REU-GEF Support Specialist

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund, established in 1992 supports projects to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. FAO became a full-fledged member of the GEF in 2006. Over the past 12 years, the FAO-GEF partnership has helped deliver more than 180 projects in over 120 countries. These projects have benefitted more than 4.6 million women and men, created over 350 000 jobs in rural communities, safeguarded biodiversity in 189 vulnerable marine ecosystems and saved close to a thousand crop varieties and animal species and breeds from extinction. Importantly, in 90 of these projects, indigenous peoples and local communities have been actively involved in project design and implementation. 
The joint work of FAO and the GEF on these areas is today widely recognized in addressing the critical nexus between environment and agriculture and has been instrumental in supporting countries in their efforts to achieve national development objectives and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The FAO-GEF partnership has contributed to national efforts in responding to the dual challenge of ensuring that everyone has access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food, and is capable of coping with the impacts of a changing climate. 

In recognition of these achievements, the countries of the Europe and Central Asia region are increasingly requesting assistance from the FAO regional office to support them in defining and developing project proposals. Accordingly, the Regional Office is seeking to strengthen its capacity to provide support to expanding the GEF portfolio of projects in its member countries, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.  

Reporting Lines:

The REU-GEF support specialist will work under the overall supervision of the ADG/Regional Representative for the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, and under the direct supervision and technical guidance of the GEF focal point in REU and HQ and in close collaboration with technical officers at the regional, sub-regional and country offices. 

Tasks and responsibilities:

The REU-GEF support specialist will undertake the following tasks:
•    Collaborates with Finance and Project Implementation Support (FPIS) and Monitoring & Reporting (M&R) teams to maintain regional GEF portfolio information, ensure the timely implementation of project milestones across the regional portfolio, facilitate follow up on at risk projects, identify and mitigate implementation challenges, and provide targeted support to Country Offices in the implementation, operation and monitoring of GEFs projects
•    Serves as FAO-GEF FLO for selected projects, in balance with Regional Lead responsibilities. 
•    Leads the formulation and implementation of complex GEF programmes and projects within a regional portfolio, ensuring operational viability and due compliance with the Organization's policy standards and best practices, as well as convergence with GEF policies and priorities. 
•    Collaborates with GEF Unit colleagues to ensure projects within a regional portfolio are prepared effectively and efficiently within the 12-month project preparation phase from concept approval to project document submission and are managed efficiently to achieve key milestones throughout the entire project cycle in a timely manner, including start up, first disbursement and closure.  
•    Provides critical technical inputs to robust regional portfolio management and the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information and FAO project information systems. 
•    Provides high quality products, inputs and support to meet the standards of the Project Implementation Reviews, Mid-term Reviews and Terminal Evaluations. 
•    Advises on project options and technical solutions in close coordination with technical divisions in HQ
•    Provides critical technical inputs during the preparation of the projects’ log frame
•    Supports the project designers during the PIF and PRODOC preparation   
•    Assures the alignment of the project with GEF policies 
•    Supports national data collection for PIF and PRODOC 
•    Technically revise PIFs and PRODOCs before submission
•    Supports the preparation of GEF SEC comments and resubmission
•    Support the development of project concept notes to promote the dialogue with countries 
•    Develop Project Identification Forms (PIF) following GEF guidance and policies
•    Guide team members on PIF development and GEF policies 
•    Help develop the theory of change for projects
•    Identify the expected global environmental benefits that will be provided by the project and prepare the corresponding Core Indicators Worksheet;
•    Address GEF Scientific Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) and GEF Council comments 
•    Prepare the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) implementation plan
•    Coordinate the preparation of the project document (PRODOC)  including the refinement of the Theory of change and provide guidance to the members of the preparation team on the requirements of the GEF secretariat
•    Design how to collect baseline data and develop the project alternative scenario. 

•    For COF, Master’s or Bachelor’s degree(s) in economics, agriculture, natural resources, sustainable development, climate policy, rural development, or related fields.
•    A minimum of 5 years of work experience in climate change, biodiversity, land degradation preferably in the targeted countries, of which a minimum of 3 years of work experience in project design, preferably GEF projects 
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of Russian. For PSA, working knowledge of English is required.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Additional Selection Criteria

•    Ability to work on international teams and with remote supervision. 
•    Knowledge of GEF policies and guidelines
•    Computer skills (WordPerfect, PowerPoint, Excel, Skype)
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and basic knowledge of Russian and Turkish language will be considered an asset 

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/ 
• For more information, visit the FAO employment website
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

• 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
• 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 contact: [email protected]

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

 ..................................................

NAGUSOO BIIR ---  SOMALI JOBS

Telegram: https://t.me/somalijobsinc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/somali-jobs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somalijobs

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/somalijobs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/somalijobs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somalijobs/

Application: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tiriig.somalijobs

.................................................