Job Vacancies at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Organizational Setting

The main objective of the FAO Country Office which is led by the FAO Representative is to assist governments and partners in developing policies, programs and projects aimed at to ensure food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. The FAO office is also committed to implementing field projects and programs to implement the policies, strategies and action plan mentioned above. The country office has an important role on support to the country and partners in increasing the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Kenya

Background

The Full-Size Project “Integrated Landscape Management for conservation and restoration of the Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya”, aims to promote the sustainable and integrated management of the Mt. Elgon landscape through the development of inclusive responsible coffee value chain and sustainable staple food production systems. The project is a child project under the overarching Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program funded by GEF7 which aims to: promote comprehensive land-use planning; improve governance and align incentives; scale up innovative and practical applications in commodity value chain partnerships; leverage investments through linkage with private and public partners; and promote institutional collaboration in integrated approaches at the global, country, and landscape level. The Impact Program targets large production landscapes that have the potential to deliver global environmental benefits at scale and can be sustained after the program concludes.

In line with the FOLUR program framework, the project’s interventions will be structured through four components: under the first, it will strengthen the “enabling” environment and the local capacity for the development of Integrated Landscape Management Systems; under the second it will support the promotion of sustainable food production practices (focus on maize) and the development of responsible and inclusive commodity Value Chains (focus on coffee); under the third it will enhance the capacity to restore degraded natural habitats and sustainably manage them; and under the fourth, it will ensure project coordination, collaboration with the Global Knowledge to Action (K2A) Platform for knowledge exchange and capacity development and M&E.

Project preparation activities will consist of desktop studies as well as multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops to ensure involvement of key stakeholders in project design processes and generate project ownership, and systematization of knowledge about needs, potential and commitments of actors and agents at national and sub-national levels (i.e., project sites at municipal level). The activities will contribute to awareness raising on the project and ensure active participation by technical sectors and political support to maximize design synergies and buy-in during the project development phase.

The main outputs that will contribute to the preparation of the full project document (FPD) will consist of relevant baseline data and information collected during the preparation period, workshop reports, consultant’s analysis and cost/efficient proposals, financing plan, risk analysis and mitigation measures and realistic targets and indicators. The final product will be the detailed design of project components, including Results Framework, budget allocations and co-financing mobilization, on the basis of which the FAO-GEF Project Document and the CEO Endorsement Request will be prepared. The GEF7 core indicators will also be completed as well as the Environmental and Social screening checklist and certification form in the FAO format based on the Environmental and Social Management Guidelines.

The project will focus specifically on two Counties surrounding the Mt. Elgon Water Tower: Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia. Within these localities, the nature and extent of the specific target sites for field-level activities will be confirmed during the PPG phase, based on considerations including the existence of globally important environmental values and addressable associated threats, community buy-in, and resource availability.

Reporting Lines

The Incumbent Will Work Under The Overall Administrative Supervision Of The FAOR In Kenya, The Technical Guidance Of The Lead Technical Officer, The International GEF Design Expert, The FAOKE GEF Focal Point And The National PPG Consultation Coordinator, And In Close Collaboration With Other National Experts And National And Local Authorities

Technical Focus

The objective of this assignment is to lead, in close collaboration with the national and international experts, the formulation and completion of the outputs under outcome 2.1 while contributing to other outcome 1.1 and 4.1 linked to promoting sustainable, responsible and inclusive coffee value chain development while promoting zero-deforestation and biodiversity conservation.

Outcome 2.1

Improved efficiency and sustainability of coffee and maize production systems

Indicators (and Targets)

(i) # of new business models adopted based on improved climate resilient farming practices with innovative finance mobilized

(ii) Area of landscapes under improved practices (50,000ha).

Tasks And Responsibilities

• In support to the design of Component 2 (outcome 1), draft a report on Coffee Value Chain (VC) development in the project area, while taking stock of existing information with the objectives to:
• Map the value chain : Identify and map the main actors and key stakeholders (in particular cooperatives / producers’ organizations, national and international private sector companies, local NGOs, multi-stakeholder platforms, extension services) and how they are linked and interact in the value chain; assess the flow of products and services, information and financial resources along the value chain – both descriptive and as a value chain map.

