Organization: FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Monrovia
Grade: Consultancy – Consultant – Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
International Relations
Legal – Broad
Legal – International Law
Democratic Governance
Agriculture and Forestry
Public Policy and Administration
Human Settlements (Shelter, Housing, Land, Property)
Closing Date: 2024-07-26
IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
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
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programs, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
FAO Liberia is implementing a joint program on Community Forestry Management in two of Liberia’s priority landscapes. With funding from the Embassy of Sweden, and under an UN-to-UN arrangement with UNDP, through the Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). FAO will implement the program working with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and other relevant government institutions, international and national non-governmental organizations, as well as development institutions working towards sustainable natural resource management, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.
The regulatory framework for Liberia’s community forest management is built on, amongst other important legal instruments, the National Forestry Law (2000), and subsequent amendments, the Community Rights Law (2009), the Land Rights Law (2018) and relevant forestry regulations. Ongoing studies by the FAO reveal that the Government of Liberia has enacted several laws, policies, and regulations to regulate the forestry sector. Despite these efforts, there remains a serious challenge for enforcement and coordination in curbing deforestation and land degradation, including weak enforcement, and failure to enact laws in keeping with international commitments such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Liberia Wildlife legislation is presently under discussion within the Legislature. Other challenges in the implementation, compliance and enforcement include\:
• Weak penalties for forestry and wildlife crimes.
• Penalties do not meet the definition of a “serious crime” as per the United Nations Convention against transnational Organized Crime (UNODC) standard.
• Absence of legislation that regulates/recognizes Carbon/Emission Reduction Rights as property making implementation of programs like REDD constrained.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Liberia and the direct supervision of the Legal Officer of the Development Law Service of the Legal Office, the Assistant FAO Representative for Programme, and in full collaboration with the Project Management Specialist and the Gender & Social Inclusion Specialist, the Consultant in coordination with UNDP and FDA colleagues will undertake the tasks outlined below.
Technical Focus
Review and analyse existing legal instruments including national legislations, plans, and assessments and recommend changes or new instruments (as deemed appropriate), for proper implementation compliance and enforcement.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Submit an inception report comprising of a methodology, timeline, and required resources.
• Conduct a comprehensive desk review/literature review of relevant reports (FAO and others) and statutory instruments (including laws, acts, regulations, decrees, resolutions, and customary instruments/practices) as well as interviews with key stakeholders (government, communities, private sector, parliamentarians, etc.), for an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of the situation in the country, which will serve as the basis to develop the legal analysis.
• Conduct and produce a legal analysis, focusing on forestry-related legal instruments, taking into consideration tenure governance on land and forest highlighting existing opportunities, gaps, and inconsistencies among and within forest-related sectors, that affect the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of sustainable management of forests, specifically focusing on legal gaps that constrain the full engagement of local communities (including vulnerable groups, women, and youth) in sustainable forest management.
• Based on the legal analysis, develop set of recommendations to implement the forestry legal framework, including possible modifications or proposals for inclusion in the various legal and policy documents related to the dissemination and promotion of these instruments before the corresponding sanctioning bodies.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in law. Preferably with a specialization and previous consulting experience in environmental, forestry, or natural resources law
• Eight (5) years of professional experience in the legal field, particularly in assessments of the legal and institutional frameworks governing forestry and forestry-related sector including land and community rights
• Working knowledge of English level C
• National of Liberia 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
• Knowledge of the structure and normative contents of forestry-related legislation at national, regional, and international levels
• Understanding of the gender and governance implications of the management of forest and natural resources.
• Proven ability to build good relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including government institutions, NGOs, and local communities, and conduct fieldwork.
• Previous experience working on international donor projects is highly preferred.
• Proven ability in drafting clearly and precisely in English, and in conducting in-depth but succinct analyses of legal matters with specific and practical recommendations; the ability to read and/or write in French would be an advantage.
Selection Criteria
• Very high skills/knowledge of background related to the ToR’s requirements
• Strong report writing skills in English
• Experience with UN and other International Organizations would be an asset
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).
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
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• 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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