Climate Change Research Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is a specialized agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The organization is also focused on ensuring that the agricultural sector is resilient to climate change and can adapt to its impacts, which is particularly relevant in the context of the Bahamas, where climate change poses significant risks to the environment and livelihoods.

Job Overview:
The Climate Change Research Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting the FAO Project Management Unit in the formulation of the Climate and Forest Strategy for the Bahamas. This position involves conducting both primary and secondary research to inform the development of the strategy, which aims to address the impacts of climate change on the country's forestry and land use. The specialist will analyze existing strategies, identify gaps, and gather data on land-use classification, carbon stocks, and the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. The findings from this research will be essential in drafting a comprehensive strategy that aligns with national priorities and existing climate adaptation frameworks. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, to ensure that the strategy reflects a wide range of perspectives and needs, particularly those of vulnerable groups.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Analyze the zero draft of the Climate and Forest Strategy to identify areas for improvement and information gaps that need to be addressed.
• Gather and analyze secondary data on national land-use classification schemes, carbon stock data, and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation through desk research.
• Support the MRV Specialist and Facilitator in engaging key stakeholders in the Bahamas LULUCF Sector through bilateral meetings, interviews, focus groups, and participatory workshops, ensuring 50% female participation.
• Collect and analyze primary data required to help elaborate the Strategy.
• Systematize findings to prepare a report to be incorporated into the relevant sections of the draft strategy.
• Provide support in the development of the draft Strategy document to reflect national priorities and ensure alignment with existing climate change adaptation strategies and national policy frameworks.
• Assist the Climate Finance REDD Specialist in developing a presentation highlighting the key elements of the Strategy for internal coordination within the FAO team and for dissemination.
• Support the design of a national workshop or consultation, including logistics, organization, facilitation, and documentation.
• Finalize the Strategy Document and perform any other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Economics, or Natural Resource Management.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in forest, climate policy, natural resource management, or related fields in the Bahamas, with strong analytical and writing skills.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English.
• National of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
• Familiarity with the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector in The Bahamas, including key stakeholders, policies, and institutional arrangements, is highly desirable.
• Experience in developing national or sectoral strategies or planning documents, conducting stakeholder engagement processes, and facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops is highly desirable.
• Good documentation, record-keeping, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Familiarity with international climate frameworks (e.g., REDD, NDCs) would be considered an asset. 1
• Proven ability to plan and facilitate interviews, focus groups, and participatory workshops with diverse stakeholders, including women. 1
• Demonstrated capacity to coordinate with multiple stakeholders (communities, government, NGOs) and build effective partnerships.

Educational Background:
The position requires a university degree in a relevant field such as Forestry, Environmental Science, Economics, or Natural Resource Management. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of climate change, forestry management, and environmental policies, which are critical for the successful execution of the responsibilities associated with this role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in fields related to forest management, climate policy, or natural resource management. This experience should ideally be within the context of the Bahamas, allowing the specialist to have a nuanced understanding of local environmental challenges and stakeholder dynamics. Strong analytical and writing skills are essential, as the role involves significant research and documentation.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English, with a requirement for a working knowledge (level C). Proficiency in English is crucial for effective communication with stakeholders, documentation, and reporting. While not mandatory, additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly if they facilitate engagement with diverse communities or stakeholders in the Bahamas.

Additional Notes:
This position is likely to be full-time and may involve a contract duration that aligns with the project timeline. The role is focused on national candidates, specifically nationals of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, to ensure that local expertise and knowledge are leveraged in the development of the Climate and Forest Strategy. Compensation and benefits details are typically aligned with FAO's organizational standards and may include health benefits, professional development opportunities, and other perks associated with working for a UN agency.