National forestry financial specialist

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

Under the UN-REDD Programme, FAO has been leading the coordination of delivery of the UN-REDD Technical Assistance (TA) in Viet Nam, since 2017. The UN-REDD TA 2023 supports the Government of Viet Nam through the Department of Forestry (DOF) in accessing results-based payments under the LEAF Coalition, for a jurisdictional REDD project covering 11 provinces in Viet Nam. FAO’s support under the UN-REDD TA includes the support to filling gaps against the ART/TREES carbon standard, specifically to address the ability of the jurisdiction (Government of Viet Nam) to have their TREES credits (emission reduction and removals (ERRs)) issued on the ART registry, and ultimately sold to Emergent on behalf of the LEAF Coalition.
The current legal framework of Vietnam presents a gap regarding the transfer of Emission Reduction (ER) credits from natural forests under the LEAF program. While the mandate of MARD to manage and protect natural forests is well-established, the legal authority for MARD to transfer ERs generated from these forests remains unclear without a specific Prime Ministerial decree. This lack of explicit legal provisions creates uncertainty for potential buyers and could hinder the effectiveness of the LEAF program. In contrast, the legal framework surrounding ERs from planted forests (often under private ownership) is clearer, as ownership and transfer rights typically reside with the forest owners themselves.
A Prime Ministerial decree specifically addressing the transfer of ERs from natural forests under the LEAF program and referring to a well-designed BSP as a condition for ERPA agreement would provide much-needed legal clarity. This decree would define MARD's authority in this process and ensure a smooth and transparent system for ER transactions, ultimately facilitating the success of the LEAF program.
Currently, the Department of Forestry (DOF) is exchanging and discussing with Emergent to complete records and documents (draft ERPA and Report to the Prime Minister) to advise the MARD to get opinions from the relevant ministries, branches and localities for ERPA negotiation for submission to the Prime Minister. To complete the technical conditions and mobilize resources to implement ERPA, the task of developing legal regulations to implement the ERPA is crucial.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Viet Nam, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR-Programme in the FAO Representation in Viet Nam. Operationally and technically, the incumbent will work with the responsible Forestry Officer (based in RAP), the National Coordinator, the UN-REDD regional teams of FAO and UNEP, as well as other colleagues within the UN-REDD team (based in Headquarters).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for drafting the plan and financial issues\: (1) Report on Investment Framework and Benefit Sharing Plan from ERPA; (2) Report on receiving explanations and comments from relevant agencies.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Refer to TREES registration documents; Collect data, documents, practical experiences of programs/projects on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and related reports; Draft report outline;
• Provide information support to the DOF / ERPA Negotiation Team;
• Coordinate with the forestry consultants to draft a proposal to develop options to transfer ER results (verified reductions in greenhouse gas emission) to be attached to the Letter of seeking permission for negotiating and signing the ERPA;
• Draft documents for transferring ER results (financial items, Investment framework and Benefit sharing plan from ERPA), content includes but is not limited to\: eligible beneficiaries (including list of forest owners who are organizations, commune-level People's Committees and other organizations, number of households, individuals, communities, and other beneficiaries), eligible expenditures, use of proceeds, determine the proceeds amount to be paid to beneficiaries;
• Contribute to develop a report on economic, social and environmental impact assessment (with comparison before and after payment is made);
• Support consultions with relevant agencies at central level, LEAF/Emergent and 11 provinces in the Central Highlands and South Central regions;
• Report on receiving and explaining comments from relevant parties;
• Coordinate with forestry consultants to develop an Outline of the Report and Benefit Sharing Plan from ERPA, support other tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Holding a master’s degree in the fields of finance and forestry economics.
• Possess at least 10 years of work experience, including a minimum of 7 years in the forestry industry, with a focus on forestry finance. Experience as a consultant in forestry finance.
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Vietnam or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working in UN agencies/INGOs/ international organizations/NGOs or in an international context is an asset.
• Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously.
• Excellent writing skills
• Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Selection Criteria

• Strong skills in analyzing, synthesizing, reporting, and presenting research results. Effective communication and networking skills with stakeholders. Proficiency in English for collaborating with international partners.
• Preference given to experts with experience in reducing emissions and absorbing and storing forest carbon.

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact\: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
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• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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