GEF Funding Liaison Specialist

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Roma; In loco; EUR 50.000 - 70.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

An international organization in Rome is seeking a GEF Funding Liaison Officer to manage portfolio monitoring and quality assurance for environmental projects. Candidates should hold an advanced degree in relevant fields and have 1-10 years of experience in portfolio management. Proficiency in English, French, or Spanish is required. The role offers a unique opportunity to work in the context of significant international environmental agreements and contribute to climate change initiatives.

Competenze

• Advanced university degree in economics, international relations, or related fields.
• 1-10 years of relevant experience in portfolio management or evaluation.
• Working knowledge of major UN principles and environmental agreements.

Mansioni

• Monitor and support projects to advance through key milestones.
• Prepare reports on project performance and efficiency.
• Provide support for capacity development exercises.

Conoscenze

Portfolio management

Monitoring and evaluation

Quality assurance

Data analysis

English, French or Spanish proficiency

Formazione

Advanced degree in relevant fields

Strumenti

Power BI

Descrizione del lavoro

Job Description

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2600049

Job Posting: 12/Jan/2026

Closure Date: 26/Jan/2026, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: OCB

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Up to 11 months

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO Commitment

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non- and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values.
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero‑tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) works to ensure that countries and stakeholders respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB provides a cross‑organizational coordination role on these issues and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Office also assists FAO Members in their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation including through facilitating access to climate and environmental financing such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as well as FAO’s work on environmental safeguards and leads the Programme Priority Areas on Climate Change (PPA BE1) and Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (PPA BE2).

FAO is one of the 18 Implementing Agencies of the Global Environment Facility. OCB hosts the FAO-Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coordination Unit which serves as a Funding Liaison Unit with the GEF, a global funding mechanism for five environmental conventions. FAO’s global GEF portfolio has grown rapidly and currently exceeds USD $2 billion, with more than 400 approved projects. The OCB‑GEF Coordination unit (GCU) serves as Funding Liaison Unit for FAO’s collaboration with the GEF and the GEF‑managed Funds.

Reporting Lines

The GEF funding liaison specialist will report to the Programme Officer in the OCB GEF Coordination Unit.

Technical Focus

Portfolio monitoring, portfolio management and quality assurance of submissions, speed of operations for timely delivery and impact, implementation support, compliance with GEF and FAO policy and operational requirements.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor and support projects in advancing through their key project cycle milestones and supporting liaison with the GEF in close coordination with the OCB GEF technical Officer (GTO) and Project Task Forces (PTF).
• Manage data from FAO corporate database FPMIS, OCB‑GEF Unit’s portfolio dashboard and prepare periodic reports covering key performance indicators and other key parameters of FAO’s project cycle efficiency.
• Prepare analytic reports and flag projects at risk of weak performance, working closely with PTFs, Decentralized Offices and HQ Units in charge of the corporate monitoring function to follow up on actions needed.
• Liaise with the GEF Unit Monitoring & reporting team to provide inputs to the organization and scheduling of MTRs, TE, and the project closure process and reporting.

Quality Assurance, Implementation Support and Capacity Development

• As the GEF Funding Liaison Officer, take part in the Project Task Force for each assigned FAO‑GEF project.
• Provide quality assurance to the monitoring and evaluation milestones of the assigned portfolio.
• Monitor project delivery, review budgets, and provide input and support to Budget Holders (BH) and PTF for budget revisions, and for management actions aimed at increasing speed of operations and project delivery.
• Provide inputs and guidance to ensure budgets are designed in accordance with FAO and GEF policy requirements and facilitate Budget Holders’ preparation of annual project work plans and project fee work plans.
• Advise Project Formulators and Project Task Forces in the design of project execution arrangements and in the elaboration of adaptive measures to support projects’ timely delivery and impact.
• Prepare and participate in missions for country support and contribute to capacity development exercises for country office and project teams in close coordination with Decentralized Offices and PSS.
• Support capacity building and knowledge sharing of project achievements and lessons learned at different stages of the project cycle: Project Implementation Report (PIR), Midterm Review (MTR), Terminal Evaluation (TE) and other activities as needed.
• Provide inputs for FAO’s reporting to the GEF Secretariat and GEF Council.
• Support and provide inputs into corporate policy streamlining exercises.
• Support drafting of execution arrangements and Operational Partnership Agreements as required by and on behalf of Projects Formulators on Projects preparation Grants.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following

• Advance university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU/UNESCO) in economics, development studies, political science, international relations, business administration and finance, statistics, or other fields relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor’s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• One to four years (for CAT C) and at least five years (for CAT B) and at least 10 years (for CAT A) of relevant experience in portfolio management, portfolio monitoring, implementation support, quality assurance, field operational support and monitoring and evaluation, preferably in a field duty station.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English, French or Spanish.

FAO Core Competencies

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in project and portfolio monitoring and implementation support.
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of UN and international resource partners’ policies, procedures, project cycle and results‑based monitoring and reporting.
• Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating compliance procedures.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is a strong asset.
• Applied knowledge of FAO’s operational requirements from an FAO Country Office or from a Budget Holder supporting function in HQ or Decentralized Office is an asset.
• Extent and relevance of experience in preparing and providing clear and concise guidance to colleagues and project partners.
• Demonstrated experience with portfolio data management, analysis and dissemination to support decision making.
• Demonstrated capacity to organize work under pressure, prioritize, and manage conflicting deadlines and priorities.
• Working knowledge of Power BI or other similar analytical tools for data analysis, portfolio monitoring, and reporting.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

Additional Information

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing).
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list.
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

How to Apply

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills.
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
• Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application.
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ . These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre‑screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application.
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered.
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile.
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one‑time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp