Technical Officer (Biodiversity and Environment) Food and Agriculture Organization

ADM213e 06/10 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations PROFESSIONAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO: 2566-NRD Issued on: 20 July 2011 Deadline For Application: 10 September 2011 POSITION TITLE: Technical Officer (Biodiversity and Environment) GRADE LEVEL: P3 DUTY STATION: Rome ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), NRDC DURATION *: Fixed Term: 3 years Natural Resources Management and Environment Department, NR POST CODE/NO: 2002667 CCOG CODE: 1H01 Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) keeps under review all matters related to the Organization’s policy, programmes and activities regarding all components of biodiversity of relevance to food and agriculture. The Secretariat of the Commission prepares and supports sessions of the Commission, and follows up on its decisions. It also monitors and reports to the Commission on developments in relevant international bodies and processes (including CBD, WIPO, WTO and the CGIAR). At its Eleventh Regular Session, the Commission adopted its Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW), which allows it to implement its full mandate covering all components of biodiversity for food and agriculture in a planned and staged approach, to programme its cooperation with other relevant international instruments and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) and to coordinate with relevant international processes. This post will directly support this work. Under the supervision of the Secretary of the Commission, the incumbent will provide support in implementing the MYPOW, and convening and running sessions of the Commission. In particular, the incumbent will: • provide support to the implementation of the MYPOW and in particular to the interdepartmental MYPOW Task Force; • support the development and preparation of documents related to cross-cutting issues relevant to genetic resources and biodiversity, including biodiversity targets and indicators; • collect and analyse technical information for the State of the World on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture; • provide technical inputs in the preparation and the interdepartmental coordination of FAO submissions and inputs to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other relevant environment instruments; • monitor policy, legal and technical developments of other international instruments in the spheres of biodiversity and environment, for their relevance in implementing the MYPOW; • prepare briefs for communicating FAO’s activities in the field of biodiversity to other relevant instruments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders; • promote cooperation with relevant international organizations and secretariats in the field of biodiversity, including CBD, WIPO,MEAs, the CGIAR and international research institutions, and international non-governmental organizations; • collaborate with the secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, to develop synergy within the context of the MYPOW; • perform other duties as requested MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Candidates should meet the following: • University degree in agriculture, natural resources, environment and/or socioeconomic sciences or related fields • Five years of relevant experience in issues related to genetic resources and biodiversity for food and agriculture, including conservation, use and/or, access and benefit-sharing, as well as on activities related to the organization and management of inter-governmental and/or technical meetings • Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish SELECTION CRITERIA Candidates will be assessed against the following: • Extent of knowledge and understanding of technical and policy matters related to the various sectors of genetic resources for food and agriculture • Extent of knowledge of developments in other relevant international fora and the capacity to conduct technical and policy analysis of on-going processes • Demonstrated ability to formulate, draft and finalize clear technical and policy documents • Demonstrated ability to prepare and monitor wide-ranging consultative processes and/or inter-governmental meetings • Ability to work with a wide range of experts at different levels from a wide variety of sectors and disciplines • Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team Please note that all candidates should possess computer/word processing skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. * The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments REMUNERATION ADM213e 06/10 A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://icsc.un.org/ TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants Send your application to: V.A 2566-NRD Secretary, Comnmission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153 Rome ITALY Fax No: +39 06 57053064 E-mail: VA-2566-NRD@fao.org Please note that FAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director-General and may be assigned to any activities or office of the organization. FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

Job Email id: VA-2566-NRD(at)fao.org