Myanmar: Technical Advisor, Forestry Division

Oct 15, 2020 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
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The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with member countries, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The post is located in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, as part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Project: Myanmar National Forest Inventory (NFI) National Forest Monitoring and Information System (NFMIS) with a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA). The incumbent will also work closely with the National Forest Monitoring Team of NFO.

Background:

FAO in collaboration with the Government of Finland will support the government of Myanmar in the development and implementation of a two-phase project for a new national scale Forest Inventory System over the years 2020 - 2025. Phase 1 of the project covers activities of Readiness and Testing, and Phase 2 the full Implementation. A particular and innovative feature of this project is to develop a 'globally relevant approach to National Forest Inventory (NFI) and National Forest Monitoring and Information Systems (NFMIS) explicitly within the framework of a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and conflict sensitivity', and support the Government of Myanmar in its implementation in the national territory'. Thus, the project fills an important gap in (global) approaches to National Forest Inventory and Myanmar's existing National Forest Monitoring System, with no national forest inventory having ever been fully conducted in the country. In addition, at present, no guidelines nor best practices are available in terms of how to implement inventories and other monitoring activities in areas with security and conflict issues or territories with mixed governance systems.   

The project will establish the capacity in Myanmar to develop updated reports on the state of the forests at national scale and the scale of states and regions as well as for several other sub-national user-defined reporting units. The results of the NFI are expected to contribute to evidence based strategy and policy planning in the forest sector and to reduce controversies among stakeholders and sectoral policy actors derived from different, sometimes opposing, views in forest policy discussions through updated data on the state and quality of forests.

The project will be divided in two phases, namely: (1) Phase I of Readiness and testing, and (2) Phase II of full implementation. Phase I will cover the development of a package of safeguard instruments aimed at guaranteeing that the project is implemented in the framework of a HRBA, and that conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm strategies are demonstrated throughout the project. These instruments will be established and institutionalized into country level actions through an open access data sharing policy, development of a stakeholder engagement and communication plan that includes how to communicate grievances and approaches for their resolution, with linkage to the Myanmar REDD+ Safeguard Information System. During Phase I data collection and some initial reporting for areas not considered as conflict prone will also be developed. Phase I will also involve consultation with stakeholders at the global level on conflict sensitive and human rights based approaches to NFI, and and the development of normative knowledge products, which will be subsequently implemented in Phase II.  Phase II will involve the completion of data collection in the remaining areas.  When data collection is complete for all areas, a full data analysis and national scale reports as well as results for other reporting units will be developed.

For countries in conflict, there is a clear global need to develop instruments to guarantee that a Human Rights Based Approach is followed in all elements of National Forest Monitoring (NFM). The global instruments developed in this project will have immediate application in Myanmar as a first country implementation, and can be applied across FAO's NFM and NFI country support in conflict situations. The global activities such as the South-South collaboration and the development of global guidelines for conflict sensitivity and human rights based approaches in forest monitoring will be co-financed by FAO, to enable the scaling up of best practices to the global level for impact beyond Myanmar.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Adviser will report to the Senior Forestry Officer ( National Forest Monitoring team leader) under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Myanmar and in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Adviser/Lead Technical Office (NFO), the National Project Director (NPD) and the National Project Coordinator (NPC) in coordination with the REDD+/NFM team for Asia and the Pacific and in headquarters.

Technical Focus

The Technical Adviser will provide technical expertise to support the planning, and implementation of the HRBA and Conflict Sensitivity components of the project: Myanmar National Forest Inventory (NFI) National Forest Monitoring and Information System (NFMIS) with a Human Rights Based Approach.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products, and services.

Key Functions

  • Researches and analyses technical-related issues on the development, the implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; assists to the review of relevant documents and reports;
  • Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and documents as well as technical input for reports and web pages;
  • Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and projects and provides technical backstopping to field projects;
  • Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases;
  • Oversees the updating of databases and web pages;
  • Participates in multidisciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other divisions/offices and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices;
  • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, online tools;
  • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and guides partners in stakeholder consultations;
  • Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions

  • Leads and conducts conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity analysis in relevant areas of NFI work for a human rights based approach to NFI/ NFM including the development of guidelines based on HRBA and 'Do-No-Harm" principles that relate to implementation of NFI and NFMS in a conflict sensitive manner;
  • Directs Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes and conduct/lead relevant training;
  • Supports the capacity needs assessment, development of a training plan and training of field crews and other relevant stakeholders on conflict sensitivity, human rights based approaches and FPIC;
  • Guides the National Consultant for HRBA and Conflict Sensitivity of the project;
  • Ensures that the project grievance mechanism is developed and communicated sufficiently and appropriately;
  • Supports development of communication strategy and review effectiveness of communication periodically;
  • Contributes to the development of global instruments to guarantee that a Human Rights Based Approach is followed in all elements of National Forest Monitoring (NFM);
  • Performs other duties, as necessary.

Candidates will be assessed against the following:

Minimum Requirements

  • Advanced university degree in political sciences, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), or a related field;
  • Five years of relevant experience in technical cooperation's related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes;
  • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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 human rights based approaches, indigenous peoples and community rights, gender;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of FPIC, for land management/ sustainable natural resource/ governance or land tenure projects;
  • Extent of knowledge of REDD+ safeguards, approaches and familiarity with developing and implementing grievance mechanisms and dispute resolution approaches;
  • Experience in advisory work with developing country government agencies and non-government stakeholders including community advocacy organizations.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

General Information

• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Conditions of Service

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm

Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

  • Dependency allowances
  • Rental subsidy
  • Education grant for children
  • Home leave travel
  • 30 working days of annual leave per year
  • Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
  • International health insurance; optional life insurance
  • Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:

  • elements of family-friendly policies
  • flexible working arrangements
  • standards of conduct