Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind.

FAO as an Implementing Agency of the GEF is supporting the Government of Solomon Islands in implementing the Project “Strengthening capacity in the agriculture and land-use as well as energy sectors in Solomon Islands for enhanced transparency in implementation and monitoring of Solomon Island’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)”, endorsed for implementation by the GEF in July 2022. The Operation Partner Agreement and PMU set up delayed the operationalization of the project, however, is expected to accelerate in the coming quarters. The major outcome of the project include: (i) Strengthened institutional arrangements to collect, archive, update and report climate transparency data through a centralized information management system (ii) Strengthened emissions estimation of sources and sinks focussing on agriculture, land-use change, energy and waste sectors (iii) Strengthened technical capacities for monitoring and reporting to track the progress of NDC adaptation actions
The country has recently submitted its 1st Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 (2025-2035) under the Transparency Framework Reporting to the UNFCCC. The objective of the CBIT project is to strengthen Solomon Island’s technical and institutional capacity for compliance by 2025 with the ETF of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to track mitigation and adaptation actions of NDC priority sectors focussing on agriculture, land-use change, energy and waste sectors.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will perform task under the overall guidance of National Project Director and Deputy Director, and supervision of the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator (SRC) for the Pacific, and the technical guidance of the Forestry Officer (SAP), and closely work with the CBIT PMU team, and the Transparency team in OCB at Headquarters, the Regional and Sub-regional offices and relevant Ministries of the Solomon Islands.

Technical Focus

The incumbent as part of the CBIT Project Management Unit (PMU) in-housed at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) will be responsible to implement the specific outputs and technically support the implementation of the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

Conduct hands-on training in climate transparency

• Based on the capacity gap undertaken by the Ministry, and the action plan developed for capacity building training, identify training needs to enhance the knowledge on climate transparency of Government officials assigned to respond to the UNFCCC reporting requirements, ensuring the involvement of non-state sectors (academia, research institutes, private sector, Civil Society Organization).
• Prepare GHG Inventory training materials, including presentations, case studies, and practical exercises tailored to the needs of the country as per the request area of support for the Energy, including Transport, and Waste sectors.
• Conduct gap and need assessment in sectoral government departments and identified stakeholders on the data availability, sharing agreements and data management system
• Review the draft Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) developed by the focal Ministry for collection, generation, archiving, and dissemination of data to prepare GHG inventories
• Conduct hands-on training sessions on the use of the 2006 IPCC guidelines and Inventory Software, assisting participants in mastering inventory management and Country Reporting Table
• Support the trainees to implement the improvement plan included in the first BTR1 (May 2025 submission) for the sector-specific GHG Inventory
• Conduct training and provide technical support to the country and guidance in tracking and reporting on their NDC progress including finance (support from Transparency team HQ) and facilitating the understanding and production of the Common Tabular Format.

Support to strengthen the integrated Monitoring Reporting and Verification (IMRV) system

• Collaborate with the Information and Communication Technology officials on the status of the existing iMRV system, hosting issues, upgrading requirements
• Provide information on the latest Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) reporting requirements to support the IT specialist in identifying potential upgrade (architecture & software), in consultation with country project team.
• Capacitate the government officials on the importance of the iMRV system to sustain the development of data -driven policies, monitor results of climate actions and report to the UNFCCC.
• Provide support in developing guideline/manual for Training of Trainers (ToT) to support capacity building for sectoral departments/Ministries and at the host institute on to use the iMRV system.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Climate Science or related field is required
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in climate transparency, energy sector, and capacity building initiatives
• Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience SIDS/LDCs with more than one location or area of work
• Extent and relevance of experience in GHG Inventory methodologies, use of IPCC 2006 guidelines and inventory software, or international climate reporting standards or related fields
• Extensive track record of technical services and capacity building on ETF implementation including MRV for governments and institutional clients