National Specialist- Community Forestry And Forest Value Chains Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition.  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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
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+) incentivizes developing countries to reduce emissions from forestlands, restore forests and invest in low-carbon pathways to sustainable development. A number of countries have reached advanced stages in their REDD+ readiness efforts (phase I). An increasing number of countries are moving into REDD+ implementation (phase II), achieving concrete results in emission reductions and accessing result-based payments (phase III).

Zambia is one of the countries which has already made much progress on REDD+ readiness – phase I (i.e., Forest Reference Emissions Level  (FREL) submitted  and safeguard information systems (SIS) submitted) and has a significant number of initiatives on REDD+ implementation – phase II. Still, preliminary analysis of the most recently collected data for the years 2019-2020 did not yet show conclusive evidence on emissions reductions against Zambia’s FREL, which would facilitate access to results-based payments (phase III) and then to climate finance at scale.
With the aim to step up mitigation efforts and reduce emissions, Zambia is working at a subnational level and specifically boosting local climate action through community-based forestry, as well as developing several jurisdictional programmes. Many of these programmes seek to foster low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways, in which forests are preserved and revalorized, enhancing related livelihoods and ecosystem services.

In this framework, the UN-REDD technical assistance (TA) 2023-2024 will be orientated towards enabling jurisdictional programmes and local climate action, combining mitigation and adaptation objectives, specifically in the most forested province of the country (North Western province) through:

•  Assessment of existing and potential community forest management groups (CFMGs) in the province, which can be supported to catalyze local climate action.
  •    Assessment of forest value chains, focusing on those with more potential to be strengthened and contribute to low-emissions and resilient community livelihoods.
  •    Assessment of rural finance in North Western province to enhance the sustainability and replicability of local climate action.
  •    Assessment of the relations between forest cover and water-related ecosystems in the framework of developing the forest-water-climate nexus.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Zambia, the direct supervisor of the Technical Advisor-Forest value chains, and in close coordination with colleagues in FAO-Zambia and REDD+/NFM/NFO teams, in FAO headquarters as well as with national counterparts.

Technical focus

The incumbent will contribute to UN-REDD technical assistance 2023 in Zambia, facilitating active engagement of national counterparts (in particular the Forestry Department (FD) of Zambia), and specifically undertake (i) the assessment of CFMGs and (ii) the assessment of forest value chains. All outputs and activities undertaken under UNREDD TA 2023 should be:

•  Age-sensitive, with particular attention to youth, including assessment of youth-friendly business and livelihoods, aiming to mitigate the risk of perpetuating poverty and inequality
  •    Gender-responsive, integrating measures to address gender inequalities and promote women’s empowerment
  •    Food security and nutrition-sensitive with consideration of Zambia’s national efforts to diversify diets.
  •    Considerate of principles of workers’ safety and health, decent work and a productive employment
  •    Attentive to the risk that livelihoods are associated with child labour and/or forced labour
  •    Oriented to a broad view of sustainability beyond economic benefits.

Expected Outputs:

•  Collaboration, active engagement of Forestry Department experts at national and provincial levels
  •    CFMGs assessment report
  •    Forest value chain(s) assessments report
  •    Contributions to GCF concept note and project proposal
  •    Reports of UN-REDD TA in Zambia

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Specialist on Community Forestry and forest value chains will carry out the following tasks:

•  Under the guidance of the “Technical advisor- forest value chains”, support the implementation of the UN-REDD TA 2023, in close collaboration with country counterparts, UNREDD agencies and technical partners.
  •    Support the Technical advisor in liaising with the Forestry department (FD) of Zambia, ensuring that FD experts are practically engaged in the planning and implementation of UN-REDD TA activities, and developing national capacities so as to facilitate future replication and country ownership.
  •    Undertake the assessment of:
  (i) existing CFMGs in North Western province, aiming to better understand needs for technical assistance to fulfill the Forestry Agreements signed between the CFMGs and the Forestry Department,
  (ii) potential new community forests and CFMGs that could be registered in North Western province; and
  (iii) Identification of challenges and options by smallholder groups in completing the Government CFM processes and requirements. The assessment will include both, field surveys and consultations, as well as a geospatial assessment.
  •    Under the guidance of the Technical advisor, contribute to the assessment of forest value chains in North Western province, specifically:
  –    Support the identification and prioritization of non-wood forest products collected in the North Western province, as well as the identification of country key actors on forest value chains (experts, universities, research institutes, NGOs, etc.)
  –    Undertake the assessment of selected forest value chain as per agreed methodology, including through further data analysis, questionnaires, interviews and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The methodology will include the identification of main actors, the mapping of the value chain, the assessment of (local, national, regional) markets. The quantification of the physical material flows and of value accumulation, identification of the socio-economic structure and typical relations between actors, drivers of the value chain, and the identification of entry points for strengthening the value chain, and related livelihoods development interventions.

–    Support the preparation of training modules and workshops in the area of forest value chain development and business planning and operations.
•    Contribute to the development of the UN-REDD TA reports.
•    Contribute to the formulation of the GCF concept note and project proposal for Zambia.
•    Other tasks related to environmental sustainability, forests and climate in Zambia, as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•  University degree in forestry, forest products, rural livelihoods and/or related field
  •    5 years of professional experience in community-based forestry, rural livelihoods and/or forest value chains;
  •    Full working knowledge of English. Knowledge of local languages of the North Western province will be considered an asset;
  •    Should be a Zambian National or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/ Functional Skills

•  Knowledge and experience in working at community level in Zambia and with Government counterparts. Specific experience/knowledge on North-Western province will be valued;
  •    Experience in undertaking interviews/consultation with multiple stakeholders, and in field surveys;
  •    Strong analytical and writing skills;
  •    Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity and focus on results.

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 a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.