Forestry Officer

The Forestry Officer (Timber Value Chain and Business Development) supports the planning, development and implementation of forestry programmes focusing on sustainable forest management, value chains, and business development. The role involves technical advisory services, capacity building, resource mobilization, and collaboration with partners to promote sustainable forest-based value chains and investments.

Responsibilities

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams; leads and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc., to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance; provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices as well as technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and'on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Provides technical advisory services and technical backstopping to Forest Partnerships implementation and efforts to develop value chains and guide investment in accordance with the FGVP.
• Provides strategic and technical analysis on forest-related value chains.
• Supports the development, funding, formulation and implementation of activities and field projects that are operationally viable and meet the Organization's policy standards and best practices and requirements of participants through adequate inputs from NFO and other technical departments and in appropriate consultation with partners and the Project Support Division (PSS).
• Provides effective support to the implementation of the FGVP, including coordination of logistical and administration arrangements, monitoring of field project resources/progress and resolving outstanding operational problems, and advising and/or briefing technical officers on operational aspects.
• Guides, oversees or leads assessments of markets and investment opportunities for the forest bio-economy;
• Leads assessment of forest-based value chains and services to identify the most promising avenues for creating value and jobs in Forest Partnerships countries.
• Directly provides and/or mobilizes resources for providing technical support, capacity building, and mentoring for the FGVP partners and beneficiaries on business planning and the application of sustainable business models in the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), restoration, plantation development, value-added production and provision of ecosystem services.
• Guides, oversees or leads capacity development of the FGVP partners and beneficiaries to access finance from national financial institutions, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and other funds.
• Contributes to the development of national or regional sustainable financing strategies in Forest Partnerships countries.
• Supports the Programme Manager with periodic progress and terminal reports for review by those units having technical, financial and operational responsibility, all for the eventual submission to the Programme Task Force (PTF), Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and donors, as appropriate.
• Represents the programme in international meetings and in high-level regional and national meetings and undertakes missions as appropriate to monitor programme progress and take corrective action, as required.
• Collaborates with the Forestry Officer/FGVP Manager in applying an increased strategic focus of NFO activities in line with the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equiv