Young Professional Officer (Climate Change)
Organizational Context
The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) leads FAO's efforts in food security, agriculture, and rural development across the region. It manages country and subregional offices, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to programs and identifying priority actions. RAF collaborates with headquarters to implement FAO's strategies, advises on the Programme of Work and Budget, and monitors project implementation. It also fosters regional partnerships, supports policy dialogues, and mobilizes resources for sustainable development in agriculture and food security.
Job Purpose
This role supports the implementation of FAO’s Strategy on Climate Change in Africa, providing technical expertise on climate change within agrifood systems. The position focuses on advancing climate policies and investments, supporting National Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate finance, carbon markets, and energy transitions. Key responsibilities include contributing to project development, knowledge generation, capacity building, and disseminating climate change initiatives and lessons learned across the region. The role involves analyzing relevant data, providing technical support to projects, and collaborating on training and workshops.
Responsibilities
Assists in providing technical support for designing and implementing FAO projects and programs to scale up climate action in agrifood systems regionally and nationally, ensuring gender sensitivity and inclusivity. Supports the analysis of public and private climate and environmental finance trends relevant to agrifood systems. Contributes to identifying and applying tools for carbon-neutral and climate-resilient investment design to enhance NDC implementation, climate action, and access to climate finance. Monitors and reports on the progress of FAO’s Strategy on Climate Change and its Action Plan in Africa. Supports the development of new FAO data, methods, tools, and services for climate change in agrifood sectors. Facilitates partnerships and resource mobilization with vertical funds, the private sector, and other sources. Develops and reviews technical documents and delivers relevant training programs. Supports convening meetings with diverse stakeholders and drafts reports for supervisor review.
Work Experience
Requires one year of relevant experience in development projects focusing on climate change mitigation and/or adaptation, ideally within agrifood systems. Experience in more than one work location or area, particularly in field positions, is desirable. Experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector, donors, and government institutions is beneficial.
Skills
Ability to analyze and understand policy and governance structures for complex climate and natural resource management issues. Experience with climate finance, carbon markets, and climate/environmental investments in agriculture and rural development. Knowledge and application of tools for shaping environmental and climate investments in agrifood systems. Experience in preparing, editing, and revising technical/scientific and policy documents. Skills in organizing meetings and workshops. Intermediate knowledge of French is considered an asset.