International GEF Programme Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The FAO sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) in Samoa supports member countries in meeting their national priorities in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, agri-food systems, nutrition and rural development. FAO’s member countries in the Pacific include the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

FAO is a lead implementing and partner agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - a global financial mechanism supporting countries’ national commitments to key multilateral environment agreements. FAO supports eligible countries to access resources managed by the GEF Secretariat, including the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Development Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) with project identification, development and implementation under GEF priority focal areas, including biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), land degradation, chemicals and waste, international waters and sustainable forest management.

FAO brings to the partnership extensive technical expertise in sustainable agriculture, including forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, agri-food systems, ecosystem restoration, as well as operational knowledge supporting GEF project formulation and resource mobilization. FAO draws upon its strong field presence and in-depth understanding of GEF policies and procedures to assist member countries with more than 230 projects balanced across regions and focal areas, benefitting over 4.6 million women and men. The synergies between GEF and FAO priorities and the importance of FAO’s thought leadership and contribution in the above areas to its member countries have resulted in the rapid growth of this partnership.

Current SAP’s GEF portfolio is comprised of 17 projects in 7 countries worth more than USD 35 million in grant financing. SAP is off to a solid start in supporting countries in the sub-region to access GEF-8 financing. In the FAO project cycle, SAP serves as the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) for projects in the sub-region and also as Budget Holder (BH) for all projects implemented in the Pacific. This expert consultancy will collaborate with both of these roles in the sub-region as part of the person’s support for the GEF portfolio.

Under this assignment, the consultant will work closely with the SAP and RAP Lead Technical Officers (LTO), OCB GEF Coordination Unit, RAP-GEF Regional Lead Coordinator and country offices and partners in the Pacific. The consultant will also work closely with SAP and RAP lead Programme Officer as part of her/his work.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands (SRC), the International GEF programme Specialist will directly report to the Modular Lead for Better Environment, with close collaboration with GEF-Funding Liaison Officers (FLO) and relevant HQ and RAP teams and colleagues.

Technical Focus

The consultant will provide support in development of EOI / Concepts notes / PIF and full proposal for GEF project development and ensure submission to GEF secretariat. He/she will ensure timely submission of PPR and PIR mid-term and terminal reviews of projects; holds regular meetings with national GEF Operational Focal Points and relevant sector agency officials convened; contribute to other bilateral / multi-lateral/trust fund project development initiatives.

Tasks and responsibilities

GEF pipeline development

• Provide technical leadership for SAP-GEF production of concepts/EOIs/PIFs/Project Proposals meeting country needs and requests in the Pacific region. • Regularly coordinate with and build working relationships with relevant country ministries and national GEF Operational Focal Points to identify and support opportunities for FAO to serve Pacific member countries as lead GEF agency in formulating and implementing GEF projects consistent with FAO-GEF mandates. • Establish partnerships with other GEF agencies securing opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration and potential joint-programming befitting the interests of FAO and the needs of Pacific member countries; • Assist governments and FAO-SAP Offices in the identification and formulation of natural resource and environmental management projects for financing by the GEF Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), Adaptation Funds (AF) or other environmental and climate funds. • Provide technical expertise, advice and project design guidance to project identification, development and implementation of natural resource/environmental project proposals that address country priorities and further FAO and GEF (or other environmental funds) strategic objectives, programme priorities areas and operational policies and procedures. • Ensure quality control of the GEF project concepts and full project proposals in line with GEF eligibility criteria and alignment with GEF Programming Directions; Ensure all documentation gives due consideration to GEF SEC, STAP and GEF Council Comments, including providing responses and commentary as necessary providing responses and commentary as necessary; • Lead the design and delivery of capacity development activities to FAO-SAP technical staff on the strategies, priorities and procedures, trends and issues related to GEF, LDCF, SCCF, AF and other environmental funds. • Contribute to strategic and programmatic directions in the next four-year phase of the GEF (GEF-8). • Review and clear the reports prepared by the PPG team members, and ensure that required data are collected and analysed for the final Project Document and supporting materials. • Represent the project design team in meetings and presentations, as required.

GEF portfolio management

• Manage the FAO GEF project portfolio in the Pacific, ensuring an eligible project pipeline and each project receives the necessary support throughout the project cycle.. • Ensure FAO SAP GEF implementation support to projects and ensure timely submission of PPR and PIR mid-term and terminal reviews of projects. • Collaborate with FAO country office staff to ensure adequate and effective country office support (identification and formulation and follow up of GEF projects); • Assist the FAO Lead Technical Officer to determine whether FAO’s environmental safeguards standards are triggered and, if so, assist the FAO Technical Officers in design of mitigation plans; • Support FAO country office to identify potential co-financiers and secure co-financing commitments; • Conduct missions and prepare mission reports in collaboration with the national experts; • Ensure all documentation gives due consideration to GEF SEC, STAP and GEF Council Comments, including providing responses and commentary as necessary providing responses and commentary as necessary; • In close cooperation with the Operational Partner and GEF programme partners, ensure adequate M&E and Knowledge Management with strong stakeholder involvement from Government, local communities, CSOs, academia, private sector, women, indigenous communities and other relevant stakeholders.

Alignment of GEF programme with other environment and climate change related programmes/projects

• Support synergies of GEF programme/projects with other environmental and climate finance such as the Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, etc. including potential co-finance opportunities • Ensure alignment with the GEF Focal Areas’ requirements;

Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in natural resources management, environment, or natural resource economics, or in a field directly related to one or more of the following areas: biodiversity, climate change, energy, sustainable land, forest or water management. • For Consultants/PSA level B: at least five years of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other languages of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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