Technical Specialist on Forest Knowledge Management

Organizational Setting

The FAO-EU FLEGT Programme is a global Programme funded by the European Commission (EC), the United Kingdom and the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (SIDA), implemented by FAO’s Forestry Department. The Programme’s current phase will operate from 2016-2021. Its overall objective is to tackle illegal logging, promote trade in legal timber products and ultimately contribute to sustainable forest management (SFM) and poverty reduction. A FLEGT Work Plan 2020-2021 has been endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for helping Cambodia to improve its forest law enforcement, governance and the trade of legal timber (FLEGT) through the completion of strategic activities that would benefit the country’s forestry sector. The Work Plan is based on the following pillars:

• Develop a Cambodian Timber Legality Definition.
• Review laws and regulations and take part in the ongoing process of amending regulations including the roles and duties of the Forestry Administration.
• Support relevant capacity development.
• Select model areas for effective piloting of the trading of timber originated from community forestry and family tree plantation.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Specialist on Training Material Development will report to the Head of Operations.

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Cambodia, the direct guidance of the Operations Coordinator, the technical guidance of the FLEGT Forestry Officer for Asia-Pacific, and under the direct technical supervision of the Legal Officer, Development Law Service (LEGN) for all legal technical matters, the incumbent will support and liaise with related government agencies and partners to implement technical and administrative aspects of the Programme in the country. The consultant will undertake the following specific tasks:

Tasks and responsibilities

• Propose text for the revision or creation of new laws, decrees, regulations, guidelines, model contracts and document formats to promote plantation establishment and timber harvesting and to facilitate the processing and trade of plantation timber. The proposed regulatory reform and legal framework development work will focus on (1) current governance mechanism to regulate tree plantations in Cambodia, (2) legal review of policies, laws and regulations (PLRs), including a legislative gaps and needs analysis, (3) develop strategy and actions to fill gaps in existing PLRs and enhance tree plantation governance mechanisms toward deregulation/or simplification of procedures related to plantation timber harvesting and trade, while meeting domestic and international requirements.
• Prepare the list of relevant laws, regulations, guidelines, and model contracts that need to be created or revised
• Develop national guidelines or procedures on the establishment and management of tree plantations in Cambodia, including procedures for harvesting in tree plantations
• Design the methodology for a field test to pilot the improved regulatory framework (national guideline or procedure on the establishment and management of tree plantations in Cambodia) for different elements of the plantation timber supply chain. Participate in the field test, and draft a report on its results.
• Develop technical training modules on the national guideline or procedure on the establishment and management of tree plantations that can be used in capacity building to raise awareness and increase understanding.
• Facilitate and/or participate in technical training support to tree plantation model sites on the parts of the revised legal framework.
• Facilitate and/or participate in stakeholder consultation workshop on ‘Piloting the national guideline or procedure on establishment and management of tree plantations’ to assess how the improved regulatory framework supports different elements of the plantation timber supply chain.
• Present updates on the tasks listed above at relevant meetings of the Sub-Working Group on FLEGT, Technical Working Group on Forest-Reform, and/or development partner coordination meetings, as requested by the direct supervisor; and
• Conduct all aforementioned tasks in close collaboration with the technical specialist on Forest Policy and governance.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in forestry, natural resource management, or a related field with a complementary degree in law or proven experience in regulatory reform being an advantage
• 5 years of relevant experience in the context of natural resource management, especially related to legal and policy frameworks
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• National of Cambodia or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Focus

• Ability to coordinate with a various range of actors from the private sector, civil society, governments