Organizational Setting

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAis responsible for leading FAO’s efforts to achieve food security for all in the AsiaPacific region. FAO’s three main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
Under the RAP regional priority on “Accelerating sustainable natural resources management for biodiversity conservation and climate action,” FAO aims to support Members to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and combat climate change in realizing more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. With this priority FAO is implementing work programmes including actions to strengthen policy advice to Members for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLsectors engagement in 2030 Agenda processes to address climate change and foster multirisk management. In connection with this work FAORAP has identified activities to support member countries to organize consultations and knowledge products for enhanced climate action and monitoring for the agriculture and landuse sectors under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCParis Agreement.

Part of this work includes supporting Member countries in mobilizing climate finance through effectively engaging in carbon markets, including markets under Article 6 of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and voluntary carbon markets (VCM. Some countries in the region are beginning to establish their arrangements for compliance markets and VCMs. Other countries are seeking to increase ambitious climate action through VCMs and would benefit from understanding the relationship between compliance markets and VCMs, as well as from support to identify opportunities associated with VCMs and related carbon pricing initiatives. Countries also need clarification on the relative costs and benefits of developing and monitoring Article 6 and VCM projects according to various methodologies in the AFOLU sectors. Past experience with compliance and voluntary markets such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDshows that countries that move early to understand the opportunities and challenges benefit most from the critical resources that these markets can provide.

FAO support to Member Countries includes a Technical Cooperation Programme entitled, “Strengthening capacity of policy makers to mobilize investment for resilient and low emission agrifood systems in Asia under Article 6 of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement” (TCP/RS/3903), in which Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam are participating. FAO support is also provided to India through a separate TCP.

To support the implementation of these project activities, FAO is seeking a motivated, dynamic consultant to serve as a Carbon Markets Specialist. The position can be homebased, but the project team will be based at the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok which occasional travel to the participating countries.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report primarily to the FAO Lead Technical Officer (LT/ Natural Resources Officer, Climate Change and Bioeconomy, with overall administrative supervision of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and FAO Representatives in participating countries, in close collaboration with project staff and operational partners at regional and country level.

Technical Focus 

Climate change, adaptation, mitigation, agriculture and land use, carbon markets, carbon finance

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant is expected to undertake the following specific tasks:

•    Conduct carbon market assessments
o    Assess the opportunities and challenges associated with developing compliance and/or VCM projects targeting offsets from agricultural systems including:
•    Identify potential compliance and voluntary market mechanisms, standards and methodologies that may be applicable to each country.
•    Identify the potential types of buyers, markets for compliance or voluntary market offsets/insets from rice cultivation and complimentary activities generated in each country.
•    Prepare preliminary assessments of the viability of carbon market projects using the methodologies identified highlighting technical and financial challenges.
•    Assess institutional arrangements governing the carbon market and identify gaps or issues that may hinder the development of viable carbon market projects.
•    Highlight recommendations for project developers, development partners and government to facilitate the development of compliance or voluntary market offsets.
o    Engage in consultations with focus groups of development partners and representatives from the government to refine and improve assessments (with support from FAO in organizing these as neede
o    Draft reports based on the findings and recommendations of the assessments and circulate for review.
o    Finalize the reports based on any feedback received.
•    Provide guidance on the development of carbon market projects
o    Review and provide inputs and guidance on the development of compliance and/or VCM projects targeting offsets from agricultural systems.
•    Provide technical review on carbon markets analyses and deliverables
o    Provide technical review, feedback and comments on draft analyses and deliverables from RAP carbon market activities, to help improve and ensure the quality, accuracy and completeness of draft analyses and deliverables.
•    Respond to country requests for support on issues related to carbon markets and carbon finance as required.
•    Prepare knowledge products on carbon markets and carbon finance options in agriculture.
•    Represent FAO and the project at national and regional level events as required.
•    Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in agricultural science, finance and economics, land use management, agricultural economics, development economics, project management and business administration, or a related topic.
•    At least five years of relevant experience in analysing and developing carbon market projects to address issues associated with food and agriculture systems and climate change.
•    Working knowledge (level of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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