Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO’s work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises Members, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world’s forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products and ecosystem services.

The post is located in the Forestry and Livelihoods Team, Forestry Division, which leads FAO’s work on agroforestry in collaboration with the Plant Protection and Production Division (NSP). In addition to providing technical support to the implementation of agroforestry projects around the world, FAO is prioritizing the development of learning and training materials, support to national agroforestry policies and strategies and improving agroforestry monitoring. These, as well as other activities, contribute to FAO’s priorities to halting deforestation due to agriculture, reversing land degradation and restoring ecosystems.

Within this context, NFO is seeking to hire consultant(s) to provide technical and coordination support to ongoing agroforestry activities. These include, but are not limited to providing technical support to projects (including planning, designing and managing agroforestry systems); advising on the development of national agroforestry policies and strategies; coordinating publications, knowledge products and capacity development; supporting the overall coordination of the global work on agroforestry.

Reporting Lines

The consultants/subscribers will report to the Senior Forestry Officer/Team Leader of the Forestry and Livelihoods Team with direct supervision of the Forestry Officer, Agroforestry.

Technical Focus 

The assignments will support the Forestry Division in the implementation of its normative work, projects and other activities on agroforestry at global, regional and national levels in the following areas: planning, design and management of agroforestry systems, as well as the development of agroforestry-related policies, strategies, knowledge products and capacity development materials.

Tasks and responsibilities

The specialist(s) will support the work on agroforestry by (note: specific tasks for each consultant/subscriber will be agreed separately):
•    Coordinate publications, including an agroforestry monitoring study, Farmer Field School Agroforestry facilitation guidance, an agroforestry business case handbook, etc.;
•    Gather, analyse and review latest scientific and other relevant information, including best practices and case studies;
•    Write syntheses of the above-mentioned analyses for upcoming publications, including graphs, tables and other data-visualization material;
•    Assist with the preparation of reports, guidelines and other publications;
•    Support the development and, if appropriate, to the delivery of capacity building and training materials;
•    Contribute to the coordination, implementation and management of current projects and other activities in accordance with FAO and donor rules, procedures and systems;
•    Assist with the development of new projects/programmes in accordance with FAO and donor rules, procedures and systems;
•    Contribute to the organization of regional and/or global events; and
•    Carry out any other tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in forestry, agriculture, natural resources, biological and environmental sciences, rural development or related fields.
•    Two to four years of relevant experience for Consultants Category C, at least five years for Consultants Category B, and at least 10 years for Consultants Category A on issues related to the planning, design and management of agroforestry systems, agroforestry policy and/or capacity development.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English;.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria 

•    Limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) considered an advantage
•    Work experience in different parts of the world, particularly in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
•    Extent of relevant work experience on the planning, design and management of agroforestry systems; development and implementation of agroforestry policies and strategies; agroforestry-related capacity development.
•    Experience in writing technical, scientific and policy documents in English.
•    Experience in operations support, i.e. technical and financial reporting.
•    Familiarity with FAO activities, policies and procedures will be considered an asset.