Forestry Officer

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The position is located in the Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Reporting Lines

The Forestry Officer reports to and works under the overall guidance of the FAO Subregional Coordinator, SFS and the direct technical supervision of the Senior Forestry Officer/Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM)Programme Coordinator, NFO.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide technical guidance and support to the Senior Forestry Officer/SWM Programme Coordinator for the implementation of the programme, and contribute to donor relations and resource mobilization, while ensuring technical linkage with other FAO teams and partner organizations, in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with regional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams; leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.

• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.

• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.

• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.

• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.

• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.

• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions

• Supervises the implementation of the SWM project’s yearly work plans in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Guyana, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Madagascar in close collaboration with the SWM project national coordinators from consortium partners and with the Senior Forestry Officer/SWM Programme Coordinator.

• Contributes to the preparation and implementation of Letters of Agreement (LoA) and contracts with the field partners and Operational Partnership Agreements (OPA) with the implementing partners.

• Assists the Senior Forestry Officer/SWM Programme Coordinator in the implementation of the Programme's Monitoring and Evaluation system at country level; in particular in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Operational Partnership Agreements (OPA) signed with programme consortium partners in targeted countries.

• Undertakes regular backstopping field missions to the SWM Programme intervention sites and provides technical advice to facilitate smooth implementation of field activities.

• Contributes to overseeing the management of funds and the eligibility of expenditures incurred under each project site.

• Supports national site review committees and task force meetings.

• Liaises with FAO technical officers and other FAO staff at FAO's headquarters and regional/subregional/country offices in Africa, as well as with the implementing partners to ensure the provision of appropriate technical support services in accordance with the SWM programme and projects documents.

• Ensures smooth collaboration and effective dialogue with relevant national, regional and inter-regional institutions/organizations to facilitate the implementation of SWM project in general and the support to policy and law reform processes in particular, this latter in close consultation with the Senior Forestry Officer/SWM Programme Coordinator of the legal and institutional work.

• Contributes to build and maintain institutional relationships at national and regional level in Southern Africa, in particular with Kavango Zambezi trans-frontier conservation area (KaZA TFCA) secretariat, in collaboration with the SFS Forestry Officer and the Subregional Coordinator.

• Represents the Programme where needed.

• Coordinates communication and outreach activities at regional and national level in close consultation with the site coordinators and the communication coordinator within the SWM Programme Management Unit (PMU).

• Under the supervision of the Subregional Coordinator, provides technical assistance to the SFS Forestry Officer for the development of new projects and resource mobilization efforts, with special emphasis on projects and topics meeting the SWM programme objectives.

• Supports resource mobilization for further development of the SWM Programme.

• Performs other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in forest resources management, wildlife management or a related field.

• Seven years of relevant experience in managing and implementing field projects and programmes.

• 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

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.

• Extent and relevance of experience in planning, managing and implementing projects and programmes in field positions in developing countries, especially in Africa.

• Extent and relevance of experience collaborating with relevant national, regional and inter-regional institutions/organizations, especially in Africa.

• Extent and relevance of experience working in multicultural settings and multi-disciplinary projects/programmes in the context of sustainable food and agriculture.

• Extent and relevance of experience disseminating project results, lessons learnt and best practices to different audiences.