Forestry Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed that countries should collectively aim to slow, halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD ) offer incentives to developing countries to reduce emissions from forestlands, restore forests and invest in low-carbon pathways to sustainable development. A number of countries have reached advanced stages in their REDD readiness efforts (phase I). An increasing number of countries, including Indonesia, are moving into REDD phase II (implementation), achieving concrete results in emission reductions and accessing result-based payments (phase III). 

FAO delivers its support on REDD through the UN-REDD Programme (a joint initiative of FAO, UNDP, UNEP) in collaboration with various other initiatives and donors, for example the Green Climate Fund; World Bank; and bilateral donors. FAO works to ensure positive social and environmental impacts, and to promote climate finance and public-private partnerships to scale up investments for REDD implementation. 

Through capacity strengthening efforts and deployment of technical expertise, the activities under the UN-REDD work plan for Indonesia aim to support the country to use REDD work as a catalyst to deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) towards climate change mitigation and adaptation in line with UNFCCC commitments. 

Through UN-REDD initiatives and other FAO technical work, REDD technical assistance supports the Government of Indonesia on:
 
-    forest monitoring, land cover change and satellite monitoring system, including for mangroves and peatland restoration/rehabilitation and bringing in cutting edge tools and methodologies. 
-    technical exchanges on REDD /climate finance options,
-    REDD , NDCs and social forestry, and 
-    Technical improvements to Indonesia's NDC on emission factors and activity data for fires, peatlands and mangroves and develop faster and more accurate methods and systems for monitoring, reporting and ensuring national and jurisdictional results-based payments  

Plans for work to support this include continuing to develop using FAO forest and peatland monitoring systems (e.g. OPEN FORIS, SEPAL etc) and further development and training workshops on those systems. Support is needed for various missions by technical staff and consultants involved in Indonesia’s National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS). These activities will involve increased workload at the FAO-Indonesia office and require technical forestry knowledge and the ability to coordinate with the MoE and MoF staff in Bahasa Indonesia to plan and implement the work. This Call for expressions of interest is for a dedicated mid-level forestry specialist to coordinate the work from the FAO-Indonesia office located at MoF.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative of Indonesia and following the technical work-plan developed by and with day-to-day guidance the UN-REDD Forestry Officer/REDD specialist in Jakarta. On finance and administration matters, the specialist shall liaise with the FAO Representation administrative staff in Jakarta to process the paperwork following FAO rules.

Technical Focus 

The FAO UN-REDD Programme and FAO Representation to Indonesia need a National Forestry Specialist to support the planning and implementation of activities to support improvements in Indonesia’s as per UN-REDD TA 2025 and subsequent years, while also supporting FAO-Indonesia more broadly in forestry and climate change work related to REDD actions.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Assist with the planning and coordination with MoE and MoF and other GoI agencies to deliver the UN-REDD work supporting Indonesia’s Forest Monitoring Systems, Indonesia’s NDC and FOLU Net-sink plans.
•    Liaise with GoI agencies to arrange meetings, training workshops, meetings etc. including:
o    Organize all logistics including venue with suitable facilities (e.g. computers, consultants, translators etc.) in consultation with MoE/MoF;
o    Input to workshop planning, Concept Note preparation, budgeting, compilation of participants list and communication. 
•    Liaise with GoI agencies to make arrangements for various technical missions during the year. 
o    Help plan and draft mission agenda with MoE/MoF and other agencies or donors. 
o    Collate relevant background materials (reports, maps, datasets etc.) in advance, and provide input to mission and technical reports as required. 
•    Plan and undertake operational tasks to support the FAO UN-REDD TA 2025, including regular contact with the UN-REDD staff in RAP and HQ on technical matters;
•    Contribute to the development of synergies and joint work between UN-REDD activities and other initiatives in forestry and the environment supported by FAO in Indonesia (e.g. donors and projects, incl. UNDP, UNEP, other donor projects from GIZ, Norway, World Bank, GEF, and NGO activities). 
•    Develop opportunities for FAO to be involved in expanded REDD and related work through discussions with MoE/MoF, FAO HQ, RAP and relevant Indonesian agencies. 
•    Provide technical support to the FAO Representation in Indonesia on matters related to REDD and broader forests matters if applicable, including attending meetings and writing reports; 
•    Travel within Indonesia and occasionally overseas may be required to undertake these duties. 
•    Carry out other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in forestry, environment or other field relevant to the Call for expressions of interest;
•    Five years of professional experience relating to forestry with experience in REDD , climate change related matters, and field forest inventory / monitoring being an advantage;
•    Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English and Bahasa Indonesia
•    National of Indonesia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills  

•    Experience in processing forest inventory and/or remote sensing data for forestry or other land uses;
•    Experience in planning for and running workshops and meetings including consulting with government agency staff, planning agendas, drafting and sending invitations;
•    A high level of proficiency in computer skills is essential; ability to set up and analyze datasets desirable;
•    Experience in working with international organizations is an advantage;
•    Good writing, presentation and communication skills;
•    Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION