PfES Technical Specialist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is collaborating with the UNFF to co-finance a national Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PfES) program in Lao PDR. This initiative supports the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's mandate and aligns with the national development strategy and a bilateral MoU with Viet Nam. The project's second phase focuses on developing mechanisms for distributing PfES funds back to forest ecosystem service providers and ensuring transparent channeling through a designated fund, contributing to improved forest management and benefit sharing.

Job Purpose

The PfES Technical Specialist will provide expert oversight and advisory support for the development of the overall PfES structure in Lao PDR. This includes guiding all components of the PfES Feasibility Study Phase 2, focusing on benefit sharing and transparent fund distribution mechanisms. The role also involves facilitating knowledge exchange between Lao PDR and Viet Nam, particularly concerning their respective forest funds and payment systems. The specialist will contribute to technical reviews and assessments of PfES frameworks, ensuring alignment with project objectives and fostering collaboration within a multidisciplinary team to achieve successful outcomes.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will conduct reviews of existing benefit-sharing models, drawing lessons from initiatives like GFLL and Vietnam's PfES to inform the proposed structure for Lao PDR. This includes participating in field studies and providing recommendations. The specialist will also contribute information on Vietnam's fund structures (VNFF and provincial funds) to inform the design of Lao PDR's Environment and Forest Protection Fund (EFF). Facilitating knowledge exchange between the two countries by communicating technical insights and participating in relevant discussions is crucial. Furthermore, the role involves proposing a framework for piloting the PfES decree in Lao PDR, based on Vietnam's experiences, detailing scale, duration, institutional requirements, budget, and technical assistance needs.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in forestry, natural resource management, or related fields, specifically in PES design and sustainable financing, is required. Experience related to PfES in Lao PDR is highly desirable.

Skills

Key skills include results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing. The role requires experience in advising governments and development agencies on forestry and climate finance, familiarity with PES schemes, biodiversity offsets, or REDD+ finance, and excellent policy writing and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

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