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Background

The Full-Size Project “Integrated Landscape Management for conservation and restoration of the Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya”, aims to promote the sustainable and integrated management of the Mt. Elgon landscape through the development of inclusive responsible coffee

value chain and sustainable staple food production systems. The project is a child project under the overarching Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program funded by GEF7 which aims to: promote comprehensive land-use planning; improve governance and align incentives; scale up innovative and practical applications in commodity value chain partnerships; leverage investments through linkage with private and public partners; and promote institutional collaboration in integrated approaches at the global, country, and landscape level. The Impact Program targets large production landscapes that have the potential to deliver global environmental benefits at scale and can be sustained after the program concludes.

In line with the FOLUR program framework, the project’s interventions will be structured through four components: under the first, it will strengthen the “enabling” environment and the local capacity for the development of Integrated Landscape Management Systems; under the second it will support the promotion of sustainable food production practices (focus on maize) and the development of responsible and inclusive commodity Value Chains (focus on coffee); under the third it will enhance the capacity to restore degraded natural habitats and sustainably manage them; and under the fourth, it will ensure project coordination, collaboration with the Global Knowledge to Action (K2A) Platform for knowledge exchange and capacity development and M&E.

Project preparation activities will consist of desktop studies as well as multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops to ensure involvement of key stakeholders in project design processes and generate project ownership, and systematization of knowledge about needs, potential and commitments of actors and agents at national and sub-national levels (i.e., project sites at municipal level). The activities will contribute to awareness raising on the project and ensure active participation by technical sectors and political support to maximize design synergies and buy-in during the project development phase.

The main outputs that will contribute to the preparation of the full project document (FPD) will consist of relevant baseline data and information collected during the preparation period, workshop reports, consultant’s analysis and cost/efficient proposals, financing plan, risk analysis and mitigation measures and realistic targets and indicators. The final product will be the detailed design of project components, including Results Framework, budget allocations and co-financing mobilization, on the basis of which the FAO-GEF Project Document and the CEO Endorsement Request will be prepared. The GEF7 core indicators will also be completed as well as the Environmental and Social screening checklist and certification form in the FAO format based on the Environmental and Social Management Guidelines.

The project will focus specifically on two Counties surrounding the Mt. Elgon Water Tower: Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia. Within these localities, the nature and extent of the specific target sites for field-level activities will be confirmed during the PPG phase, based on considerations including the existence of globally important environmental values and addressable associated threats, community buy-in, and resource availability

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall administrative supervision of the FAOR in Kenya, the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer from the FLRM, the FAO GEF unit, the International GEF design Expert and the FAOKE GEF focal point, and in close collaboration with other national experts and national and local authorities, the GEF-National PPG consultation Coordinator will be responsible for leading the national team in the consultation with stakeholders and the collection of baseline information needed to develop the Project Document. The consultant will be responsible to coordinate the implementation of the preparatory activities in collaboration with FAOKE office leading to the development of the full project document and provide expertise on Natural Resource Management.

Technical Focus

The objective of this assignment is to lead the national team in consultation with project stakeholders to develop the full project document and provide technical expertise on Natural Resource Management and Integrated landscape planning. The consultant will lead the formulation and completion of the outputs under component 1, 3 and 4 and work in close collaboration with other experts to formulate and complete outputs under component 2.

Outcome 1.1

Mt. Elgon landscape managed sustainably with increased restoration for agriculture and provision of environmental services.

Indicators (and Targets)

(i) # of ILM plans in place, informed by multi-stakeholders’ dialogue.

Outcome 3.1

Increased Mt Elgon landscape area under conservation and restoration.

Indicators (and Targets)

(i) Area of degraded farmland and forest under restoration/rehabilitation and improved management (10,000Ha).

(ii) Metric tons of CO2e of GHG Emissions Mitigated

Outcome 4.1

Successful execution of the project in an effective manner, with knowledge shared through the FOLUR global platform.

