FAO has been advocating and promoting an integrated and inclusive approach to forest and landscape restoration. FAO assists governments with the planning, implementation and monitoring of restoration projects while promoting sustainable development of nature-based or green and blue value chains.

FAO also provides support to empower local foresters and farmers and producer organizations to actively contribute towards the needed change under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), 34 countries made ambitious pledges to bring 130 million hectares under restoration. Germany is committed to continue its support to AFR100 to accelerate the transition from commitments towards implementation as more attention is needed to facilitate and support local communities and vulnerable groups to implement local action. FAO developed in collaboration with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and World Resources Institute (WRI) a global project ”Achieving AFR100 with forest and farm producers to provide direct financial and technical support to local communities, indigenous peoples, forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) and micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)” to scale up and mobilize finance to enable and accelerate locally driven restoration action and to create related new or improved value-added businesses and income opportunities, particularly at local community level with a strong focus on women and youth.

The project will support selected countries to implement their AFR100 commitments. It will build on existing AFR100 strategies and action plans and related platforms and use existing (FAO and other) structures and mechanisms to fast-track implementation.

The project will focus on 4 main components with a view to mobilize further funding for AFR100 implementation, including through designing blended financing mechanisms: (i) Strengthening policy, legal and financial enabling environment for local communities, FFPOs and vulnerable groups such as indigenous people, women and youth, to engage in FLR and related value-added creation; (ii) Accelerating restoration action on the ground by local actors (indigenous people, FFPOs, local communities); (iii) Enhancing restoration-based value-addition and business innovation and incubation and (iv) Strengthening monitoring, adaptive learning and knowledge sharing at both local/national and regional/global levels.

The position is located in the Forestry Division (NFO) with duty station in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Project Officer receives overall oversight and guidance from the budget holder (BH) and the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and reports to the Senior Forestry Officer/Operational Project Task Force Lead in the Forestry Division (NFO) at headquarters and for day-to-day management matters, to the Lead Technical Officer in RAF. He/she manages the project in close collaboration with the country teams, technical teams in the Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM) and the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) in NFO at headquarters, as well as AFR100 project implementing partners, in particular AUDA-NEPAD AFR100 Secretariat.

Technical Focus

Implementation of the AFR100 project (GCP/GLO/1208/GER(BMZ).

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of programmes, projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Provides technical leadership assistance on the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects; assists in the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties.
• Coordinates of programmes and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice on the development of policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.

Specific Functions

• Manages operations in coordination with national project staff for implementation at the country level and facilitates the provision of the required technical, managerial, administrative and quality assurance support from both NFO teams (FLRM and FFF) at headquarters and AFR100 Secretariat seconded experts.
• Leads regional and country support for planning, coordination and facilitation of implementation of the AFR100 project in close collaboration with technical experts from NFO teams (FLRM, FFF, Blended Finance) at headquarters and provides technical guidance and drives evidence-based and impactful innovations across the four components to the national project teams and their local partners.
• Promotes innovative approaches with the support of NFO teams at headquarters and other consortium partners to achieve impact and visibility for the AFR100 project at national, regional and global levels, including effective monitoring, learning, knowledge management and outreach actions.
• Ensures effective liaison and maintains good communication with regional and global partners such as AFR100 Secretariat, NEPAD, GIZ, WRI and other stakeholders and liaises particularly with AFR100 partner organizations to ensure consistent implementation and collaborations with other AFR100 initiatives.
• Organizes regional workshops and other inter-country knowledge sharing actions under the guidance of the Project Steering Committee (PSC), Project Advisory Committee (PAC) and technical teams within NFO, including regional events for sharing knowledge and experiences in key thematic areas in accordance with approved work plans.
• Prepares and monitors annual work plans and budget for the overall project, with support of NFO teams at headquarters, based on proposed national work plans and budgets in line with global project document and with FAO rules and procedures.
• Maintains records, with support of the Administrative Assistant in RAF, on technical and financial aspects of project operation, including monitoring of project activities and their outcomes, as well as minutes, decisions and recommendations of meetings and workshops for support and guidance of PSC members and NFO teams at headquarters.
• Prepares timely and quality updates, six-months project progress reports and annual reports for submission to NFO teams at headquarters and donors (in accordance with reporting procedures).
• Facilitates the recruitment and supervision of experts/service providers as required to undertake tasks of a regional nature in accordance with annual workplans (regional and national) to support the delivery of project outcomes.
• Synthesizes successful results and prepares and contributes to disseminate reports and guidance on best practices, approaches and incentive mechanisms for their wider replication and use.
• Performs any other related tasks as required to ensure effective support to the project from RAF.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in political sciences, business administration, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable, or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in project or programme management, administration or related area, technical cooperation’s related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies 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
• Team Work
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French is an asset.
• Evidence of project management and coordination experience involving different sectors and stakeholders at different geographical levels (local/national as well as regional/global levels).
• Relevant experience in restoration and landscape approaches for sustainable development.
• Evidence of relevant experience in working with producer organizations in rural area.
• Extent and experience in promoting inclusive sustainable value chain development, including the mobilization of finance and investments for nature-based businesses.
• Extent and experience working on gender and youth, local communities and indigenous people.
• Demonstrated evidence of skills in promoting innovative approaches, including in organizing knowledge sharing and outreach interventions.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional contacts with government officials and international organizations.