Forestry Officer

The Forestry Officer provides applied technical support, normative work and programme development in sustainable forest management, forest landscapes, biodiversity, and forest-based bioeconomy approaches. The role supports regional programmes and field projects to advance climate action, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management for resilient agrifood systems.

Responsibilities

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams; leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Supports on advising Country Offices on policies, strategies, and methods in the area of sustainable forest management forest and landscape restoration, afforestation and reforestation, climate action, biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and natural resources management, aligned with FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-2031, to enhance the multiple economic, environmental and social functions of forests.
• Contributes to designing, supporting and implementing normative and technical activities related to sustainable forest management, including forest management planning, silviculture, nurseries, restoration, afforestation and reforestation initiatives, community forestry and integrated landscape approaches.
• Advises on forest-based value chains, including timber and non-timber forest products, forest foods and other nature-based products, with a focus on smallholder and community-based forestry, value addition, and market access and sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches that reinforce sustainable forest management objectives and resilient agrifood systems.
• Provides technical backstopping to field projects in the Country Offices, including support to project formulation, implementation, monitoring of forestry interventions, including initiatives related to forest restoration, wildlife conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity and climate-resilient landscapes, in close collaboration with country counterparts and FAO teams.
• Supports capacity development and regional knowledge exchange by generating, compiling and disseminating technical guidance, training materials and good practice examples, including through regional workshops and knowledge platforms covering sustainable forest management, restoration, wildlife management, forest foods and the contribution of forests to resilient agrifood systems.
• Collaborates closely with other technical teams within the Organization and with external partners to ensure coherence and technical soundness of forestry interventions within broader landscape and rural development contexts including strengthening cross-sectoral linkages between forestry, agriculture, wildlife, nutrition and climate action.
• Contributes to resource mobilization and programme development by providing forestry expertise to the formulation of project proposals to donors including through the identification and promotion of innovative financing mechanisms for forestry, restoration and biodiversity conservation such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and bilateral donors.
• Supports regional initiatives aimed at accelerating forest and landscape restoration efforts, including in the context of the UN Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation (2027–2036), and contributes to efforts to unlock the potential of forests, trees and wildlife in transforming agrifood systems.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in forestry, forest resources management, natural resources management, environmental sciences, ecosystem management or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in forestry, forest and landscape restoration, and the implementation of forestry programmes at national and/or international level including experience in climate action, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, or sustainable forest-based value chains.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and French.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of forest management in diverse forest types and ecosystems, and of global forest health situation including tropical forests, forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and wildlife-related approaches.
• Extent and relevance of experience in analysing forestry and related issues including forest-based value chains, forest foods, bioeconomy approaches and the contribution of forests to sustainable agrifood systems.
• Extent and relevance of experience in environmental and climate change issues including climate adaptation and mitigation, nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration.
• Ability to mobilize resources, including proven track record of climate financing mechanisms, innovative financing approaches and partnerships for forestry, restoration and biodiversity-related initiatives.
• Knowledge and experience in strengthening cross-sectoral linkages between forestry, agriculture, wildlife, nutrition and rural development is desirable.

Skills

• Forest Management
• Forest Restoration
• Landscape Restoration
• Climate Action
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Natural Resource Management
• Sustainable Forest-based Value Chains
• Forest Ecosystem Management
• Forest Health Analysis
• Forest-based Bioeconomy
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Climate Mitigation
• Nature-Based Solutions
• Ecosystem Restoration
• Climate Finance Mechanisms
• Innovative Financing Approaches
• Program Development
• Cross-sector Linkages
• Resource Mobilization

Languages

English, French