Tasks And Responsibilities

• Work package 1: Coordination PPG

• Support the design of a coordination mechanism including a multi-stakeholder working group with focal points of different institutions for the development of the Prodoc and later implementation of the project document
• Design a consultation and dissemination process for the PPG phase and also for the full project
• Develop a detailed stakeholder mapping of the project to nurture the project document and roles and responsibilities for project implementation accordingly;
• Lead the organization (and participate) of the inception and validation workshops (national and county level) and any other consultations needed (including Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for any indigenous peoples) as well as the preparation of any reports associated with all PPG activities
• Review and confirm co-financing scenario of the project aligning activities to ensure maximum synergies for each of the project components
• Support the international experts (liaise constantly with GEF design expert) in the production of the full project document and ensure timely completion and quality of reports from experts on the national team
• Support the development of the project capacity development plan including needs at all levels and in the key technical areas covered by the project
• Support the FAOR Kenya and the OPIM specialist in the development of project implementation agreements following GEF and FAO’s rules and procedures;
• Support the FAOR Kenya in the day to day management of the PPG team in close collaboration with National partners.

• Work package 2: Integrated Natural Resource Management and territorial planning

• In support to design of Component 1 and component 3, draft a short report on territorial planning and governance of NRM in project area, with the objectives to:
• Present baseline information on existing projects and programmes promoting an integrated landscape approach in targeted project sites and assess their strengths and weaknesses and propose recommendations how the project could build on ongoing or past experience and complement current efforts
• Propose criteria for project site identification and selection taking into consideration the overall scope in terms of GEBs
• Collect and analyse capacities at all levels through literature review and interviews with key stakeholders to promote planning and implementation of sustainable management across the landscape and identify knowledge and capacity gaps and propose capacity development modalities that could fill these gaps

• Collect and analyse existing participatory tools and approaches used by different stakeholders on ILM and propose best ways forward to deliver the anticipated results of the project
• Analyse different management systems (forest, agricultural, communal vs private lands, protected areas, county) and associated plans/strategies and propose recommendations how the project could improve synergies between the different systems and how they can be integrated taking into consideration the two targeted production systems (coffee and maize)
• Assess the existing coordination mechanisms (County and landscape level) and assess their strengths and weaknesses and make recommendations how they could be optimized to ensure inclusive and participatory coordination across the sectors
• Identify partners to support filling knowledge gaps and support capacity development of different stakeholders to be involved in ILM planning
• Identify Indigenous Peoples context and institutions working on improving IP’s involvement in NRM governance and analyse bottlenecks/barriers and recommend how project can integrate their concerns into territorial planning
• Identify existing cases within Kenya with similar ecosystems for potential exchange visits during project implementations
• Analyse trans-boundary management and monitoring systems and work in collaboration with Uganda child project to propose joint activities to avoid leakages and conflict across the landscape
• Analyse and propose list of species to be used for restoration in consultation with local stakeholders and identify roles and responsibilities at different levels
• Building in the above propose a set of detailed activities for component 1, 3 (output 3.1.1. and 3.1.2.) and 4 to guarantee successful implementation in the context of the project, and associated budget (following FAO budget lines) and corresponding output indicators.
• Draft an analysis of institutional priorities and opportunities for coordination relevant to the project with as objectives:
• Review and analyse relevant national, local and sector development plans, policies and institutional frameworks and budgets to (1) assess project consistency with national priorities. (2) identify key entry points for the mainstreaming of biodiversity and agro-ecological, SLM, SFM, climate-smart practices and approaches into agricultural production; (3) identify the technical, financial, policy, regulatory and other constraints, incentives and disincentives for the sustainable adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM), Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and biodiversity-friendly livelihood strategies related to the agriculture, livestock production and agro-forestry sectors and (4) align project interventions with government goals and priorities.
• Identify and analyse opportunities for coordination with other relevant GEF-financed projects and other relevant existing and planned initiatives, possibly negotiating partnerships to align activities and build synergies, and reflecting this in the project strategy
• Provide inputs to relevant sections of the full-sized project document and its supporting materials , including relevant baseline information, tracking tools, social and environmental assessments, results framework, national benefits, sections on gender equality, human rights based approaches (including right to food, decent work, accountability to affected populations), capacity development, etc. information, analysis, comments, and others related to issues of gender and livelihoods.
• Undertake field missions and participate in workshops/ meetings/ consultations as required, and complete and submit mission reports covering a brief summary of mission activities and conclusions, key persons/ organizations consulted and recommendations for the finalization of the project documents.
• Provide a preliminary outline, proposed methodology, draft and final copies of all expected outputs.
• Any other relevant duty as deemed necessary

