Climate Change Specialist (Anticipatory Action)

Organizational Setting

FAO Sudan assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. The National Project Coordinator leads the daily operations, planning, implementation, and monitoring of climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management initiatives.

These projects aim to build climate resilience into the agricultural sector, as an effective means of reducing vulnerability and disseminating community-level adaptation and mitigation measures in different Sudanese States. The position works closely with FAO technical teams, implementing partners, government authorities and other

Reporting Lines

The Climate Change Specialist (Anticipatory Action) works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Sudan and receives direct supervision from the Team Leader - Climate Change Program at the FAO Country Office in Khartoum. The incumbent works closely with relevant technical, monitoring and evaluation staff, implementing partners, government counterparts and other stakeholders at federal, state and locality levels.

Technical Focus

The Climate Change Specialist (Anticipatory Action) will be responsible for designing, operationalizing, and strengthening climate risk management, multi-hazards early warning systems, and pre-disaster humanitarian action plans.

The specialist will provide context-sensitive technical expertise for designing, coordinating, and implementing localization frameworks for climate risk management, early warning dissemination, and pre-disaster humanitarian triggers across Sudan

Tasks and responsibilities

Contextual Trigger & Scenario Design: • Define localized, scientifically sound climate and weather thresholds (triggers) tailored to Sudan’s erratic climatic zones. • Adapt standard Anticipatory Action (AA) triggers to fit the complex reality of concurrent conflict and climate shocks.

Cross-Sectoral Data & Early Warning Integration: • Partner closely with the Sudan Meteorological Authority (SMA) and National Council for Civil Defense (NCCD) actors to maintain, analyze, and translate hydrometeorological data into operational multi-hazards early warning bulletins. • Support the integration of impact-based climate forecasting into the local humanitarian response mechanism.

Operationalizing Anticipatory Actions: • Design standard operating procedures (SOPs) for pre-disaster assistance, such as shock-responsive agriculture support, emergency livestock interventions, and water management protocols. • Coordinate with logistics mechanisms to ensure pre-positioned stocks can be deployed immediately upon trigger activation.

Localization & Stakeholder Coordination: • Convene and lead technical working groups connecting local authorities, national NGOs, community committees, and international actors. • Ensure AA frameworks are inclusive, conflict-sensitive, and locally led to match the decentralized needs of host communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Capacity Building: • Design and deliver training workshops for state and national disaster management offices/ staff on climate resilience and early action.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): • Track the impact of anticipatory pilots, document lessons learned and scale up effective approaches.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Climatology, Meteorology, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Geography, or a related field • At least seven years’ experience in the Sudan agriculture, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction or humanitarian/agricultural development sectors. • Working knowledge of English. • National of Sudan or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated hands-on experience in designing, implementing, or operationalizing early warning and anticipatory action frameworks (translating forecasts into pre-agreed humanitarian and development/ resilient actions) • Previous experience working with national/sub-national governments, UN agencies, or international NGOs, particularly in climate-vulnerable or fragile contexts • Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge on climate change adaptation, early warning systems, and anticipatory actions in Sudan • Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge on agriculture, natural resources management • Extent of experience in designing or implementing Early Action Protocols (EAPs), establishing impact-based forecasting systems, or defining climate trigger thresholds (e.g., Composite Drought Index, El Niño monitoring) • Extent of knowledge and experiences in working with various stakeholders in Sudan including UN, Government, International Development Organizations, Donors, NGOs, private sector, academics, and others • A track record of working directly with national disaster risk management authorities, ministries of agriculture, or hydrometeorological departments. • Experience integrating AA mechanisms into national laws and frameworks (like NAPs or NDCs) is highly valued. • Familiarity with risk mapping, climate-data visualization (using Python/R or GIS tools)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Apply now

Added 17 days ago - Updated 3 days ago - Source: fao.org