National Project Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Monitoring and Enhancement of Remote Sensing for National Forest Inventory (MERANTI) project is a three-year initiative funded by Norway and managed by the FAO Office in Jakarta. The project aims to enhance Indonesia's National Forest Inventory (NFI) by integrating advanced land-monitoring approaches to improve the accuracy, availability, transparency, and timeliness of forest and tree-resource data. The project is part of a broader effort to strengthen Indonesia's capacity to generate high-quality forest information, which is crucial for national strategic planning, climate change mitigation, and fulfilling international commitments to sustainable development goals. The FAO, as a specialized agency of the United Nations, plays a pivotal role in addressing global challenges related to security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, agriculture, and forestry, and operates in numerous countries worldwide, focusing on sustainable practices and policies.

Job Overview:
The National Project Specialist will play a critical role in supporting the MERANTI project, which is designed to enhance Indonesia's forest monitoring capabilities. This position involves coordinating between various stakeholders, including government agencies and international partners, to ensure effective project delivery and outcomes. The specialist will be responsible for implementing project activities with a focus on sustainability and institutionalization of the National Forest Monitoring System. This includes monitoring project progress, providing logistical support for meetings and workshops, and ensuring the integration of monitoring and evaluation data. The role requires a proactive approach to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders and to support knowledge sharing and documentation of project outputs. The National Project Specialist will also be involved in supporting national and international consultants and maintaining effective communication with civil society and non-governmental stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Project Specialist include:

• Supporting coordination and facilitating participation of all relevant stakeholders, including collaboration with the Directorate General of Forestry Planning/IPSDH, the National Project Director (NPD), and IPSDH technical staff.
• Ensuring the availability and integration of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data.
• Maintaining collaboration with the FAO Country Office in Jakarta and the project team for timely and effective delivery of project outputs.
• Supporting the implementation of project workplans, budgets, and reports.
• Monitoring project progress (both physical and financial) and ensuring data availability for M&E.
• Facilitating and arranging consultations and meetings to secure inputs from partners and stakeholders.
• Supporting knowledge sharing, documentation, and publication of project outputs.
• Assisting the work of national and international consultants, including operational arrangements, meetings, and review of reports and workplans.
• Establishing and maintaining effective contacts with host governments, civil society, and non-governmental stakeholders. 1
• Performing any other relevant tasks assigned by FAO in coordination with the Forestry project team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A postgraduate degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Geography, or a closely related field. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may be considered in lieu of a postgraduate degree.
• At least 5 years of professional experience for candidates holding a postgraduate degree, or at least 8 years of professional experience for candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree, in coordinating programmes and projects in natural resource management, environmental conservation, or closely related areas.
• Candidates must be nationals of Indonesia.
• A working knowledge of English and Indonesian language, both written and spoken, is required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a postgraduate degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Geography, or a closely related field. In cases where candidates possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, they may still be considered for the role, provided they have the requisite professional experience. It is essential that the educational qualifications are obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The level of experience required for the National Project Specialist position includes a minimum of 5 years of professional experience for those with a postgraduate degree, or at least 8 years of professional experience for those with a Bachelor’s degree. This experience should be in coordinating programmes and projects specifically in the fields of natural resource management, environmental conservation, or closely related areas. Candidates should also have a proven track record of working with government agencies, UN agencies, or international NGOs, and experience in forest monitoring, forest inventory, remote sensing, or land assessment is considered an advantage.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Indonesian, with a requirement for proficiency in both written and spoken forms. Candidates must demonstrate a working knowledge of these languages to effectively communicate and collaborate with stakeholders. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not explicitly required for this role.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates should be aware that the appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. The FAO emphasizes the importance of higher educational qualifications being obtained from accredited institutions, as listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). For further employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website.