Forestry Specialist
Duration: 11 months (with possibility of extension)
Organizational Setting
The FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC) supports countries in promoting sustainable, resilient and productive forest landscapes across the subregion. Its forestry work covers a broad range of thematic areas, including sustainable forest management and forest monitoring, forest and landscape restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, climate action and resilience, as well as capacity development and forest policy.
The Forestry Specialist will provide technical expertise to FAO SEC’s forestry portfolio, contributing to the development, implementation and technical quality of forestry initiatives across these thematic areas, with particular emphasis on sustainable forest management.
Reporting Lines
The Forestry Specialist reports to the Forestry Officer at the FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC), under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia, and works in close coordination with relevant FAO technical officers and teams.
Technical Focus
Sustainable and multifunctional forest management, with particular emphasis on forest management planning, forest resource assessment and monitoring, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, forest and landscape restoration, climate resilience, and the application of evidence-based approaches, methodologies and tools for sustainable forest management.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Provide substantive technical expertise and advisory support on sustainable forest management (SFM), multifunctional forest management and related forestry matters, contributing to the formulation, implementation and technical oversight of FAO SEC’s forestry activities at national and subregional levels;
• Undertake technical assessments of forest management systems, planning frameworks and management practices, including institutional, ecological and operational dimensions, and identify technical gaps, constraints, opportunities and priority areas for strengthening sustainable forest management;
• Provide technical expertise for the development, review and application of forest management planning approaches, methodologies and tools, including multifunctional and ecosystem-based approaches that address the ecological, social and economic functions of forests;
• Analyse and synthesize forest-related data, technical assessments, national experiences, management practices and lessons learned, and translate findings into technically sound recommendations, methodologies and operational guidance for forestry institutions and practitioners;
• Provide technical inputs for the integration of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, climate change adaptation and mitigation, forest and landscape restoration, and other relevant environmental considerations into forest management policies, planning processes and management practices;
• Contribute to forest resource assessment, monitoring and information management, including the appropriate application of forest inventory data, geospatial information, digital tools and other relevant information sources to support evidence-based forest management and planning;
• Develop, review and provide quality assurance of technical guidelines, methodologies, technical specifications, analytical reports, assessments, training materials and other forestry-related technical and knowledge products;
• Provide technical guidance to the design, implementation, monitoring and review of national and subregional forestry initiatives, including field-based and pilot interventions, and assess their technical consistency with sustainable forest management principles, applicable methodologies and relevant FAO guidance;
• Identify, assess and promote technically sound and context-appropriate forestry practices, methodologies and innovations, and facilitate the adaptation and application of relevant international and regional approaches to national forest management contexts;
• Plan, coordinate and technically facilitate national and regional workshops, expert consultations, technical meetings, training activities and other forestry-related events, including the development of technical agendas and background materials, presentation of technical findings, facilitation of technical discussions and follow-up on agreed recommendations;
• Contribute to capacity development and technical knowledge exchange among forestry administrations, forest management institutions, practitioners and other relevant stakeholders, including through the preparation and delivery of technical presentations, training materials and knowledge products;
• Liaise and collaborate with FAO technical units, national forestry authorities, research and academic institutions, forestry practitioners, experts and other relevant stakeholders to promote technical coordination, exchange of expertise and dissemination of good practices;
• Contribute to the identification, documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, good practices and emerging approaches in sustainable forest management across the subregion;
• Perform other related duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in forestry, forest management, natural resource management or a closely related field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in forestry, with demonstrated technical experience in sustainable forest management, forest management planning and related forestry disciplines.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Strong technical knowledge of sustainable and multifunctional forest management, including forest management planning principles, approaches and practices;
• Demonstrated ability to assess forest management systems and practices, identify technical and institutional gaps and formulate technically sound and context-appropriate recommendations;
• Sound knowledge of forest resource assessment, forest inventory and monitoring approaches, and their application in forest management planning and decision-making;
• Sound technical knowledge of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, forest and landscape restoration, ecosystem-based approaches, and climate change adaptation and mitigation, and their integration into sustainable forest management and planning;
• Experience in the development, review and application of forestry methodologies, technical guidelines, management planning approaches and other technical tools;
• Ability to analyse and synthesize complex technical information and translate findings into practical guidance, recommendations and high-quality technical products;
• Knowledge and practical experience in the application of geospatial information, GIS and digital approaches relevant to forest assessment, monitoring and management planning;
• Experience in providing technical inputs to field-based forestry activities and in reviewing the technical quality and consistency of forestry interventions;
• Experience in planning and technically facilitating workshops, expert consultations, training activities and other capacity-development processes;
• Ability to work effectively with national forestry authorities, technical institutions, experts and other stakeholders in multidisciplinary and multi-country settings;
• Strong technical drafting, communication and presentation skills in English;
• Relevant professional experience in Central Asia and/or in international or regional forestry programmes is considered an asset.
• Knowledge (Level B) of one of the other FAO official languages is an asset.