Project Coordinator - REDD+

Duration: 12 months

Organizational Setting

In the overall framework of REDD+ process (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries), FAO supports countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia and the Pacific to achieve the following outcomes:

• Design and adopt national contributions to the mitigation of climate change through REDD+, including the provision of additional social and environmental benefits, and in conformity with the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)´s REDD+ safeguards.
• Implement national contributions to the mitigation of climate change through REDD+ with the necessary institutional arrangements in place.
• Development and improvement of MRV capacities, institutional frameworks and carbon rights to access results-based payments.
• Access Results Based Payments (RBP), mobilize finance and re-invest the proceeds to achieve new emission reductions

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) operates with a variety of mandates to facilitate results-based financing. Among its initiatives, GCF launched a pilot program for REDD+ results-based payments (RBPs) with an allocation of USD 500 million for the period from 2017 to 2022. However, the funding for this program was fully utilized two years before its conclusion, leaving four proposals, including one from Papua New Guinea (PNG), due to budget constraints. Recognizing the need to continue supporting these initiatives, GCF has prepared a second phase of the RBP program. GCF Board has approved this new phase, ensuring funding availability for the four countries, including PNG, that were previously unable to receive payments due to the exhaustion of the initial funding.

FAO, as the accredited entity of the GCF, has assisted PNG Government in preparation of the Funding Proposal for the GCF RBP under the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP/PNG/4002). The PNG Funding Proposal was approved at the 42nd Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, held in Port Moresby in June 2025. The GCF Project “PNG REDD-plus RBP for results period 2014-2016” will allocate USD 63.4 million to implement the PNG National REDD+ Strategy 2017–2027. The investment acknowledges verified emission reductions of 17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) during the 2014–2016 reference period.
The project activities will address the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in PNG, aiming to reduce emissions in the short term while laying the foundation for sustainable development in the country´s land use and forestry sector. This objective aligns with the National Redd+ Strategy, the country´s Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Responsible Sustainable Development for PNG (StaRS). To this end the project components are focused on increasing the institutional coordination capacities of national and provincial governments in PNG, and to enhance economic productivity and inclusive sustainable livelihoods of customary landowners and communities in six targeted provinces (West Sepik, East Sepik, Western, Hela, Chimbu and West New Britain).

To ensure effective planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of activities, a Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established within the FAO PNG Country Office and FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The PMU will serve as the operational team responsible for day-to-day project execution and will liaise closely with CCDA and other stakeholders. The PMU will ensure the timely, efficient, and results-oriented implementation of the programme, in compliance with FAO and Government of PNG policies and procedures, while fostering stakeholder participation and transparency.

Reporting Lines

Under the general supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor of the GCF project “PNG REDD-plus RBP for results period 2014-2016”, the Project Coordinator provides senior functional leadership to the project and is responsible for leading it in all its components —technical, administrative, and budgetary— ensuring compliance with FAO, GCF and Government of PNG requirements.

Technical Focus

The Project Coordinator serves as the principal technical and operational adviser on project implementation to CCDA, provincial governments and the Project Board, and is accountable for the delivery of project results across the six target provinces.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the daily management and coordination of the project team and activities, setting priorities, allocating work and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of outputs.
• Coordinate the development and updating of project-related documents, including the Project Document with Results Framework that contains detailed Targets and Indicators and ensure their implementation and monitoring throughout the project’s duration
• Lead the development of Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWP/B), procurement plans, and M&E plans, and manage the project budget within delegated authority, monitoring expenditure and proposing budget revisions as required.
• Ensure compliance with FAO, GCF and PNG government procedures.
• Identify and resolve significant and interrelated implementation issues across technical, administrative and financial areas, developing corrective approaches and escalating to the Chief Technical Advisor only matters beyond delegated authority.
• Develop implementation approaches, methodologies and operational guidance for delivering the project components in the six target provinces, adapting them to provincial contexts and lessons learned.
• Lead the coordination of inter-agency and inter-ministerial activities, and negotiate and maintain working arrangements with CCDA, line ministries, provincial governments and implementing partners.
• Organize the meetings of the Project Board (PB), and prepare analyses and recommendations to inform its decisions, including project progress, risks and proposed corrective measures.
• Operationalize at the provincial level the decisions of the Project Board and other higher instances.
• Provide authoritative technical and strategic advice to CCDA, provincial governments, the Project Board and FAO management on REDD+ implementation, the use of results-based payment proceeds, and related policy and institutional matters.
• Lead technical reporting to FAO, CCDA, and GCF, ensuring the quality, accuracy and timeliness of progress and results reports.
• Supervise technical personnel, consultants, and implementing partners, including defining their assignments, reviewing and clearing their deliverables, and evaluating their performance.
• Liaise with FAO technical units at the Regional Office and Headquarters, as needed, to support the implementation of the Project, including the timely mobilization of experts.
• Ensure the strategic alignment of the Project with the FAO Country Programme, the Country Programming Framework (CPF), the FAO’s Strategic Framework and Regional Initiatives (RIs), and the PNG National REDD+ Strategy.
• Draw lessons from implementation to propose adjustments to project approaches and contribute to the formulation of national and provincial REDD+ policies, plans and guidelines.
• Represent the project, and FAO as delegated, in external engagements with government, development partners and the GCF.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in forestry, natural resource management, environmental management, climate change, sustainable development, or a related field
• Five years of relevant experience in forest and/or land management and on REDD+ / halting deforestation including solid knowledge on REDD+ process and at least one (or more) among: implementation of emission reductions actions (including through social forestry, sustainable supply chains, peatlands/mangroves management), MRV and forest and land monitoring. This must include experience in managing or coordinating projects and leading multidisciplinary teams
• Working knowledge of English (level C).
• National of Papua New Guinea or resident of 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

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in working with intergovernmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience and knowledge on forests climate / results-based finance opportunities are desirable.
• Experience in sustainable forest and sustainable agriculture production and markets would be considered an additional asset.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and coordinating complex projects, including preparation and implementation of work plans, budgets, procurement plans and monitoring plans.
• Demonstrated experience in leading project implementation, tracking delivery against agreed results and timelines, identifying implementation risks and issues, and taking corrective action.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams, implementing partners, government institutions and other stakeholders, including establishing clear roles, responsibilities and coordination arrangements.
• Experience in project budget management and operational planning, including monitoring expenditure, supporting budget revisions and ensuring compliance with applicable procedures.
• Experience in project monitoring, reporting and results management, including preparation and quality assurance of progress, performance and results reports for government, donors and/or development partners.
• Demonstrated experience in managing implementing partners and service providers, including reviewing deliverables, monitoring performance and addressing implementation issues.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships, including government institutions and agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to formulate, draft and finalize clear technical and policy documents, guidelines and manuals, in English.
• Extent and relevance of work experience on forest monitoring and social forestry/community-based forestry in the context of national and sub-national REDD+ implementation.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to present complex topics to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative advice to senior government counterparts and to resolve complex, multi-stakeholder implementation issues.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.