GEF Project Design Specialist

Organizational Context

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) ensures countries address climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB coordinates these issues, serving as a focal point for major multilateral environmental agreements like UNFCCC and CBD. It helps FAO Members access climate and environmental financing, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF). FAO is a leading GEF implementing partner, managing a portfolio of over 300 projects. The FAO-GEF Coordination Unit (OCB-GEF) liaises with GEF, supporting countries globally.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this role is to identify, design, support implementation, and monitor FAO-GEF projects and programmes, along with those of other environmental financing mechanisms. This involves strategic and policy work, emphasizing the critical link between global environmental challenges and sustainable agriculture. Key areas include climate change and resilience, land, water, fisheries, forestry, biological diversity, and other environmental services. Specialists will work within the FAO-GEF community worldwide to assist countries in project formulation, monitoring, evaluation, and planning processes. The assignment may be home-based with required field missions, contributing to FAO's role as a top GEF implementing agency.

Responsibilities

The specialist will provide technical expertise and project design guidance to proponents, aiding in the identification, development, and implementation of natural resource/environmental project proposals aligned with country priorities and FAO/GEF objectives. This involves participating in or leading multidisciplinary teams to assist governments and Decentralized Offices in formulating projects for GEF Trust Fund, LDCF, SCCF, or other environmental funds. Responsibilities include ensuring quality control of GEF project concepts and proposals according to GEF eligibility criteria and GEF-8 Programming Directions, and coordinating project proposal preparation. The role also entails designing and delivering capacity development activities for FAO technical staff on GEF strategies and trends, contributing to strategic concepts for GEF-8, and advising on FAO GEF implementation support, including mid-term reviews. Furthermore, the specialist will support FAO-GEF portfolio management, monitor project implementation, and ensure quality control throughout the project cycles.

Work Experience

Candidates require relevant work experience in biodiversity, climate change, energy, sustainable land, forest, or water management. Specific experience levels are: 1 year for Category C, 5 years for Category B, or 10 years for Category A. A working knowledge of English (proficiency level C) is also essential for this role.

Skills

Essential skills include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing. Candidates should possess strong experience in preparing GEF-related projects and programmatic approaches, with expertise in results-based monitoring and supervision of multidisciplinary projects. Knowledge of GEF and other environmental fund procedures is crucial. Strong experience in GEF focal thematic areas (e.g., biodiversity, climate change, land degradation) relevant to FAO's priorities is required. Analytical and conceptual skills, proven ability to write project documents, and capacity to provide technical advice at national, subregional, and regional levels are also necessary. Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English is mandatory, with limited knowledge (intermediate level B) of another FAO language being desirable.

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