REDD+ specialist

Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with Member Nations, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The position is located in the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD ) Team, which supports developing countries in their efforts to mitigate climate change through the implementation of REDD activities while contributing to national sustainable development and agrifood systems transformation.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the NFO Deputy Director and the supervision of the REDD Team Leader, in close coordination with NFM Team Leader, REDD /NFM decentralized team, FAO Indonesia country office and in collaboration with other FAO colleagues as needed. The consultant will work in close coordination and continuous dialogue with the Government of Indonesia (technical staff of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, MoEF and other relevant actors and agencies as appropriated) and in close collaboration with UNEP and UNDP UN-REDD counterparts and related Indonesia Country focal points.

Technical Focus

The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed that countries should collectively aim to slow, halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD ) offer incentives to developing countries to reduce emissions from forestlands, restore forests and invest in low-carbon pathways to sustainable development. A number of countries have reached advanced stages in their REDD readiness efforts (phase I). An increasing number of countries, including Indonesia, are moving into REDD phase II (implementation), achieving concrete results in emission reductions and accessing result-based payments (phase III).

FAO delivers its support on REDD through the UN-REDD Programme (a joint initiative of FAO, UNDP, UNEP) and collaboration with various other initiatives and donors, for example the Green Climate Fund; World Bank; and bilateral donors. It works to strengthen collaboration with other initiatives, ensuring positive social and environmental impacts, and to promote climate finance and public-private partnerships to scale up investments for REDD implementation. Through capacity strengthening efforts and deployment of technical expertise, the activities under the UN-REDD work plan for Indonesia aim to support the country to use REDD work as a catalyst to deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) towards climate change mitigation and adaptation in line with UNFCCC commitments.

Through UN-REDD initiatives and other FAO technical work, identified/ongoing REDD technical assistance and exchange in / in support of Indonesia encompass aspects of: - forest monitoring, land cover change and satellite monitoring system, including for mangroves restoration/rehabilitation and bringing in cutting edge tools and methodologies to help identify and prioritise areas for forest restoration planning based on the new SE.PLAN - technical exchanges on REDD /climate finance options, - REDD , NDCs and social forestry, and - Technical improvements to Indonesia's NDC on emission factors and activity data for fires, peatlands and mangroves and develop faster and more accurate methods and systems for monitoring, reporting and ensuring national and jurisdictional results-based payments

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead in-country work on the identification, coordination, implementation of and reporting on FAO tasks and responsibility to support the government of Indonesia and relevant stakeholders in the planning and implementation of UN-REDD Technical Assistance (TA) and other REDD initiatives in Indonesia; • Support [and take the lead on if requested] the organization and delivery of technical and planning sessions with the Government of Indonesia and other stakeholders as appropriate supporting progress of the UN-REDD TA 2023 and 2024 TA, including facilitating in-person and remote technical backstopping and duty travel from other REDD / FAO experts as needed; • Support the coordination and day to day supervision of FAO REDD /NFM decentralized/national specialists; • Participate in UN-REDD in-country team meetings and coordination efforts, bringing in the perspectives from FAO; participate to FAO REDD /NFM coordination meeting (with Headquarter and the regional team), report on progress, challenges (including potential way to overcome those), and ways forward; • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in forestry, natural resource management, or a related field; • Five years of relevant experience in forest and/or land management and on REDD including: knowledge on REDD MRV, forest monitoring, social forestry and sustainable forest management; • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

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, including in field positions. Knowledge, competence and track records of climate/REDD experience in Indonesia would be an asset; • Relevance and extent of experience in bringing technical assistance to REDD , halting deforestation and decoupling agriculture from deforestation would be considered an asset. Understanding of climate and results-based finance would be desirable; • Relevance and extent of experience in working multi-partners projects and multi-disciplinary teams is desirable; • Ability to mobilize resources • Work experience in organizing high-level events, technical workshops and seminars; • Excellent communication skills in English, both orally and in writing.