and Annex I: Implementation Plan for NRAP 2018-2020)
•    Support the Identification and outlining of challenges and bottlenecks that hinder the successful execution of the points above
•    Support in drafting recommendations for adjustments and improvements for the next implementation period and integration into broader national strategies (such as the National Forestry Development Strategy (VFDS 2021-2030, Decision No 809/QD-TTg, etc.)

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   
 
•    Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as natural resources management, or environmental science. 
•    Have at least 10 years of work experience in forestry, including a minimum of 5 years of intensive work in sustainable forest management and REDD .
•    Working knowledge of English
•    National of Vietnam or resident of the country with valid work permit. 

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Experience working in UN agencies/INGOs/ international organizations/NGOs or in an international context is an asset; 
•    Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously.
•    Excellent writing skills
•    Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Selection Criteria

•    Advanced degree as an asset 
•    Intensive knowledge of the institutional and legal framework of Viet Nam
•    Demonstration of experiences from drafting/formalization and evaluation/assessment of national policies/ strategies
•    Strong experience providing strategic advice and dealing with the government and development partners
•    Good understanding of REDD
•    Experience engaging a range of stakeholders in Viet Nam on environmental issues is an advantage