Climate Change and Technologies Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) promotes integration of innovative approaches in the activities of the Organization, for the sustainable use, management and conservation of natural resources for food and agriculture. OCB assists Members in their responses towards the challenge of climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the development of adaptive capacities of agriculture, fisheries and forestry for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other natural resources. It provides a coordination role on climate change, biodiversity and the environment. The Office also serves as the focal point for a multidisciplinary and global approach to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and topics on bioenergy as well as undertaking work and providing support and guidance on assessment, management and tenure issues.

The roster is located under the Climate Action Support team of the Climate Change workstream in OCB/FAO, which maintains relation with the UNFCCC and coordinates FAO’s engagement in the United Nations Climate Change Conferences.

The purpose of this call is to provide FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) with a list of qualified candidates to enhance FAO’s programme of work on agrifood systems, climate change and technologies interlinkages. Contracts will be primarily in FAO HQ with travel for field missions where relevant. The aim of the work on Climate Action and Technologies is to support countries with the delivery and implementation of NDCs/NAPS and other relevant climate change commitments for the area of agrifood systems. This specific activity works on identifying climate change technology options throughout agrifood systems and at each stage of the agrifood value chain, including the potential and the constraints. The technology support is to provide benefit for adaptation, mitigation, improved resilience of the agrifood system and food security and livelihoods overall. The work will range from knowledge and guidance support to field level implementation in support of climate action, with the final scope of guiding climate investment and policy in the agrifood systems and climate change technology policy interface.

Reporting Lines

The consultants will work under the overall technical supervision of the Climate Change Team Leader and the direct supervision of a relevant Officer of the team, as appropriate. When activities are carried out in countries, the consultant will be required to work in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment, as well as the relevant FAO regional office.

Technical Focus

Supporting the implementation, further knowledge development, and training and dissemination activities of FAO’s portfolio in relation to the activities of the team through the provision of expertise in relevant aspects of the work.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultants will support Climate Change team to deliver on FAO’s climate change programme including country level activities, knowledge sharing and generation, capacity building and further development of areas under the climate change programme. The specific tasks for this VA will include:

• Preparation of knowledge products, including guidance documents, country casestudies, information and dissemination material, review of relevant literature, review of relevant climate technology and agrifood systems (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries) for all stages of the agrifood value chain; • Assessment of technology options for each stage of the agrifood value chain, covering all domains and dimensions of the agrifood value chains (production to consumption; crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry); • Writing of concept notes, project proposals and other relevant documents that contribute to development of the technologies component of the programme of work; • Training materials and programmes, contribution to dissemination and information materials; • Liaison with relevant FAO units (or other organizations-consultants only) relevant to their assignment to obtain guidance and advice on specific elements; • Participation in country missions related to the programme of work; • Technical support for the organization of meetings and workshops; • Any other duties related to the programme of work as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in engineering and agriculture or a closely related field; • One to four years of relevant experience (cat C) (agrifood systems and technology links), and at least five years’ relevant experience (cat B) (agrifood systems and technology links); • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish, and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese or Russian if required by the assignment (For consultant). Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish for PSA

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

• Work experience in relation to technology applications to agrifood systems and along all phases of the agrifood value chains (Crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry); • Extent and relevance of experience in climate change, agrifood systems, agrifood system analysis, technology applications to agriculture and agrifood systems; • Extent and relevance of experience in technology and agrifood systems (technical analysis, analysis of financial, economic, social and environmental costs and benefits, implementation, monitoring and evaluation); • Strong writing and presentations skills and capability to present complicated elements of analysis to a layman audience, and • Familiarity (base level consultant) or in depth knowledge (middle level consultant) with the relevant tools of FAO’s programme of work.