GEF Funding Liaison Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) is a vital part of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that focuses on addressing the pressing issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. Established to coordinate responses to these challenges, OCB plays a crucial role in facilitating access to climate and environmental financing, including partnerships with major multilateral environmental agreements such as the UNFCCC and the CBD. The office also oversees significant programs like the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme and the FAO-Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coordination Unit, which manages a rapidly growing portfolio exceeding USD $2 billion across more than 400 approved projects. OCB's mission is to support FAO Members in their efforts to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security while addressing the interlinked challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation.

Job Overview:
The GEF Funding Liaison Specialist will be responsible for overseeing portfolio monitoring, management, and quality assurance of submissions related to GEF projects. This role is critical in ensuring timely delivery and impact of projects, as well as compliance with GEF and FAO policies. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including the GEF technical officer and project task forces, to monitor project progress, prepare analytical reports, and provide implementation support. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying projects at risk and facilitating necessary actions to enhance project performance. The specialist will also engage in capacity development initiatives and contribute to knowledge sharing regarding project achievements throughout the project cycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the GEF Funding Liaison Specialist include monitoring and supporting projects through their key milestones, managing data from FAO's corporate database, preparing periodic reports on project performance, and liaising with the GEF Unit for monitoring and reporting. The specialist will ensure quality assurance for monitoring and evaluation milestones, review project budgets, and provide guidance to budget holders. Additionally, the role involves advising project formulators on execution arrangements, participating in country support missions, and contributing to capacity development exercises. The specialist will also support FAO's reporting to the GEF Secretariat and assist in drafting operational partnership agreements as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as economics, development studies, political science, international relations, business administration, finance, or statistics. Those with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience. The position requires one to four years of relevant experience for CAT C, at least five years for CAT B, and a minimum of ten years for CAT A, specifically in portfolio management, monitoring, implementation support, and evaluation. A working knowledge of English, French, or Spanish is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU/UNESCO) in fields pertinent to the organization's work. Candidates with a bachelor's degree must have additional relevant professional experience to qualify for the role.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the GEF Funding Liaison Specialist position varies based on the category of the role. Candidates should have one to four years of relevant experience for CAT C, at least five years for CAT B, and a minimum of ten years for CAT A. Experience should be in areas such as portfolio management, monitoring, implementation support, and evaluation, preferably in field duty stations.

Languages:
A working knowledge (Level C) of English, French, or Spanish is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the international context of the role.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve contract duration specifics, seniority levels, and whether it is full-time or part-time. It is important to note that the role may require international recruitment, and details regarding compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process.