Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Bhutan is committed to enhancing the country's resilience in agriculture, livestock, food systems, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience efforts. To achieve this goal, the Bhutan Country Office (CO) has launched the Country Programming Framework (2024-2028), which aims to mobilize approximately USD 83 million through four key priority areas:
โข ย ย Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation
โข ย ย Food Security, Safety, and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture
โข ย ย Sustainable Natural Resources Management
โข ย ย Evidence-Based Agrifood Systems Planning
As part of its growing portfolio, the Bhutan Country Office (CO) is recruiting a National Environment and Climate Change Specialist (ECC) to provide technical leadership on environmental sustainability and climate-related interventions, and to support the design and implementation of country-specific activities under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), environmental safeguards, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land and water management initiatives.
The Environment and Climate Change Specialist will lead and coordinate FAO Bhutanโs environment and climate-related programs, ensure integration of environmental sustainability into agricultural projects, and support policy and institutional strengthening in Bhutan. The ECC Specialist will provide technical and strategic advice for environmental sustainability, climate-smart agriculture, ecosystem-based approaches, and compliance with international environmental and climate commitments.ย
Reporting Lines
The Environment and Climate Change Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Bhutan, and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (AFAOR).
Technical Focus
The Environment and Climate Change Specialist will support the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into Bhutanโs agricultural policies and programs, considering its unique ecosystems and smallholder farms. ย
Tasks and responsibilities
โข ย ย Support the coordination of FAOโs environmental and climate-related projects, including the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and ecosystem-based approaches.
โข ย ย Provide technical guidance for integrating environmental sustainability and climate change considerations into FAOโs project design, implementation, and monitoring.
โข ย ย Conduct environmental assessments and landscape analyses to support sustainable land and natural resources management.
โข ย ย Provide expertise on biodiversity conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based solutions across the agriculture sector.
โข ย ย Support mainstreaming of environmental safeguards and climate-resilient practices into national plans, sectoral policies, and strategies.
โข ย ย Assist in collaborating with government agencies and partners to develop policies and frameworks aligned with national and international environmental and climate commitments (e.g., UNFCCC, CBD, NDCs, LDN).
โข ย ย Support coordination and knowledge exchange among stakeholders involved in environment and climate change initiatives.
โข ย ย Mobilize resources and develop project proposals.ย
โข ย ย Provide technical input on greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems relevant to agriculture and land use sectors.
โข ย ย Provide support in designing and implementing capacity building activities for national institutions, extension agents, and communities on sustainable environmental and climate practices.
โข ย ย Ensure compliance with FAOโs environmental and social management guidelines during project formulation and implementation.
โข ย ย Monitor project progress and contribute to reports and evaluations related to environmental and climate outcomes.
โข ย ย Prepare and submit an end-of-assignment report detailing contributions and outcomes.
โข ย ย Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements ย ย
ย
โข ย ย Advanced university degree Environmental Science, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
โข ย ย A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in environment and climate change sectors, with demonstrated work in sustainable agriculture and rural development in developing countries.
โข ย ย Working knowledge of English and Dzongkha
โข ย ย National of Bhutan
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
โข ย ย In-depth knowledge of environmental policy, ecosystem services, climate-smart agriculture, and related global frameworks.
โข ย ย Proven experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring environment and climate-related projects.
โข ย ย Experience with GHG monitoring and reporting systems, particularly in land use and agriculture.
โข ย ย Familiarity with FAOโs or other UN agenciesโ environmental safeguard standards is an advantage.
โข ย ย Demonstrated success in partnership development and resource mobilization
Selection Criteriaย
โข ย ย Based on requirements, competencies and skills.