Climate Change 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 provide cross-organizational coordination, OCB serves as the focal point for major multilateral environmental agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The office plays a crucial role in assisting FAO Members in tackling the interconnected challenges of security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, climate change, and environmental sustainability. OCB also facilitates access to climate and environmental financing through initiatives like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Furthermore, OCB hosts several significant programs, including the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, while leading efforts on environmental safeguards and priority areas related to climate change and bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture.

Job Overview:
The Climate Change Specialist position is situated within the Climate Change team of OCB, which is dedicated to providing policy advice and technical support to FAO Members on various aspects of climate change, including mitigation, adaptation, transparency, and loss and damage. The team is responsible for developing knowledge products and tools that aid in the coordination of international climate processes and ensure that FAO's program activities align with global climate policies and scientific frameworks. The specialist will be expected to support the implementation of FAO's climate change portfolio, focusing on knowledge development, training, and dissemination of information related to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. This role is crucial for enhancing the capacity of countries and partners to effectively respond to climate-related challenges in agrifood systems.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Climate Change Specialist will undertake a variety of tasks aimed at supporting FAO, national counterparts, and partners in the climate change program. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing support to countries on climate-related topics, including Enhanced Transparency Framework, Mitigation, Adaptation, Loss and Damage, and Finance, while addressing policy development, access to finance, and the application of tools and datasets.
• Conducting analyses of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), long-term strategies (LTS), and National Adaptation Plans (NAP), as well as projects funded by GEF and GCF.
• Performing financial and market analyses to assess public and private climate finance flows and investment gaps.
• Conducting value chain analyses of specific agricultural commodities to inform ongoing projects.
• Writing project concept notes, proposals, and investment pipelines that contribute to the development of future projects.
• Generating and disseminating knowledge materials related to climate change and agrifood systems, including training materials and workshops.
• Reviewing relevant program documents and participating in country missions.
• Providing technical support for organizing meetings and workshops.
• Performing additional duties related to the program as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements: For Consultants: An advanced university degree in climate change, economics, environmental sciences, agrifood systems, or a closely related field from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. Those with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience. For PSAs: A university degree in the same fields as mentioned above. Additionally, candidates should have at least 1 year (category C), 5 years (category B), or 10 years (category A) of relevant work experience in project implementation at the intersection of climate change and food systems, covering areas such as climate policy, risk assessment, private sector engagement, project development, climate finance, and gender and social inclusion.

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 related to climate change, economics, environmental sciences, agrifood systems, or closely related disciplines. For those applying as PSAs, a university degree in these fields is necessary. Candidates with a bachelor's degree must also possess additional relevant professional experience to qualify for the consultant role.

Experience:
The level of experience required for this position varies by category: at least 1 year for category C, 5 years for category B, and 10 years for category A. Candidates should have relevant work experience in implementing projects that connect climate change with food systems, including expertise in climate policy analysis, climate risk assessment, private sector engagement, project development, climate finance, and the economics of climate change.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of other FAO official languages, specifically Spanish and French, is considered an asset depending on the technical requirements of the role.

Additional Notes:
The job does not specify a deadline for applications, which may indicate that it is open until filled. The position is likely to be full-time, and candidates may be assessed based on their experience in international cooperation and fieldwork. Compensation and benefits details are not provided in the job description.