Job Title
Agricultural Sustainability Specialist
We are seeking an experienced professional to lead our efforts in agricultural sustainability. As an Agricultural Sustainability Specialist, you will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the efficient implementation of various projects related to sustainable agriculture and environment.
* You will work closely with project management units to address management challenges and provide guidance on project design, monitoring, and supervision.
* Ensuring the development of annual work plans and budgets that align with approved project documents is another key responsibility.
* You will also ensure that approved projects' environmental and social management risk mitigation plans are implemented and monitored.
* Leading Project Task Force meetings and other management mechanisms to secure continued alignment with GEF policies and FAO procedures is a critical aspect of this role.
* Preparing high-quality project implementation review reports and project progress reports in English is essential for maintaining effective communication with stakeholders.
* Serving as the Country Office's focal point for mid-term reviews and terminal evaluations of GEF projects is also a significant responsibility.
Responsibilities
1. Oversee and ensure efficient implementation of portfolio: Ensure the efficient and timely implementation of GEF-5, GEF-7, and GEF-8 projects in Brazil Lead the operationalization of GEF-7 and GEF-8 projects in final consultation stages for smooth implementation, speeding up the start-up and implementation phases, reaching the 1st Disbursement milestone in the expected time Provide guidance to project management units in addressing management challenges Ensure the development of annual work plans and budgets, quality-check budget revision requests, and their alignment with the approved GEF Project Documents Ensure approved projects' Environmental and Social Management risk mitigation plans are implemented and monitored Chair FAO Project Task Force meetings, co-chair Project Steering Committee meetings and other management mechanisms to secure continued alignment with GEF policies and FAO policies and procedures Ensure that good quality annual Project Implementation Review (PIR) and FAO's Project Progress Reports (PPR) are prepared in English and delivered to the FAO PTF in due time Serve as the Country Office's focal point for the Mid-Term Reviews and Terminal Evaluations of GEF projects Monitor the FAO GEF portfolio in Brazil, based on approved project documents, annual work plans and budgets and reports to secure continued delivery and progress of all projects, troubleshooting and making recommendations for improvement where needed Discuss, anticipate and troubleshoot eventual execution challenges, while keeping a direct line of dialogue with the Operational Partners of GEF projects, FAO PTF, and the ROPs in RLC Perform supervision missions to field areas, at least twice a year Lead the Operational Partners Implementation Modality (OPIM) matters, including the preparation of the Operational Partners Agreement (OPA) packages, in close consultation with the Regional Operational Partners Specialist (ROPS) in RLC, PSS Division, and the OCB GEF Unit Lead the negotiation of the OPAs with operational partners, in a timely and prompt manner, meeting expected deadlines Ensure the buy-in and understanding of the OPIM modality and agreement by the national partners, in due time Lead the Due Diligence processes required for non-state operational partners, in a timely and prompt manner, meeting expected deadlines Facilitate the organization of audits and spot check exercises, once the projects are operationalized Conduct troubleshooting missions, as required, in coordination with the OCB GEF Unit and RLC Oversee and/or lead project preparation processes in Brazil Lead projects under development (Project Preparation Grant PPG phase): Perform BH functions responsibilities for projects under development, whenever requested by the FAO Representative Secure FAO project documents and annexes are timely prepared for submission to the GEF, having addressed the comments of the FAO Project Task Force (PTF) and government counterparts Secure co-financing letters and government's no objection well before project submission to the OCB GEF Unit Coordinate the process of addressing GEF and STAP comments at national level Conduct a preliminary quality assurance of FAO-GEF Project Preparation Grants, Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs) and Project Document with all annexes (including project budget), well before submitting the documents to the OCB GEF Unit Conduct project design mission to field areas, as required Liaise with Brazil's GEF Operational Focal Point and other partners in Brazil to ensure robust GEF-9 planning and GEF project pipeline maintenance Based on the country's demand, the incumbent will: Develop a clear timeline and deliverables for new projects with milestones and deadlines Reach out to FAO technical teams, under the leadership of OCB-GEF Unit and the LTO, to ensure the best use of FAO tools and approaches that cut across different technical areas Assess partnerships and ongoing/planned investments to build a strong baseline scenario Coordinate inputs from project partners to prepare a draft PIF/ GBFF PPG request resulting from the assessment of existing information and data that is fully aligned with GEF/GBFF programming directions and GEF policies Secure a final PIF/ GBFF PPG request is prepared for submission addressing comments from the FAO Project Task Force(s), in a timely and prompt manner, meeting expected deadlines Prepare a GBFF PPG Operationalization Plan with a detailed description of PPG activities, calendar, budget and TORs for PPG project national consultants Engage in national discussions on GEF-9 planning with the Operational Focal Point to GEF, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other national Conduct project design mission to field areas, as required