Organizational Setting

FAO Bangladesh established the Cox’s Bazar programme and field office in 2017, after the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The field office implements projects under two workstreams, namely food security and livelihood and natual resource management, in support of both Bangaldeshi host and Rohingya refugee populations in the Cox’s Bazar subdistricts of Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ramu, Teknaf, and Ukhiya. FAO Cox’s Bazar works with government partners, other UN organizations, and development partners and is an active stakeholder in intersector programming and interventions.

Reporting Lines

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist is under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, direct supervision of the Emergency and Resilience Programme Coordinator and Head of Field Office in Cox’s Bazar, and works closely with technical experts and support teams in Cox’s Bazar and the Country Office in Dhaka.

Technical Focus

The NRM Specialist (SC- 8) will lead the implementation and management of NRM activities in Cox’s Bazar including, but not limited to, biological land stabilization, and plantations, support activities contributing to watershed management, integrated water resource management, and disaster risk reduction and management.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Maintain strong relations with government partners to develop FAO’s programs in support of Government strategies in the area of environment, forestry, agroforestry, watershed management, climate change & disaster risk management
•    Manage and oversee the forestry-related activities carried out under the Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya refugees
•    Contribute to plans and strategies for the implementation of FAO’s medium- and longer-term natural resources management work
•    Develop concept notes, budgets, project proposal, and technical write-ups on natural resources management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change.
•    Ensure technical quality of FAO and its implementing partners’ activities in reforestation and related areas
•    Contribute to the sustainability of productive ecosystems under the FAO’s Country Programming Framework of FAO
•    Contribute to donor missions, development of technical specification, and coordination with Lead Technical Units (LTUs), Lead Technical Officers ((LTOs) and Procurement Unit (PU) colleagues
•    Ensure FAO’s active contribution, and representation in Energy & Environment Network (EEN) and the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG)
•    Provide technical inputs to the development of programs and projects in forest management, landscape reforestation, agro-forestry, DRR, biodiversity conservation
•    Work closely with Headquarters and Regional teams to ensure that appropriate and innovative technologies are mainstreamed into FAO work in forestry management, biodiversity conservation, landslide mitigation and land stabilization, land tenure, and conflicts over natural resources
•    Support the development of training modules for field extension workers and beneficiaries on nursery management, reforestation, landslide mitigation and forest protection, environmental rehabilitation, and others
•    Contribute to the development and implementation of annual work plan, program budgets, procurement plans, and progress reports
•    Coordinate and communicate with the government counterparts and partners
•    Support the collection and analysis of environmental data and innovative sustainable forest management strategies
•    Perform any other functions that may be assigned

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    Master’s degree in natural resources management, environmental management, forestry, watershed management, environmental sciences, or related fields
•    Minimum of 6 years of professional work experience in natural resources, biodiversity, or environmental management, forestry, climate change
•    Working knowledge of English and Bangla
•    Bangladeshi national

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Proven track record of successful teamwork, good presentation/facilitation skills
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English required
•    Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision
•    Self-motivation, willingness to learn and strong work ethics in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
•    Previous experience with the United Nations or other international development organizations preferred but not required

Selection Criteria

•    Experience working on nature-based solutions for biological land and slope stabilization, reforestation, and agroforestry
•    Experience in programme and/or project planning, implementation, quality assurance, and reporting

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION