Forests and Land Use Officer

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

**Main purpose of job**:
To support, oversee and maximise the potential of the Forest and Land Use programmes of the International Climate Fund (ICF) in Colombia (£134 million) and to ensure the effective delivery of the UK’s forest investments. To work under the International Forest Unit, in close coordination with BEIS, FCDO and DEFRA, collaborating closely with other relevant ICF and non-ICF teams in the Embassy and in London, to ensure the coherence of the forest and land use investments in Colombia.

The current UK Forest and Land Use Portfolio includes different flagship programmes and projects in Colombia to support its NDC implementation and deforestation reduction, including:
1. REM-Amazon Vision: Colombian strategy that seeks to reach zero net deforestation in the Amazon through five pillars: environmental governance, the sustainability of the sectors of development, agri-environmental activities, indigenous governance and enabling conditions.
2. Biocarbono Orinoquia (ISFL): promotes the reduction of greenhouse gases caused by the agricultural and forestry sector in developing countries, and the growth of best land use and sustainable agricultural policies and practices.
3. Partnerships for Forests - P4F: an initiative that seeks to catalyse investments where the public and private sectors, civil society and local communities can achieve a shared profit of sustainable forest management and its derivative uses.
4. Territorios Forestales Sostenibles - TEFOS: seeks to support the Colombian government in the implementation of the multipurpose cadastre, promote environmental rule of law and provide sustainable economic alternatives; aiming to reduce deforestation in conflict-affected areas.
5. Sustainable livelihoods strand-UKPACT: provides strategic technical assistance to reduce GHG emissions while supporting activities that value standing forests (i.e. ecotourism, bioeconomy) and promotes climate smart practices through projects on cattle ranching and agroforestry.
6. Other F&LU initiatives supported by UK in Colombia: UK works actively with Colombian stakeholders on initiatives involving NGOs, IPLCs, private sector, and subnational governments. These are aimed to promote better agricultural practices (i.e. Tropical Forest Alliance, FOLU), high environmental integrity in carbon markets (i.e. VCMIi, LEAF) and international pledges on forest conservation (i.e. Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use).
The role will report to the Head of ICF Forest & Land Use Programmes and the TEFOS Programme Coordinator in the British Embassy, working closely with Political, Security, Economic, Prosperity and International Trade colleagues across the Embassy, as well as liaising with other relevant FCDO, BEIS and DEFRA sections, to ensure successful delivery of the UK-Colombia Partnership and whole ICF portfolio.
This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis for one (1) year. Subject to confirmation of future funding, it is expected that the position could be extended.

**Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?**:

- Forest & Land Use (85%)- To support the Forests and Land Use Team in local oversight of specific ICF programmes, such as REM-Vision Amazonia, Biocarbono Orinoquia, Partnerships for Forests and other F&LU activities financed by other HMG funds (i.e. UKPACT).
- To support the scoping and development of major new UK climate investments in the forest sector in Colombia, actively engaging national and subnational authorities, environmental research institutes, IPLCs, civil society and private sector.
- To provide technical steer on carbon markets engagements, promoting a high environmental integrity approach in line with UK initiatives such as VCMIi and scoping opportunities to strengthen this agenda.
- To lead the strategic communications of the Forest and Land Use portfolio of the ICF in Colombia.

Policy advocacy (10%)- Working closely with political, climate & biodiversity policy, prosperity, trade and communications colleagues, to maximise the impact of the Forest and Land Use portfolio. This will include building relationships, and lobbying when required, with political and technical level contacts in government, sub-national authorities (cities, states, provinces), representatives of businesses, academia and civil society
- To support London-based colleagues on engagement with Colombia on the Forest and Land Use agenda, on local sensitivities and how to respond to Colombia’s priorities in this portfolio.
- To support environmental diplomacy engagement, when required, on Forests and Land Use international commitments ahead of conferences such as COP or CDB.
- To manage Ministerial and official visits from the UK related to the forests and land use portfolio in Colombia. To plan and advise on visit agendas, coordinate with media colleagues, and support/lead specific events.
- Management/Corporate (5