Institutional and Sectoral Coordinating and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

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.

In 2021, Sierra Leone published its initial National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The initial NAP includes a stocktake of adaptation priorities, vulnerabilities, and measures across identified seven (7) priority sectors, based purely on desk research and literature review. The initial NAP explicitly states the need to develop a full NAP, informed by national and sector-specific climate information and evidence generated from detailed vulnerability assessments. To this end, FAO, in collaboration with the EPA, launched a NAP readiness project in 2025. In 2025, the NAP Readiness project was approved by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project, titled: “Accelerating Action Towards Effective Climate Risk Management in Key Sectors in Sierra Leone,” is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Sierra Leone, in close collaboration with EPA. The project’s objective is to strengthen climate-risk management in key adaptation sectors in Sierra Leone. The project will conduct detailed vulnerability assessments and strengthen institutional collaboration on climate adaptation. It will also engage stakeholders from government institutions, NGOs, research institutions, local communities, the private sector, and other relevant groups at national and sub-national levels. The Project aims to tackle the gaps of weak capacities in National Adaptation Planning, lack of a comprehensive vulnerability Assessment in the initial NAP, lack of a comprehensive Climate Change Data center and limited private sector involvement in climate action

The project seeks to recruit an Institutional and Sectoral Coordinating and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist to:
•    Map institutional mandate and roles related to National adaptation planning and NAP implementation; 
•    Map other stakeholders, especially the private sector actors, CSO, development partners and their roles for adaptation planning and implementation;
•    Contribute to the development of the NAP process roadmap that clearly describes the key steps and activities, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and timeframe for the NAP process.   
•    Develop (a) a framework document defining institutional arrangements, coordination mechanisms, capacity gaps and actions needed, scope, roles and responsibilities, and (b) an Operational Manual detailing the practical approaches to whole-of-society stakeholder engagement and coordination by EPA and the National Adaptation Committee (NAC).
•    Conduct a needs assessment and develop an Action Plan to strengthen coordination and stakeholder engagement for Adaptation Planning.
•    Conduct a national workshop to validate the framework document, including TORs/ Roles and Responsibilities and National / Regional capacity needs. This should bring together critical state and non-state actors at national and local level from five initial NAP priority sectors (agriculture and food security, water resources and energy, coastal zone management, environment, disaster management) and two crosscutting priorities (gender and social inclusion, hard and soft infrastructure), as well as private sector actors, CSOs, donors and all other climate change actors. 
•    Facilitate stakeholders’ engagement and coordination meetings involving state and non-state actors from national, regional, district and community levels.
•    Liaise with the consultant on capacity building and deliver targeted capacity enhancement trainings for EPA, NAC, NSCC, addressing identified coordination and stakeholder engagement gaps;

Reporting Line

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative Programme in Sierra Leone and in close collaboration with the National Project Coordinator and National Technical Project Specialist, with support and backstopping from the Senior Technical Adviser (STA) and the LTO.

Technical Focus

The specialist will be responsible for developing a framework document, an Operational Manual, which includes TORs, mission, NAP roadmap, and Capacity Needs for the NAC, and for operationalizing it through the organization of meetings and stakeholder engagements.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support the development of a framework document defining institutional arrangements, coordination mechanisms, capacity gaps, and actions needed. 
•    Gather inputs from key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, NGOs, Local Councils, civil society, etc. 
•    Provide guidance for the definition of the structure, composition, and membership criteria of the National Adaptation Committee (NAC).
•    Draft the Terms of Reference (TOR) detailing the purpose, scope, and functions of the committee. 
•    Provide technical input for the development of a detailed operational procedures, including decision-making processes, reporting lines, and communication protocols.
•    Support EPA, NAC with a stakeholder mapping and engagement mechanism to engage the wider population and multi-stakeholders in adaptation planning and implementation.
•    Establish a meeting schedule, including frequency, agenda setting, and documentation processes. 
•    Facilitate validation workshops involving NAC members, and EPA.
•    Incorporate feedback and finalize the operational manual and TORs;
•    The Expert will closely work with the firm/entity that will be recruited for the operationalization of the Climate Change Committee and contribute to the development of a Communication Action Plan for the NAP. 
•    Develop comprehensive training materials tailored to members' stakeholder coordination and engagement gaps.
•    Conduct training sessions to equip members with the knowledge and skills to operationalize the manual effectively. 
•    Prepare detailed reports on stakeholder engagements, training outcomes, and the operationalization process.
•    Document lessons learned and best practices for future reference.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Master’s degree in environmental science or climate change
•    5 years of experience in sectoral and institutional coordination in climate change adaptation interventions and projects, and stakeholder engagement;
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English
•    National of Sierra Leone

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong analytical, strategic planning, and coordination skills.
•    Excellent Communication and facilitation
•    Ability to work with diverse stakeholders including government, civil society, and private sector.
•    Fluency in English; knowledge of local languages is an asset.
•    Leadership and supervisory experience in managing projects/programmes

Selection criteria

•    Previous experience working in similar projects, especially on institutional and sectoral coordination mechanisms;
•    Previous experience working in similar projects, especially on NAP GCF Readiness;
•    Previous experience working in similar projects, especially in stakeholder mapping and engagement.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION