Forestry Officer
Organizational Context
The FAO Subregional Office for Central Africa (SFC) in Libreville, Gabon, is tasked with developing and implementing strategies for food, agriculture, and rural development priorities across the subregion. It fosters relationships with regional institutions and supports country-level FAO representations. SFC champions the potential of forests, trees, and wildlife to enhance sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, focusing on restoration, sustainable management, biodiversity, livelihoods, and innovative financing.
Job Purpose
This role provides critical applied technical support, normative work, and program development for the sustainable management of forests, forest landscapes, and associated biodiversity, including wildlife and forest food systems. It offers hands-on technical assistance to field projects and government counterparts, translating FAO's regional priorities on climate action, biodiversity, and natural resource management into practical forestry applications. The position also advances sustainable forest-based bioeconomy, strengthens value chains, and promotes innovative financing for forestry and conservation initiatives, contributing comprehensive technical and policy expertise to regional programs and projects.
Responsibilities
The Forestry Officer will advise Country Offices on policies and strategies for sustainable forest management, forest and landscape restoration, afforestation, reforestation, climate action, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife management, aligning with FAO's Strategic Framework. Responsibilities include designing and implementing normative and technical activities in sustainable forest management, silviculture, nurseries, community forestry, and integrated landscape approaches. The role involves advising on forest-based value chains, including timber, non-timber forest products, and forest foods, with a focus on smallholder development, bioeconomy, and market access. Technical backstopping for field projects in areas like forest restoration, wildlife conservation, and climate-resilient landscapes is crucial. The officer will support capacity development and knowledge exchange through workshops and platforms, collaborate with internal and external partners for coherence, and contribute to resource mobilization by developing project proposals and promoting innovative financing mechanisms for forestry and conservation initiatives.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of relevant experience is required in forestry, forest and landscape restoration, and the implementation of forestry programs at national or international levels. Experience in climate action, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, or sustainable forest-based value chains is essential.
Skills
Desirable experience includes working in multiple locations or field positions. Essential skills involve extensive knowledge of forest management across diverse ecosystems, global forest health, forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife approaches. The candidate must demonstrate experience in analyzing forestry issues, including forest-based value chains, forest foods, bioeconomy, and the contribution of forests to agrifood systems. Experience with environmental and climate change issues, adaptation, mitigation, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem restoration is required. Proven ability to mobilize resources, including climate financing mechanisms and innovative approaches for forestry and biodiversity initiatives, is crucial. Knowledge of cross-sectoral linkages between forestry, agriculture, wildlife, and rural development is also desirable.