Organizational Setting

The Government of Mauritius has mandated FAO to lead the development of a project funded through the 8th funding cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project will be entitled “Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions in land-use systems for productive and resilient ecosystems” and ambitions to support transforming land use systems throughout the country by putting NbS at the heart of sustainable development, delivering on Mauritius’s commitments under multiple MEAs, increasing sustainable food production  and enhancing the provision of ecosystem services that underpin it, while adapting to climate change and creating inclusive employment opportunities and wealth. The project will be structured around 4 main components, namely: (1) Enabling policy environment for the governance and management of healthy and productive ecosystems ; (2) Nature-based solutions (NbS) for sustainable, resilient and productive landscapes ; (3) Unlocking private sector capital for improved ecosystem services and livelihood opportunities and (4) Knowledge management and learning for scaling.

A Country Concept Note describing the main elements of the project was included in the technically cleared Program Framework Document (PFD) approved by the GEF Council in June 2023. FAO has now engaged into the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase that will lead to drafting the detailed project document and its annexes, all to be submitted to the GEF Secretariat by June 2024. Project preparation activities will include desk studies as well as multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops to ensure the participation of key stakeholders in the project design processes. These activities will contribute to project awareness and ensure active participation of technical sectors and political support to maximize synergies during the project development phase.

The main outputs that will contribute to the preparation of the detailed project document will be: relevant baseline data and information collected during the preparation period, workshop reports, analyses and recommendations delivered by the consultants, financing plan and risk analysis and mitigation measures and realistic targets and indicators. The final product will be the detailed design of the project components, including the results framework, budget allocations and co-financing mobilization, based on which the FAO-GEF project document and CEO approval request will be prepared.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct managerial and administrative leadership of the FAO Representative in Mauritius as the Budget Holder, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in close collaboration with the national team

Technical Focus

Ecosystem and Landscape

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the FAO Representative, of the National Correspondent in Mauritius, the technical supervision of the international GEF design expert, and in close collaboration with other national and international experts, as well as FAO project task force, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

•    Leading preparation of overall PPG work plan jointly with international GEF Project Design Expert and under the overall guidance of FAO Project Task Force;
•    Ensuring regular communication with relevant stakeholders on the progress of PPG at national, sub-national, and local levels;
•    Chair the Technical Advisory Committee (i.e. project steering committee) which is set to convene on a bi-monthly basis, and ensure strong participation of all key stakeholders by directly mobilizing them and securing their participation to these key milestones;
•    Lead organization and preparation for the stakeholder consultations (national, sub-national, local), especially by: securing participation of all key stakeholders to these consultations; by identifying appropriate facilitation modalities (e.g. focus groups as needed); and by liaising with FAO colleagues at national level and in FAO Madagascar as needed to secure logistics;
•    Keep track on products and other milestones from national consultants, organize regular PTF and PPG team meetings, and draft weekly online summaries for the benefit of the international team to keep track of progress;
•    Day to day supervision of national experts;
•    Lead obtaining of co-finance letters, including by: drafting a panorama of potential baseline investments (with FAO national / regional funding sources; with other UN Agencies, other bilateral or multilateral partners; private sector players and government counterparts etc.); proactively organizing meetings with potential co-financing partners ; and supporting them in the establishment of the co-financing letters (detailing the different types of investments, especially for government co-financing);
•    Obtaining timely feedback on draft project document from key stakeholders and working with PPG team and PTF in responding to comments and concerns in timely manner;
•    Jointly with the PDE, update risk management matrix from PFD stage;
•    Ensuring final package for submission has all elements required in FAO-GEF project document template.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    At least a Master’s Degree in project relevant topic
•    At least 5 years of experience with managing project implementation/ design teams
•    Working knowledge of English  and limited knowledge of French.
•    Nationality of Mauritius

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Extent of relevant working experience and technical experience;
•    Personal skills: Self-driven, team player, patient, self-confident, reliable and empathetic;
•    Demonstrated organisational, communication and organizational skills;
•    Excellent planning, facilitation, writing, and communication skills

Selection Criteria

•    Experience with policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and mapping, capacity needs analysis, and knowledge management
•    Previous experience working on GEF projects or other international donors’ projects highly preferable
•    Familiarity with government processes, institutions and policies of relevance to NR management
•    Relevance of qualification;

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION