Forestry Officer

Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to More efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life, leaving no one behind. The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) was established in 1996 in Samoa to coordinate the work of FAO in the Pacific region. The member countries are the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Tokelau is an Associate Member. SAP is a technical hub which supports 13 Members and one associate member in the Pacific. It is responsible for developing, overseeing and implementing programmes and projects to address food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development priorities.

The post is located in SAP in Apia, Samoa.

Reporting Lines The Forestry Officer reports to the Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands under the technical guidance of the Regional Leaders for Forestry and Biodiversity Modular, and Climate Change and Resilience Modular. The Forestry Officer maintains regular contact with the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome for technical guidance on forestry matters including sustainable forest management, community and social forestry, forest resources assessment and monitoring, forest and landscape restoration and Interlinkages between forestry and the food and agricultural sectors. S/he liaises with forestry officers in the region and headquarters to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of technical priorities in response to country demands in the Pacific.

Technical Focus Forestry's contribution to SDGs 13 and 15, as well as 1, 2, and 12. Sustainable forest policies, programmes, institutions and investments related to food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and rural development, and environmental well-being and resilience. Sustainable and community forest management and conservation, forest economics, products, ecosystem services and marketing, forest ecosystem and landscape restoration, forest health (fires, biodiversity, and pest and diseases), monitoring and assessment and role of forests in climate change. Policy dialogue, technical support and networking with regional, subregional and national forestry authorities, as well as with private sector, civil society organizations and scientific and academic partners.

Key Results Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of Regional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with Regional objectives and FAO Strategic Objectives.

Key Functions • Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams, and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies; • Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services; • Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise; • Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Country Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects; • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools; •Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings; • Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate strategy.

Specific Functions • Contributes to the regional and subregional vision, strategic planning, and programme development and implementation, based on country demands, ensuring and reporting on innovations and results; • Guided by the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 , UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF) and SAP Country Programming Frameworks, works with national, public, private and academic institutions to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of national forest policies, programmes, institutions and investments that contribute at a large scale to the SDGs' production, social, environmental and climate targets; • Contributes to and publishes “state of the art” analyses and knowledge products, manages knowledge to ensure that subregional policy and programme recommendations are forward looking, aligned to the priorities of the Committee on Forests (COFO) and the regional Forestry Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and other current global and regional forest related commitment and agreements, and are regularly updated with lessons learned and good practices from the field; • Mobilizes and maintains strategic alliances, cooperation, partnerships (including with the private sector), communities of practice and resources to catalyze policy and institutional change, digital innovation, and supports country access to and enhance the FAO portfolio of Green Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility, Climate Adaptation Fund, and other environmental, ecosystems, and forest related programmes; • Contributes to and serves as SAP focal point to regional and subregional forest related policy bodies and technical networks, such as the Forestry Commission for Asia and the Pacific, among others; • Represents FAO in diverse fora and in the media

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in forest resources management or a related field • Seven years of relevant experience in forest resources assessment, sustainable forest management and conservation, forest genetic resources conservation and management, forest ecosystem and landscape restoration, or forest related biodiversity • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)

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

Technical/Functional Skills • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable • Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of forest management in diverse forest types and ecosystems, and of global forest health situation, forest ecosystem and landscape restoration • Extent and relevance of experience in analyzing forestry and ecosystem services and related issues • Extent and relevance of experience in climate funding facilities/mechanisms • Extent and relevance of international experience, in particular in developing countries; and working experience in the Pacific is desirable • Ability to mobilize resources and partnership