Facilitator (FLEGT-ALA Facility)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework, supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. FAO’s Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO’s work on sustainable forest management, forest governance, legality, and forest-based climate solutions.

Liberia and the European Union signed a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) in 2011, which entered into force in 2013. While the VPA strengthened governance structures and multi-stakeholder dialogue, challenges remain in enforcement, coordination, and operationalization. Liberia and the European Union have agreed to transition the VPA into a broader Forest Partnership (FP). This partnership will integrate legality, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land-use governance. Under the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Africa and Latin America (ALA) Facility, FAO will support this transition through the recruitment of a Facilitator based in Liberia.

Reporting Lines

The Facilitator will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia and technical supervision of the FAO Forestry Officer – FLEGT ALA Facility (Brussels). He/she will collaborate closely with:
•     Forestry Development Authority (FDA)
•     Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
•     Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP)
•     Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
•     Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
•     EU Delegation in Liberia
•     Reconfigured VPA structures transitioning to Forest Partnership Steering Committee and Thematic Working Groups
•     Civil society, community forest bodies and private sector stakeholders.

Technical Focus

Facilitating the structured and inclusive transition from the EU–Liberia VPA to a Forest Partnership, including institutional reconfiguration, technical diagnostics, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with Liberia’s climate, forest and biodiversity policies.

Tasks and responsibilities

Facilitation and Coordination

•     Facilitate structured dialogue between the Government of Liberia, EU Delegation and national stakeholders in the context of the Forest Partnership transition.
•     Support the transformation of VPA structures (Joint Implementation Committee-JIC, Liberia Implementation Committee-LIC, National Multi-Stakeholder Monitoring Committee-NMSMC) into Forest Partnership governance mechanisms.
•     Organize, prepare and follow up on Forest Partnership Steering Committee and Thematic Working Group meetings.
•     Promote inclusive participation of civil society, women, youth, community forest bodies and private sector actors.
•     Maintain continuous liaison with the FLEGT-ALA Facility to ensure coherence and visibility.

Technical and Policy Support

•     Support joint diagnostic assessments on forest governance, European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) readiness and institutional gaps.
•     Contribute to the drafting of the Forest Partnership Roadmap, results framework, funding architecture and monitoring indicators.
•     Provide technical inputs to align the Forest Partnership with Liberia’s NDCs, National Forest Policy, and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
•     Identify capacity-building needs and support preparation of terms of references, workplans and training activities.

Monitoring, Reporting and Knowledge Management

•     Document lessons learned from the VPA process and capitalize best practices for the Forest Partnership.
•     Prepare quarterly progress briefs, meeting summaries, inception and final reports.
•     Track progress against agreed milestones and deliverables.
•     Support the design of a Communication and Learning Plan and dissemination of Forest Partnership information.

•     Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     For Consultants: 
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in law, public administration, forestry, natural resource governance, accounting, economics or other closely related fields relevant to forest governance and international development. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs:
Technical degree in law, public administration, forestry, natural resource governance, accounting, economics or other closely related fields relevant to forest governance and international development.
•     At least five (5) years of experience in forest governance, public-sector reform, natural resource management, trade facilitation or related fields, including multi-stakeholder engagement and work with international organizations or development partners.
•     Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills  

•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in West Africa, is desirable.
•     Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and Forest Governance, Law Enforcement and Trade, and relevant EU policy frameworks. 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in working within public administrations and international organizations.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation.
•     Familiarity with FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.
•     Ability to provide competent advice with regards to financial actions, human resource processing, procurement, and project cycle management and provide innovative solutions to complex operational problems.

Selection Criteria

•     Knowledge in capacity development in the forest sector
•     Experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams
•     Experience in forest governance
•     Knowledge of Liberia’s forestry sector is an added asset
•     Leadership and supervisory experience in managing projects/programmes