Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with Member Nations, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

FAO collaborates with countries and the global agenda on REDD+ through the UN-REDD Programme (a joint initiative of FAO, UNDP, UNEP) as well as through other initiatives and projects with multilateral and bilateral donors. It works to strengthen capacities, ensuring positive social and environmental impacts, and promoting climate finance and public-private partnerships to scale up investments for REDD+ implementation. Through capacity strengthening efforts and deployment of technical expertise, the activities under the UN-REDD work plan for Indonesia aim to support the country to use REDD+ work as a catalyst to deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) towards climate change mitigation and adaptation in line with UNFCCC commitments.

The Halting Deforestation, Degradation and Emissions Team (HDDE) supports countries to strengthen and align actions and policies, incentives and investments to halt deforestation, degradation and emissions while contributing to ensure sustainable agrifood systems and meeting international commitments on REDD+ and other forests and climate-related frameworks.

The position is located in the Halting Deforestation, Degradation and Emissions Team (HDDE), in the FAO Representation in Indonesia, Jakarta.

Reporting Lines

The National Professional Officer (National Forestry Programme) works under the overall guidance and supervision of the FAO Representative in Indonesia, and technical guidance of the Forestry Officer outposted in RAP Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in close collaboration with relevant officers at FAO Forestry Division and FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Technical collaboration and partnership as needed will be ensured with the FAO Forests and Climate team, especially on the aspects of the Peatlands. The incumbent works in close coordination and continuous dialogue with the Government of Indonesia (technical staff in the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Forestry, and other relevant actors and agencies as appropriated) and in close collaboration with UNEP and UNDP as UN-REDD counterparts and related Indonesia Country focal points.

Technical Focus

The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed that countries should collectively aim to slow, halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+) offer incentives to developing countries to reduce emissions from forestlands, restore forests and invest in low-carbon pathways to Sustainable development.

The incumbent leads the technical cooperation with the Government of Indonesia to advance Indonesia's efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation (REDD+) and strengthen Indonesia's forest monitoring system(s) in the following areas:
-REDD+, forest and climate finance;
-REDD+ MRV at national and jurisdictional level;
-Forest and land cover monitoring (including national forest inventory planning and implementation, technologies for data management, improvements on Indonesia greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and activity data through state-of-the-art technology for satellite monitoring system, and emission factors, for fires, peatlands and mangroves);
-Mangroves and peatlands management and monitoring, connecting to REDD+ and Indonesia FOLU Net sink 2030;
-Sustainable commodities supply chains and increased access to markets, including through geospatial datasets in support of responsible commodity production;
-Social forestry contributions to REDD+ and NDCs targets, and
-Tools and methodologies to help identify and prioritise areas for forest restoration planning.

This support is delivered through the UN-REDD programme, under its Technical Assistance, core initiatives (ASEAN Social Forestry Initiative, Growing Resilience through Emissions Reductions, Community Empowerment, and Ecosystem Restoration for a Nurturing Future GREEN for Riau), affiliated initiatives, such as the UK Funded AIM4Forests and Norway-funded MERANTI project. The collaboration will also expand to other projects and programmes related to REDD+/Halting deforestation, degradation, emissions / monitoring in the FAO portfolio/pipeline as appropriate.

Key Results

Effective and efficient coordination and provision of the technical and operational support of the programme and project activities of the FAO Representation.

Key Functions

•    Assists in liaising and cooperating with government authorities and national and international institutions in the areas of FAO's activities in the country and in liaising with other UN agencies.
•    Provides support to promoting the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization's mandate, programmes, national priorities and activities including development and maintenance of communication tools (e.g. website, press releases and publications) and supports the implementation of FAO's regulatory frameworks (e.g. Codex Alimentarius and Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries) in the country.
•    Collects, consolidates and maintains country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries including information on external aid in FAO's corporate systems and participate in monitoring changes in national policies affecting the agricultural sector.
•    Assists with the production of technical, economic and policy studies and assists in the development of country level development frameworks such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
•    Assists in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals and monitor and review the status of programme/project implementation to ensure that all operational activities are carried out in line with the work plan and the project document; when necessary, propose corrective measures to overcome operational constraints.
•    Briefs, trains and supervises lower grade level programme staff regarding all aspects of the job; ensures adherence to procedures and work requirements and accuracy and diligence of the work provided.
•    Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions

•    Acts as focal point for the activities of the FAO's HDDE, FMDP and NFI teams regarding activities in Indonesia, ensures liaison with wider forestry project portfolio and RAP, and serves as FAO member of the UN-REDD Indonesia interagency team.
•    Acts as principal day-to-day interlocutor for the partners in the Government of Indonesia and relevant stakeholders.
•    Leads the identification, technical and budgetary planning, coordination, implementation of and reporting on FAO tasks and responsibility to support the government of Indonesia and relevant stakeholders in the planning and implementation of Forest Monitoring and REDD+ initiatives and Green Peatland Economy (GPE) in so far as conducted in the FAO's HDDE and FMDP teams.
•    Leads and contributes technical delivery on REDD+ and forest monitoring technical assistance activities in collaboration with international and national experts as appropriate.
•    Supports (and takes the lead on if requested) the organization and delivery of technical and planning sessions with the Government of Indonesia and other stakeholders as appropriate supporting progress of the UN-REDD yearly TAs and other forestry initiatives.
•    Technically leads and provides day-to-day coordination of teams of specialist delivering technical assistance and implementing initiatives, including facilitating in-person and remote technical backstopping and duty travel from other REDD+ / FAO experts as needed.
•    Participates in UN-REDD in-country team meetings and coordination efforts, bringing in the perspectives from FAO; participates in FAO HDDE/FMDP coordination meeting (with headquarters and the regional team), reports on progress, challenges (including potential way to overcome those), and way forward.
•    Coordinates and provides technical expertise and support to other relevant forestry projects and programme in Indonesia, including TCPs and the ones supported by extra budgetary resources (e.g. MERANTI, GPE, etc.).
•    Performs other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    National of Indonesia
•    Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries or any other field related to the work of the Organization.
•    One year of relevant experience in agricultural development and/or project implementation in an area of FAO's activities in the country.
•    Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and the local language.

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in REDD+, forest and climate policies, climate finance, and implementation of UNFCCC-related frameworks.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in forest monitoring systems, Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, land-use and land-cover monitoring, and the application of geospatial and remote sensing technologies.
•    Knowledge of peatland and mangrove ecosystems, forest restoration, social forestry, and sustainable commodity supply chains.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in programme and project formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, preferably within international organizations or donor-funded programmes.
•    Familiarity with FAO, UN-REDD, or other UN programme management procedures and operational frameworks is considered an asset.
•    Demonstrated ability to coordinate with government institutions, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
•    Strong analytical, drafting, and communication skills, including the preparation of technical reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products.
•    Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and provide technical guidance to national and international experts.
•    Good understanding of Indonesia's forestry sector, national climate commitments, FOLU Net Sink 2030, and relevant institutional and policy frameworks.
•    Experience in resource mobilization, partnership development, and donor engagement is considered an asset.