PROJECT DESIGN SPECIALIST (ADAPTATION FUND)

Organizational Setting

The Land and Water Division (NSL) aims at enhancing the agricultural productivity and advancing the sustainable use of land and water resources through their improved tenure, management, development and conservation. It addresses the challenges member countries face in ensuring productive and efficient use of land and water resources in order to meet present and future demands for agricultural products, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the land and water quantity and quality. It promotes equitable access to these natural resources with a view to enhancing productivity, livelihoods and ecosystem services. It provides assistance to member nations in developing policies, programmes, best practices and tools in the fields of irrigation and drainage, soil conservation, drought mitigation, water rights, access to natural resources, and improvement of land markets.

The Adaptation Fund (AF) was established under the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC, and since 2010 has committed US$ 720 million to climate adaptation and resilience activities, including supporting 100 concrete adaptation projects. FAO has been accredited with the AF in 2020 and intends to proactively play a key role mobilizing resources. Within the above context, FAO is seeking the support of a Consultant for the preparation of the AF proposals for review by the Secretariat and approval by the Board.

The purpose of this call is to provide FAO’s NSL Division and the Adaptation Fund Unit established within it, with a list of qualified candidates for a specific profile to:

• support the division’s work in climate finance and strengthen its partnership efforts with international financing institutions
• enhance the Division’s capacities in accessing and promoting investments in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management
• assist and advice FAO country and regional offices in the employment of climate finance opportunities to enforce national climate change strategies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• contribute to the planning and development of quality proposals, in line with FAO’s programming on climate change adaptation/mitigation

Reporting Lines

The Consultant reports to the coordinator of the Adaptation Fund Unit, Land and Water Division (NSL).

Technical Focus

Supporting the formulation, drafting, development, and submission of the projects’ portfolio of the FAO Adaptation Fund Unit through the provision of relevant expertise.

Tasks and responsibilities

· Evaluate potential areas of interventions for the development of FAO-Adaptation Fund projects, in line with the Organization’s global and regional programmes and initiatives and taking into account budget availability for country project proposals;

• Undertake specific technical assessments and analyses, in the formulation of concrete FAO adaptation projects and programmes, including gender analysis, environmental impact, vulnerability, risk and other environmental and social assessments, as per AF relevant policies;
• Ensure adequate analysis of existing documents, technical studies and any other documentation needed for the definition of relevant components, paying particular attention to the cross-sectoral, sustainable and innovative characteristics as well as to the feasibility for deployment of adaptation technologies and market studies;
• Support the formulation of FAO-Adaptation Fund project/programme proposals, at pre-concept, concept and full-proposal stage, according to the indications given by the FAO-Adaptation Fund Unit;
• Facilitate the deployment of consultation processes with national and regional stakeholders, in line with Adaptation Fund policies;
• In support of countries’ accreditation and re-accreditation process to the Adaptation Fund, oversee and review supporting documentation, in compliance with the Adaptation Fund policy and operational requirements, to ensure compliance with Adaptation Fund’s fiduciary and safeguards standards;

· Review countries’ proposals (at concept level) and support them in addressing comments and requests for information demanded by the Adaptation Fund, with reference to the Adaptation Fund standards.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Economics, development studies, environmental/agricultural sciences, political science, social science, international relations, business administration or a related appropriate field
• 3 years of relevant experience in climate finance and project/programme planning and monitoring, including practical experience in project formulation, appraisal, implementation, monitoring, communication and/or in financial and budget planning
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian

FAO Core 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
• Extent and relevance of experience in project/programme formulation
• Extent and relevance of experience in results monitoring and reporting
• Familiarity with climate finance mechanisms