Climate Change Specialist

FAO; Kansas; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) invites a Climate Change Specialist to provide technical, analytical, coordination and advisory support to advance FAO’s work on climate change mitigation and adaptation, with emphasis on climate-smart agri-food systems and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator and will coordinate closely with national implementing partners, government

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and analytical expertise on climate change mitigation and adaptation, including the AFOLU sector, agri-food systems, forestry, watershed management and related areas in support of FAO programs and projects.
• Support climate policy and planning processes, including analysis, tracking and review of NDCs, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), sectoral strategies, legislation and policy frameworks, and identification of opportunities for improved alignment and implementation.
• Support AFOLU sector climate assessments, mitigation and adaptation opportunities, sectoral priorities, investment needs toward resilient and low-emission agri-food and land-use systems.
• Assist the countries in applying climate-smart practices by Agribusinesses to strengthen the private sector contribution to the NDCs.
• Contribute to the analysis of the national and regional policy framework related to the NDC preparation and execution.
• Assist the countries in supporting/complementing institutional processes related to the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to identify investment opportunities for decarbonization, climate resilience.

Job description

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works with countries and partners to promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems and the sustainable management of agriculture, forests, land, water and other natural resources. Through its Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC), FAO provides technical and policy support to countries across the subregion, including through capacity development, policy advice, knowledge exchange and the design and implementation of programs addressing climate change, environmental sustainability and rural development.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works with countries and partners to promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems and the sustainable management of agriculture, forests, land, water and other natural resources. Through its Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC), FAO provides technical and policy support to countries across the subregion, including through capacity development, policy advice, knowledge exchange and the design and implementation of programs addressing climate change, environmental sustainability and rural development.

In this context, FAO supports countries in strengthening climate change mitigation and adaptation, advancing climate-smart agri-food systems, implementing national climate commitments, and enhancing the contribution of the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sectors to climate objectives. The work encompasses climate policy and investment planning, GHG inventories and MRV systems, sustainable forest and watershed management, nature-based solutions, ecosystem resilience, sustainable land management, and access to climate finance, while promoting synergies among climate change, biodiversity and land degradation priorities.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Sub regional Coordinator, technical supervision of the Forestry Officer and under the operational guidance of the respective teams.

The consultant will coordinate closely with the national implementing partners, respective government representatives, as well as with other relevant national and international stakeholders. All deliverables and mission reports will be submitted to the LTO for review and approval.

Technical Focus

The Climate Change Specialist provides technical, analytical, coordination, and advisory support to advance FAO’s work on climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, with particular emphasis on climate-smart agri-food systems, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement (PA) Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). The Specialist supports the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures into national policies, strategies and investment planning, including NDC implementation, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system development, adaptation planning, low-emission development and sustainable land and watershed management. The Specialist also contributes to strengthening national and regional capacities in climate-resilient agriculture, forestry, livestock, land use and watershed management through technical analysis, knowledge generation, stakeholder engagement, capacity development and the dissemination of good practices. The Specialist also supports climate finance project development, including the preparation of concept notes, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and technical inputs to funding proposals for climate change adaptation and mitigation in forestry, watershed management and the AFOLU sector.

Tasks And Responsibilities

• Provide technical and analytical expertise on climate change mitigation and adaptation, including the AFOLU sector, agri-food systems, forestry, watershed management and related areas in support of FAO programs and projects.
• Support climate policy and planning processes, including analysis, tracking and review of NDCs, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), sectoral strategies, legislation and policy frameworks, and identification of opportunities for improved alignment and implementation.
• Support AFOLU sector climate assessments, mitigation and adaptation opportunities, sectoral priorities, investment needs toward resilient and low-emission agri-food and land-use systems.
• Support the analyses on the ground of the application of climate-smart practices of Agribusinesses to strengthen the contribution of the private sector to the NDCs;
• Contribute to the analysis of the national and regional policy framework related to the NDC preparation and execution
• Assist the countries in supporting/complementing institutional processes related to the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to identify investment opportunities for decarbonization, climate resilience,