Senior Programme Officer (Forestry)

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) leads FAO's support to countries in the region in transforming their agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It identifies regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development and ensures the planning and implementation of FAO's strategic response in the region through a multidisciplinary approach. It implements approved programmes and projects, monitors programme implementation, and ensures that they contribute to addressing regional priorities. RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the FAO Strategic Framework and Programme of Work and Budget. RNE supports regional policy dialogues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports knowledge exchange, capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region. It develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The post is located in the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) in Cairo, Egypt.

Reporting Lines The Senior Programme Officer (Forestry) reports to the Regional Programme Leader (RLP) under the overall guidance of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa. He/she will work in consultation with technical officers in relevant units at headquarters, including the Forestry Division (NFO), the Office of Climate Change and Biodiversity (OCB) and the Land and Water Division (NSL), in coordination with technical officers at RNE Regional and Subregional Offices.

Technical Focus The Senior Programme Officer (Forestry) provides technical leadership and supervision for RNE's regional forestry and rangelands work. He/she leads the programme of work of RNE’s Regional Priority on Greening Agriculture (RP-GA) and is responsible for planning, monitoring of, and reporting on RNE's work programme related to RP-GA, including water, climate, sustainable land management and governance, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity. The Senior Programme Officer (Forestry) supports country-level actions guided by FAO's Country Programming Framework (CPF) as well as strengthening partnership and knowledge networks within and outside the Organization.

Key Results Provides leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes of work, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and in alignment with the Organization's Gender Policy.

Key Functions • Plans, manages or leads highly-specialized or multidisciplinary teams of assigned programmes/projects. • Leads the preparation and/or review of the CPF and its operationalization and work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies. • Coordinates programme/project formulation activities. • Leads resource mobilization activities; establishes partnerships to explore funding opportunities, leads negotiations of funding agreements and project relationships with key stakeholders throughout the project cycle, including to support implementation, facilitates monitoring and compliance issues and ensures submission of reports. • Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. • Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within the country such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning, on-line tools. • Monitors programme/project activities in the country.

Specific Functions • Provides technical expertise on strategies and approaches as well as guidance on technologies and innovations for developing and implementing solutions on sustainable forest and rangelands management, in particular on protection, restoration and sustainable use of forests, trees, pastoral and biological resources with a view to building resilient ecosystems and livelihoods, ending poverty and ensuring food security and nutrition in the context of a changing climate. •Provides leadership, vision and strategic thinking and leads the multidisciplinary team in charge of the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting for RNE programme of work under the Regional Priority on Greening Agriculture (RP-GA) with focus on the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources, including forestry, rangelands, biodiversity, climate change, desertification, and land and water management. • Works with the coordinators of other regional priorities as well as technical units at headquarters, programme priority areas and other relevant FAO units to coordinate the delivery of activities related to the RP-GA. • Provides technical support and policy advice to Member countries in the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework and regional priorities, guided by the CPF and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and to transform FAO knowledge products into country-level results and impacts. • Provides technical support to FAO Country Offices for resources mobilization and the formulation and implementation of programmes and projects, including those funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other relevant resource partners. • Represents FAO RNE on matters related to forestry, rangelands, agroforestry/agrosilvopastoral systems, ecosystem restoration and on areas related to the promotion of greening agriculture principles and approaches, while strengthening engagement with governments and regional organizations in the aforementioned areas. • Plans, organizes and leads secretariat services for the sessions of the FAO Statutory Body 'The Near East Forestry and Range Commission’ (NEFRC), organizes its intersessional programme of work, coordinates the implementation of its recommendations and follow-up activities and provides support to its technical networks. • Promotes the Near East Forestry Week involving a wide range of forestry and rangelands stakeholders to achieve a broader dialogue on forestry and rangelands issues in the region. • Acts as regional focal point for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, promoting its work in the region, and representing RNE in the FAO designated team for the UN Interagency Coalition on Sand and Dust Storm. • Performs other related duties as required. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in an area related to the activities of the Organization, i.e. agriculture, forestry, fishery, economics, social science, business administration, political science or closely related field. • Ten years of relevant experience in project or programme management, including planning both at national and international levels. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies • Results Focus • Leading, Engaging and Empowering • Communication • Partnering and Advocating • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement • Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Extent and relevance of knowledge and understanding of regional and global forestry, rangeland, natural resources, desertification, land degradation, and climate change-related issues. • Extent and relevance of experience in sustainable forestry, agroforestry or agrosilvopastoral production systems, rangeland management, climate action, land and water management, biodiversity conservation, and related community development. • Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with an ability to manage programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities. • Ability to mobilize resources. • Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in planning and implementation of programmes and projects. • Extent and relevance of experience in organizing meetings, seminars and training courses. • Working knowledge of French and/or Arabic is considered an asset. • Familiarity with UN system-wide policies and processes applying to decentralized locations is desirable.