Climate Change Specialist (Anticipatory Action)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is dedicated to eradicating hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Established in 1945, FAO works in over 130 countries and has a mission to help eliminate hunger and improve nutrition and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. The organization collaborates with governments and partners to develop policies, programs, and projects that address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices and the responsible use of natural resources. FAO Sudan specifically assists the government in formulating policies and programs to enhance agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors, ensuring sustainable management of environmental resources.

Job Overview:
The Climate Change Specialist (Anticipatory Action) plays a crucial role in the FAO's efforts to build climate resilience within the agricultural sector of Sudan. This position involves designing, operationalizing, and strengthening climate risk management strategies, multi-hazards early warning systems, and pre-disaster humanitarian action plans. The specialist will provide technical expertise tailored to the unique climatic challenges faced by Sudan, ensuring that the frameworks developed are context-sensitive and effective in mitigating the impacts of climate change. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government authorities, technical teams, and implementing partners, to ensure that climate resilience measures are effectively integrated into local and national strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Climate Change Specialist will be responsible for several key tasks:

• Contextual Trigger & Scenario Design: Define localized climate and weather thresholds tailored to Sudan’s climatic zones and adapt standard anticipatory action triggers to address the complexities of concurrent conflicts and climate shocks.
• Cross-Sectoral Data & Early Warning Integration: Collaborate with the Sudan Meteorological Authority and National Council for Civil Defense to analyze and translate hydrometeorological data into operational early warning bulletins.
• Operationalizing Anticipatory Actions: Design standard operating procedures for pre-disaster assistance, ensuring that logistics mechanisms are in place for immediate deployment of resources upon trigger activation.
• Localization & Stakeholder Coordination: Lead technical working groups that connect local authorities, NGOs, and international actors to ensure that anticipatory action frameworks are inclusive and conflict-sensitive.
• Capacity Building: Develop and deliver training workshops for disaster management offices on climate resilience and early action.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Track the impact of anticipatory pilots, document lessons learned, and scale up effective approaches to enhance climate resilience in the agricultural sector.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in fields such as Climatology, Meteorology, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Geography, or a related discipline. Additionally, candidates should have at least seven years of experience in sectors related to agriculture, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or humanitarian/agricultural development. A working knowledge of English is essential, and candidates must be nationals of Sudan or residents with a valid work permit. FAO core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing are also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Climatology, Meteorology, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Geography, or similar areas. It is important that the educational qualifications are obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in the fields of agriculture, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or humanitarian/agricultural development. Experience working with national or sub-national governments, UN agencies, or international NGOs in climate-vulnerable or fragile contexts is highly valued. A proven track record in designing and implementing early warning systems and anticipatory action frameworks is essential.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the region may be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

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 must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. The position may involve full-time engagement, and candidates should be prepared for potential international recruitment processes.