Organizational Setting

Under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP), in collaboration with six countries of Southeast Asia, will implement a three-year project of strategic regional action entitled “Agriculture Sector Readiness for enhanced climate finance and implementation of Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture priorities in Southeast Asia”. The countries included under this collaborative project are: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The project will be implemented in close coordination with the respective NDAs and the Ministries of Agriculture through the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network focal points of each participating Southeast Asian country. This regional project will build capacity to access climate finance for the agriculture sector and create opportunities to scale promising models at national and regional levels. The project will also enable countries to share experiences and co-create proposals for sector specific climate action at the regional level with public and private sector climate and agriculture finance experts. Investment plans will focus on facilitating farmer’s access to capacity to access capacity, resources and finance to address climate change risks.

A regional project team and six country based national project teams will be established for the effective implementation of the project. While the regional project team will oversee project implementation progress and maintain communication with the rest of the PMU to ensure a smooth flow of work, the national project team will lead the implementation of the project activities in the country and coordination for the regional activities.

To support the implementation of the project activities, FAO Country Office is seeking a motivated, dynamic candidate to serve as a National Rostered Technical Specialist (GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme). This position will basically home-based (Hanoi) and intermittent. The position may require some field visits in the project coverage areas.

Reporting Lines

The National Technical Specialist (GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme) will work directly under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision of Assistant FAO Representative (Programme). Additionally, s/he will work under the technical supervision of the National Team Leader and Lead Technical Officer (LTO) from FAO-RAP and in collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and International Agriculture and Climate Change Specialist and Regional Project Team based at FAO-RAP, the FAO-GCF Coordination Unit, and with dedicated project staff and operational partners at country level.

Technical Focus

A wide range of technical expertise on rice production, rice value chains, irrigation systems and potentially other types of investment categories and cost effective ways of implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in rice cultivation.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Technical Specialist is assigned with the following most specific duties:

•    Support team leader in collecting baseline information on climate risk, impacts and resilience and provide inputs for team leader to prepare inception phase reports.
•    Support for coordination of the agriculture climate change investment planning and project design process under Outcomes 2, 3 and 4 of the project with primary focus on capacity building for stakeholders in the agricultural sector, specifically crop production and rice-sub-sector
•    Prepare inputs and materials on impacts of climate change on agriculture, climate risks and climate resilience, and capacity building planning and implementation in climate-smart priotites, climate resilience and investment in rice sub-sector.
•    Support the development and implementation of a regional knowledge management and communication plan to enhance access to climate change finance for agriculture sector
•    Assist national team leader in coordinating /consulting with relevant stakeholders at the national level including PSC members from the NDA and Ministry of Agriculture as well as ASEAN CRN members, DAEs, public and private and actors to identify innovative financing models at national and regional levels to support projects in accessing climate finance.
•    Support the National team leader in the overall development of a GCF Concept Note, including the pre-feasibility analysis, climatic justification and economic analysis. The project will focus on rice production.
•    Support the National team leader in pre-feasibility assessment and development of regional GCF project concept note on establishing a Risk Finance Facility in the Southeast Asian agricultural sector
•    Assist in national and regional level trainings, workshops and knowledge exchanges on the climate finance and investmet in agricultue sector and rice subsector for Vietnam.
•    Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    An advanced degree in climate change, natural resources management, agronomy, agricultural economics/environmental and resource management or any relevant topics.
•    At least five years’ experience in project development, management, project’s implementation or management
•    Having knowledge in project design, project theory of change and concept note development
•    Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese.
•    National of the country or resident with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Internet)
•    Knowledge of the administrative policies and procedures of the United Nations and International Organizations.
•    Effective communication skills that emphasize teamwork.
•    Knowledge and experience in institutional capacity development
•    Knowledge of and familiarity with agriculture and sustainable natural resource management
•    Proven capacity to conduct fieldwork and ability to work in teams and establish working relationships central and local government institutions and civil society organizations
•    Prior experience with the UN and/or international organizations is an asset

Selection Criteria

•    Demonstrated knowledge of pre-feasibility assessment of a concept note, project holders capacity building, scenario/project portfolio development in project design and implementation
•    Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural sector, climate finance assessment and project Theory of Change develoment, climate finanace investment priority of climate change related projects
•    Having experiences  the areas related to rice production, rice value chains, irrigation management and cost effective ways of implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in rice cultivation is an advantage.