Job Posting: 19/Feb/2025
Closure Date: 05/Mar/2025, 4:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit: LEGN - Development Law Branch
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: Consultant
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location: Italy-Rome
Duration: Up to 11 months
Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree (LLM) in law with demonstrated academic work or research in international law, forestry law, environmental law, or natural resource governance
• At least one year of relevant legal work experience in the field of development law, climate-related law, natural resources and/or forestry law
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English

TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of legal issues related to forestry governance, environmental protection, and natural resource law.
• Experience in developing national legislative and regulatory measures to implement international agreements, codes, guidelines, or other instruments related to forests and biodiversity.
• Legal drafting experience, particularly in developing countries or in the context of international forestry law.
• Ability to conduct legal research and analysis and write clear and concise legal texts, including legislative and regulatory instruments.
• Experience working with international or regional organizations on forestry and environmental legal frameworks is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
  Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

• Provide legal advisory services to FAO Members on forestry legislation, including legal frameworks for sustainable forest management, land tenure, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and indigenous peoples’ rights.
• Support awareness-raising and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen national capacities to develop, enact, and implement forestry laws and policies.
• Assist in the drafting of legislation, including constitutional provisions, framework laws, and sector-specific regulations related to forest governance, timber legality, and community-based forest management.
• Conduct legal research and analysis on national and international legal frameworks related to forestry and document comparative legal approaches.
• Identify synergies between forestry legislation and related areas such as land tenure, food security, environmental governance, and climate change adaptation.
• Provide technical inputs to legal assessments, guidelines, and policy recommendations to support FAO’s work on forestry governance.
• Contribute to FAO’s engagement in global and regional initiatives on forest-related legal frameworks, including compliance with international treaties and voluntary partnership agreements.