Senior Technical Officer (GEF International Waters & Chemicals And Waste Lead)

The Senior Technical Officer leads FAO's programming and engagement in the Global Environment Facility (GEF) focal areas of International Waters and Chemicals and Waste. The role provides strategic oversight and technical leadership to support global, regional and national actions for resource mobilization and implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, focusing on sustainable management of water systems, pollution prevention, and environmental sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of technical issues of assigned programmes/projects; direct the review of relevant documents and reports; identify priorities, liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow-up actions.
• Coordinate programmes and review the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects, as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports, as well as studies, and inputs to publications.
• Direct substantive support to consultative meetings and conferences, including proposition of agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Manage outreach activities; design and conduct training workshops and seminars; make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provide advice to develop policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.
• Advise the OCB-GEF Unit and the FAO-GEF community on the strategic development and financing of a robust and coherent portfolio of projects and programmes under the IW and C-W focal areas, including defining portfolio priorities, supporting resource mobilization approaches, and guiding global, regional, national and multi-focal area programming under GEF-9 and subsequent replenishment cycles.
• Serve as the primary technical focal point within FAO for the International Waters (IW) and Chemicals and Waste (C-W) focal areas, liaising regularly with the relevant GEF Secretariat teams and key partners to ensure a strategic and programmatic approach to FAO's engagement in these globally managed focal areas.
• Lead the planning, organization and coordination of FAO's responsibilities at the global level under the GEF International Waters (IW) and Chemicals and Waste (C-W) focal areas, including supervision of the expert team, coordination with the relevant FAO GEF community and guidance to Integrated Programmes led of with the participation of FAO.
• Work closely with the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator and the OCB-GEF team to strengthen quality assurance, technical coherence and strategic alignment of FAO-GEF proposals, ensuring consistency with GEF policies, guidance and best practices.
• Lead the formulation and implementation of complex GEF programmes and projects, ensuring operational viability, compliance with FAO policies and standards, and alignment with GEF requirements and priorities, with emphasis on funding under the GEF IW and C-W focal areas.
• Support the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator and the OCB-GEF Team and lead specific interventions to contribute to GEF Integrated Programme approaches and to define and strengthen FAO's role in both global coordination platforms and country child projects.
• Provide regular updates and briefings to the FAO-GEF community, track developments in FAO's engagement with countries and the GEF, and advise on best practices, tools and approaches for project design and implementation.
• Engage with FAO lead technical experts and divisional focal points to ensure strong synergies with FAO strategic priorities, including, but not limited to, the FAO Climate Change Strategy, the FAO Biodiversity Strategy and related corporate frameworks.
• Engage and establish effective working relationships with partners, including governments, regional and sub-regional bodies, the private sector and civil society, to support the development of innovative and impactful IW and C-W programmes and projects.
• Support the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator and the OCB-GEF Team in formulating and implementing strategies to consolidate and further expand the FAO-GEF portfolio, including contributing to the effective use of human and technical resources.
• Provide critical technical inputs to portfolio management, including oversight of programme and project pipelines, portfolio information, and FAO project information systems.
• Provide high-quality technical products, inputs and support to meet the standards and requirements of Project Implementation Reviews, Mid-Term Reviews and Terminal Evaluations.
• Provide strategic and technical support to the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator, the FAO GEF team and OCB, as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, water resources management, natural resources management, agriculture, economics, or a related field, with a strong focus on integrated freshwater marine systems, pollution management, and/or environmental sustainability.
• Ten years of relevant experience in applying integrated approaches for the sustainable management of water systems and/or aquatic ecosystems, environmental sustainability, pollution prevention and control, and/or climate resilience, including programme and portfolio management, design, implementation and monitoring of development cooperation projects.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Proven work across multiple duty stations and/or at regional/global levels, with demonstrated exposure to multi-country and transboundary contexts (including international waters, climate water programming, and/or freshwater marine pollution interfaces).
• Strong, relevant experience designing/formulating projects for transboundary freshwater and marine systems, including source-to-sea interactions, land-based sources of pollution, Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction considerations, and chemicals/waste dimensions.
• Solid applied knowledge of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), fisheries assessment/management, pollution prevention/control, chemicals and waste reduction, and/or analysis of water quantity/quality challenges (including groundwater and climate-related water risks).
• Demonstrated understanding of multilateral environment and climate policy processes relevant to transboundary waters and pollution/chemicals and waste, and ability to align programming with national/regional instruments (e.g., Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), Sectoral Adaptation Plans (SAPs)).
• Proven application of cross-sectoral, participatory planning/management tools (e.g., MSP, ICZM, source-to-sea frameworks, and/or ecosystem- and biodiversity-based approaches) to strengthen climate-resilient resource management and reduce land-based pollution.
• Strong track record in building partnerships (United Nations, International Financial Institutions, governments, Civil Society Organizations, regional bodies, private sector as relevant), solid familiarity with GEF IW/C-W operational modalities and demonstrated success mobilizing resources and scaling a diversified portfolio.

Skills

• Water Resources Management
• Aquatic Ecosystems Management
• Pollution Prevention
• Pollution Control
• Climate Resilience
• Programme Management
• Portfolio Management
• Project Design
• Project Implementation
• Project Monitoring
• Transboundary Water Management
• Source-to-Sea Frameworks
• Land-Based Pollution Management
• Chemicals and Waste Reduction
• Fisheries Assessment
• Multilateral Environmental Agreements
• Resource Mobilization
• Stakeholder Partnership Building
• Environmental Sustainability
• Climate Policy Alignment

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish