National Environment and Finance Specialist

Organizational Setting

With funding from the UN-REDD Programme trust fund donors and the government of Luxembourg, FAO is supporting work the Government of Lao PDR in streamlining fees and charges in the forestry sector, particularly through a feasibility study for a Payment for Forest Environmental Services scheme. In May 2024, with support by FAO/UN-REDD an exchange visit was organized in Viet Nam. DoF presented the outcomes of this exchange to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), which were further reported to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO issued Notification Letter No. 1482/PMO on July 30, 2024, and approved a pilot PFES program in Lao PDR. Responding to the Prime Minister's direction, MAF issued Agreement No. 4977/MAF on October 10, 2024, to form a PFES Steering Committee and Technical Working Group. The Committee and TWG are tasked to develop a workplan, conduct consultations, review legal frameworks, measure impact to the hydropower sector and government’s budget, coordinate with government agencies and the private sector.

In fact, PFES is mentioned in the 2019 Forestry law (Articles 3 – 31, 82, 88, 127, 131). The Forestry Law also alludes to other fees and charges that are payable to the government. These include, technical service fees (Art 82, 87), royalties (Art 35, 127), forest resource fees (Art 127, 131), lease or concession fees (Art 87, 127), taxes (Art 35), fines and fees for the compensation for damage to forests, forestland and forest resources (Art 131), and breaking this down, forestland conversion fees (Art 82, 131), biodiversity compensation fees (Art 82), [compensatory] tree [and NTFP] planting cost (Art 82, 87, 131), reforestation costs (Art 87), and land reclamation costs (Art 87). The implementation of these collection fees is not fully known but understood to be patchy. In parallel to the development and roll out of PFES, DOF requested FAO/UN-REDD to review other forestry sector fees and charges with the objective of streamlining the different charges and efficiently and effectively collecting due charges and fees.  

The “Feasibility study and assessment on the potential for Payment for forest Environmental Service (PFES) and improving the fee collection in the forestry sector” is a technical assistant to the Department of Forestry being delivered in partnership between FAO and GIZ. The assignment comprises a package of six tasks to be delivered through a team of experts hired by FAO and GIZ. The six tasks include the following, where Tasks 1, 2 and 3 are focused on all fees and charges identified in the Forestry Law and all payer typologies, whereas Tasks 4, 5 and 6 are focused on PFES charges and payer typologies i) hydropower sector, ii) drinking water/beverage industry, iii) eco-tourism sector. 
•     Task 1 Legal framework review
•     Task 2 Legal framework implementation assessment
•     Task 3 Frame of definitions and objectives of charges/fees
•     Task 4 Insights from other countries and Viet Nam
•     Task 5 Feasibility and potential study
•     Task 6 Draft legal framework

The “Feasibility study and assessment on the potential for Payment for forest Environmental Service (PFES) and improving the fee collection in the forestry sector” assignment will be delivered through a team of experts hired by FAO and GIZ, including Lao national experts, Vietnam specialized experts, and international experts (PES expertise). The incumbent will work under the overall coordination and technical supervision of the international expert in the team. 
The expert team:  
•     Lao national expert on Lao environment legal framework
•     Lao national expert on hydropower sector 
•     Vietnamese expert on environment and finance
•     Vietnamese expert on Viet Nam’s PFES experience
•     International expert on PES and environmental charges, for oversight and overall quality control for all tasks

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the FAO Representative (FAOR) for Lao PDR, specifically through the Halting Deforestation and Climate Change Expert in close coordination with the National Coordinator of UN-REDD Lao PDR. The incumbent conducts tasks in close coordination with a team from FAO, GIZ and government counterparts, ensuring coherence and time coordination.

Technical Focus

The technical focus of the Vietnam expert on environment and finance is on Tasks 2 and 5 of the package of tasks outlined above. The incumbent will also contribute inputs and review for tasks 1 and 3. (No input is expected for Task 4 and 6.)  
 

Tasks and responsibilities

The following tasks and responsibilities are expected from the incumbent, bearing in mind that the package of tasks will ultimately be carried out through teamwork, and therefore requires some flexibility in adapting to the expertise and skillsets brought forward by different team members.  

Legal framework review (5 days) 
•     Review and contribute to the Lao Table of forestry sector fees and charges according to the current legal framework and to the Viet Nam Table 
•     Review and contribute to the supplementary narratives for information on Tables  

Legal framework implementation assessment (15 days)  
•     Provide expertise for assessing the implementation situation of the fees and charges as identified in the Lao Table , by reviewing how and where implementation may be consistent or inconsistent with the legal provisions from Vietnam and other country’s experience.  
•     Develop materials for presentation and reporting  

Frame of definitions and objectives of charges/fees (3 days) 
•     Review and contribute to the drafted framework of recommended fees/charges, their rationales for payment, use and collection regimes  
•     

Feasibility and potential study (15 days) 
•     Provide substantive inputs in design and conducting the feasibility study  
•     Develop materials for presentation and reporting 
•      Develop accompanying narrative reporting  

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•     Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Forestry, Environmental Economics, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Law, Public Policy, or a closely related field. 
•     Minimum 7 years’ experience in forestry policy, natural resource economics, environmental finance, or Payment for Ecosystem/Environmental Services (PES/PFES) development and implementation, with significant experience in Viet Nam.
•     Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese
•     National of Viet Nam or resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Proven experience in policy analysis, legal framework review, and drafting policy/legal documents, particularly in the context of forestry and environmental charges.
•     Strong experience in data collection, analysis of financial reports, and conducting feasibility studies in the forestry or environmental sectors.
•     Familiarity with international best practices and experiences in PFES/environmental taxation is highly desirable.
•     Experience working effectively with government agencies, the private sector, and international organizations, particularly in cross-country learning initiatives.
•     Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and present clear, actionable recommendations.
•     Superior report writing and presentation skills, capable of producing high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and compelling presentations.
•     Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Vietnamese.
•     Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to meet tight deadlines.

Selection Criteria

•     A PhD would be an asset.
•     Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and practical experience with Viet Nam's PFES system, including its legal and institutional framework, implementation mechanisms, and operational challenges.