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree or PhD degree from an internationally recognized university in environmental policy, forestry, environmental or natural resource management, development studies, or related disciplines;
• Ten years of relevant professional experience in Kenya with extensive working knowledge of natural resources management, at institutional and community levels
• Working knowledge of English and Kiswahili
• National of Kenya


 

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working with FAO and/or UN on GEF projects (design of GEF projects desirable)
• Proven record of support to implementation of community based NRM projects in Kenya;
• Skills for leadership, communication, and flexibility and dynamism for the integration of suggestions and recommendations that seek to improve the quality of the final products
• Excellent communication skills (speaking and writing)

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Organizational Setting

The main objective of the FAO Country Office which is led by the FAO Representative is to assist governments and partners in developing policies, programs and projects aimed at to ensure food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. The FAO office is also committed to implementing field projects and programs to implement the policies, strategies and action plan mentioned above. The country office has an important role on support to the country and partners in increasing the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Kenya

Background

The Full-Size Project “Integrated Landscape Management for conservation and restoration of the Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya”, aims to promote the sustainable and integrated management of the Mt. Elgon landscape through the development of inclusive responsible coffee value chain and sustainable staple food production systems. The project is a child project under the overarching Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program funded by GEF7 which aims to: promote comprehensive land-use planning; improve governance and align incentives; scale up innovative and practical applications in commodity value chain partnerships; leverage investments through linkage with private and public partners; and promote institutional collaboration in integrated approaches at the global, country, and landscape level. The Impact Program targets large production landscapes that have the potential to deliver global environmental benefits at scale and can be sustained after the program concludes.

In line with the FOLUR program framework, the project’s interventions will be structured through four components: under the first, it will strengthen the “enabling” environment and the local capacity for the development of Integrated Landscape Management Systems; under the second it will support the promotion of sustainable food production practices (focus on maize) and the development of

responsible and inclusive commodity Value Chains (focus on coffee); under the third it will enhance the capacity to restore degraded natural habitats and sustainably manage them; and under the fourth, it will ensure project coordination, collaboration with the Global Knowledge to Action (K2A) Platform for knowledge exchange and capacity development and M&E.

Project preparation activities will consist of desktop studies as well as multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops to ensure involvement of key stakeholders in project design processes and generate project ownership, and systematization of knowledge about needs, potential and commitments of actors and agents at national and sub-national levels (i.e., project sites at municipal level). The activities will contribute to awareness raising on the project and ensure active participation by technical sectors and political support to maximize design synergies and buy-in during the project development phase.

The main outputs that will contribute to the preparation of the full project document (FPD) will consist of relevant baseline data and information collected during the preparation period, workshop reports, consultant’s analysis and cost/efficient proposals, financing plan, risk analysis and mitigation measures and realistic targets and indicators. The final product will be the detailed design of project components, including Results Framework, budget allocations and co-financing mobilization, on the basis of which the FAO-GEF Project Document and the CEO Endorsement Request will be prepared. The GEF7 core indicators will also be completed as well as the Environmental and Social screening checklist and certification form in the FAO format based on the Environmental and Social Management Guidelines.

The project will focus specifically on two Counties surrounding the Mt. Elgon Water Tower: Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia. Within these localities, the nature and extent of the specific target sites for field-level activities will be confirmed during the PPG phase, based on considerations including the existence of globally important environmental values and addressable associated threats, community buy-in, and resource availability.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the FAOR, the technical supervision of the International GEF design Expert and the GEF-National PPG phase Coordinator and in close collaboration with other national experts.

Technical Focus

The objective of this assignment is to lead, in close collaboration with the national and international experts, the formulation and completion of the outputs under outcome 2.1 while contributing to other outcome 1.1, 3.1 and 4.1 linked to promoting sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices with a strong focus on improving biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Outcome 2.1

Improved efficiency and sustainability of coffee and maize production systems

Indicators (and Targets)

(i) # of new business models adopted based on improved climate resilient farming practices with innovative finance mobilized

(ii) Area of landscapes under improved practices (50,000ha).

Outcome 3.1

Increased Mt Elgon landscape area under conservation and restoration

Indicators (and Targets)

(i) Area of degraded farmland under restoration/rehabilitation and improved management (5,000ha).

Tasks And Responsibilities

• In support to design of Component 2, output 1 and 2, the consultant will draft a preparatory technical report on agricultural practices in both targeted project areas with a focus on maize production systems and extension systems in the project area, with the objectives to:

• • Identify and characterize key agricultural production systems linked to maize production in the project area, analyze challenges and gaps to sustainable agriculture, including in terms of capacities (technical, managerial…), infrastructures (processing, roads, markets, storage facilities…), etc…(identification of policy, institutional, technical, socio-economic barriers to sustainable agriculture)
  • Take stock of past projects/programmes aimed at scaling up of sustainable agricultural practices (CSA, conservation agriculture, agro-ecology), and capitalize successes and lessons learned (including identified gaps or weaknesses) from on the ground implementation
  • Assess current livelihood strategies of local stakeholder and identify opportunities for value addition (SME development, business models, incentive mechanisms) to agriculture, livestock and forestry products while conserving biodiversity and protecting ecosystem services within the landscape.
  • Assess public and private sector financing and investment in sustainable agriculture especially in maize and coffee value chains
  • Identify and map existing extension schemes and key service providers for capacity development (government, private sector, cooperatives, NGOs etc.) in the project area as well as knowledge referenced (trainings, manuals, websites etc.) on these different production systems
  • Assess capacity development approaches that could be used to widely disseminate the best agricultural practices identified (in particular approaches such as Farmer Field Schools, Dimitra club), and the institutional anchorage for collaboration on the ground.
  • Identify and map existing coordination structures at the different levels (National, County, Ward, Community) to promote an integrated approach across the landscape for sustainable food production in the project areas and capitalize on existing platforms and lessons learned.
  • Clearly outline the baseline scenario and the current barriers and how this project can bring change promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the landscape to reduce negative externalities from food crops production and avoid deforestation.
  • Support the PPG team to define criteria for site selection and lead the identification of the most degraded agricultural lands and propose key project sites for implementation
  • Building on the above, propose a set of detailed activities for component 2 (output 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3) to guarantee that 45,000 ha of degraded farmland are under improved management and 5,000 ha of landscape are benefiting biodiversity, and associated budget (following FAO budget lines) and corresponding indicators and baseline.
  • Along the same lines, assist the Integrated Natural Resources Management expert to propose a set of detailed activities for component 3 output 3.1.1. and 3.1.3 to guarantee that 10,000 ha of degraded farmland and forest are under restoration/rehabilitation and improved management, and associated budget (following FAO budget lines) and corresponding indicators and baseline.
  • Detail how the activities above can be sustainable and brought up to scale. Highlight the innovative part of the proposed strategy/activities.
• Provide inputs to relevant sections of the full-sized project document and its supporting materials , including relevant baseline information, tracking tools, social and environmental assessments, results framework, national benefits, sections on gender equality, Free Prior and Informed Consent, human rights based approaches (including right to food, decent work, accountability to affected populations), capacity development, etc. information, analysis, comments, and others related to issues of gender and livelihoods.
• Undertake field missions and participate in workshops/ meetings/ consultations as required, and complete and submit mission reports covering a brief summary of mission activities and conclusions, key persons/ organizations consulted and recommendations for the finalization of the project documents.
• Provide a preliminary outline, proposed methodology, draft and final copies of all expected outputs.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree or PHD in agriculture or related field from internationally recognized university
• Ten (10) years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in sustainable land management, with specific experience in working with communities on adoption of sustainable land management and climate-smart agricultural practices and diversified livelihoods in Kenya;
• Working knowledge of English and Kiswahili
• National of Kenya

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proven record of support to implementation of community-based agriculture and/or sustainable agricultural intensification projects in Kenya;
• Excellent knowledge of nature-based solutions for agricultural production systems in Western Kenya
• Experience working with FAO and/or UN on GEF projects
• Excellent communication skills (speaking and writing)