Enhanced Transparency Expert

Organizational Setting FAO Timor-Leste supports implementation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project GCP/TIM/11959/GFF, “Enabling Timor-Leste to prepare its First Biennial Transparency Report with a combined Third National Communication (BTR1/NC3) and Second Biennial Transparency Report (BTR2)”. The project assists Timor-Leste in meeting its reporting requirements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. The project strengthens national technical and institutional capacity to prepare and submit Biennial Transparency Reports and National Communications, while promoting national ownership. Implementation involves close collaboration with NDCC/MoTE, relevant ministries and agencies, the Working Group on Climate Change, technical working groups, data providers, national and international consultants, and related initiatives, including the CBIT project. FAO Timor-Leste is seeking an Enhanced Transparency Expert and BTR/NC3 Lead Consultant to provide overall technical coordination, report integration, adaptation reporting, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) tracking, mitigation transparency, projections guidance and quality assurance in accordance with the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). The assignment is home-based, with missions to Dili, Timor-Leste, as required. Reporting Lines The consultant will work under overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Timor-Leste and will collaborate on daily basis with the Lead Technical Officer, Assistant FAO Representative for Programme and coordinate technical contribution from the national consultant and international experts. Technical Focus The position will focus on ttechnical coordination, integration and quality assurance of the combined BTR1/NC3, covering NDC tracking, mitigation policies and measures, greenhouse gas (GHG) projections, impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and loss and damage. The assignment covers non-inventory reporting and coherent integration of the separately prepared inventory package; it excludes detailed GHG inventory calculations and completion of inventory Common Reporting Tables (CRTs). Task and Responsibilities The consultant will provide technical leadership and coordinate preparation of an integrated, high-quality combined BTR1/NC3 consistent with UNFCCC and ETF requirements. Specifically rresponsibilities will include:
• Conduct an inception assessment and prepare the integrated BTR1/NC3 workplan and coordination roadmap within the first month, including institutional responsibilities, flexibility provisions, review points, risks, dependencies and integration of the separately prepared inventory outputs;
• Provide guidance on UNFCCC Convention requirements, Paris Agreement ETF requirements, Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines, relevant Conference of the Parties (COP) and Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) decisions, and non-inventory Common Tabular Formats;
• Coordinate national and international experts and prepare and maintain the annotated report outline, integrated production schedule, drafting protocol, source register and quality assurance workflow in accordance with the agreed workplan;
• Guide national teams on BTR and National Communication requirements for NDC tracking, mitigation, projections, impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and loss and damage, and prepare a methodology note covering these reporting areas, excluding inventory calculation methods;
• Review indicators, methodologies, baselines, assumptions and data sources for tracking NDC implementation and achievement, in coordination with national mitigation and NDC tracking experts;
• Advise on mitigation policies and measures, impact estimation, GHG projections and scenarios, excluding detailed GHG inventory calculations and completion of inventory CRTs;
• Review adaptation evidence, climate risk and vulnerability analysis, adaptation progress and effectiveness, and loss-and-damage information;
• Review non-inventory technical chapters and annexes for completeness, consistency, transparency and responsiveness to national circumstances, and ensure that separately prepared inventory outputs are coherently referenced and integrated;
• Provide consolidated non-inventory quality assurance/quality control and integration notes at each drafting milestone;
• Lead report integration and final technical editing, producing integrated draft and final combined BTR1/NC3 packages for national validation and submission readiness, incorporating the cleared inventory package;
• Coordinate consolidated responses for national validation, government clearance, technical expert review and preparation for the facilitation, multilateral consideration of progress (FMCP), with inventory-specific responses provided by the separately assigned inventory expert;
• Mentor national experts and deliver technical clinics on transparency reporting, adaptation, NDC tracking, mitigation, projections and report integration. CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements
• Advance degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in in environmental management, natural resources management, climate change, agriculture or a related field. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 10years of relevant experience in climate change transparency reporting, UNFCCC reporting, technical coordination, report integration or related areas, consistent with Consultant Category A requirements;
• Working knowledge of English. FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience coordinating and integrating Biennial Transparency Reports and National Communications, including technical editing and quality assurance of multidisciplinary contributions;
• Knowledge of UNFCCC and Paris Agreement ETF reporting requirements, Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines, relevant COP/CMA decisions, flexibility provisions and non-inventory Common Tabular Formats;
• Experience reviewing NDC tracking indicators, methodologies, baselines, assumptions and data sources, mitigation policies and measures, impact estimates, GHG projections and scenarios;
• Experience reviewing climate impacts, risk and vulnerability assessments, adaptation progress and effectiveness, and loss-and-damage information for national reporting;
• Ability to establish integrated reporting roadmaps, drafting protocols, production schedules, source registers and quality assurance workflows, and to integrate separately prepared inventory outputs without duplicating inventory specialists’ responsibilities;
• Strong technical coordination, analytical, communication and mentoring skills, including experience supporting national validation, government clearance, technical expert review and FMCP readiness, and delivering technical clinics for national experts.