GHG Accounting Specialist

Descrizione

Testo originale dell'annuncio (in inglese)

Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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 independent Office of Evaluation (OED) conducts independent evaluations of FAO’s strategies, programmes, and projects at the global, regional, and national levels. OED is led by a Director who reports to the FAO Governing Bodies and the Director-General, and is mandated to generate credible and useful evidence to inform decisions, support oversight, and contribute to accountability. OED evaluates FAO strategies, initiatives, programmes, and projects covering strategic, thematic, country programme, and project evaluations. As part of its mandate, OED evaluates projects addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, including a growing number of projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. These projects routinely involve ex-ante and ex-post greenhouse gas (GHG) estimates produced using tools such as EX-ACT (Environmental eXternalities ACcounting Tool), NEXT (Nationally Determined Contribution Expert Tool), GLEAM (Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model) and the IPCC GHG Inventory Software. While all three tools may produce IPCC-consistent estimates for AFOLU projects, they differ substantially in methodological depth, scope, scenario-handling capabilities, and intended use. Reporting Lines The GHG Accounting Specialist will report directly to the OED Director and to the OED Better Environment Coordinator. The Specialist will work in close coordination with the OED GCF Coordinator, and with OED Lead Evaluators and Evaluation Managers, and will liaise as needed with FAO technical divisions (including ESA, OCB and CFI), GHG tool developers, and external evaluation consultants. Technical Focus GHG accounting and carbon flux estimation in the AFOLU sector; application and critical assessment of GHG accounting tools (EX-ACT, IPCC Inventory Software, NEXT, GLEAM); alignment with IPCC Guidelines (2006, 2013 Wetlands Supplement, 2019 Refinement); methodological guidance and quality assurance for project-level GHG estimates in FAO/GCF/GEF evaluations; and capacity development for OED staff and evaluation consultants. Tasks and responsibilities The GHG Accounting Specialist will be responsible for the following: Technical Advisory and Methodological Guidance • Provide systematic technical guidance to OED staff and external evaluation consultants on the appropriate selection, application, and interpretation of GHG accounting tools (EX-ACT, IPCC Inventory Software, NEXT) across different project phases (design, mid-term, final/ex-post). • Conduct a comparative analysis of results when using different approaches to measuring GHG emissions or reductions in emissions, specifically the IPCC Inventory Software, IPCC, and EX-ACT. • Advise on the harmonization of inputs, emission factors, tier levels, and scenario assumptions when cross-validating GHG estimates produced by different tools or different evaluators across the portfolio. • Assist in identifying methodological divergences, calculation errors, or data gaps in project-level GHG assessments submitted to OED, and advise on corrective actions. • Stay current with updates to GHG accounting tools, IPCC Guideline revisions, and evolving donor expectations for GHG reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), and communicate relevant changes to OED staff. Quality Review of GHG Estimates in OED Evaluations • Review and validate GHG estimates (ex-ante, mid-term and ex-post) included in FAO projects evaluated by OED, particularly GCF- and GEF-funded projects, ensuring consistency with IPCC Guidelines. • Verify the completeness, accuracy, transparency, and compara