Specialist in Sustainable Cities, Green Infrastructure and Urban Food Systems, Brasilia

Organizational Setting

In line with its mandate, FAO supports countries in the design, formulation and implementation of initiatives and projects financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aimed at addressing global environmental challenges related to biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals and international waters.
In July 2026, the ninth replenishment cycle of the GEF (GEF-9) will begin. To adequately respond to countries’ requests for support, FAO requires a consultant to develop a project proposal in the Project Identification Form (PIF) format, in consultation with government counterparts, the FAO Representation in Brazil, and the FAO-GEF teams at both regional and headquarters levels.
The proposed project, entitled “Green Cities that Nourish”: Nature-based Solutions and Urban Food Systems for Biodiversity, Climate and Social Inclusion in Brazil”, shall be aligned with and contribute to the GEF Sustainable Cities Integrated Program and comply with the fund’s guidelines. The objective of the Sustainable Cities Integrated Program is to promote nature-positive urban development, recognizing nature as essential infrastructure for urban development. To achieve this objective, the program will work with local, regional and national governments, as well as urban and peri-urban stakeholders, to adopt integrated urban planning and management approaches. These include strategic-level interventions such as policy development, financing mechanisms and capacity strengthening, combined with targeted investments and implementation support in selected cities. The program will combine national-level investments with a global and regional knowledge and coordination platform aimed at strengthening governance and reporting mechanisms.
The proposal shall also be aligned with Brazilian Government strategies focused on strengthening multi-level and multi-stakeholder governance as a means of integrating urban planning, climate action, environmental conservation and urban and peri-urban food systems. It shall promote integrated solutions capable of addressing, at scale and with the necessary urgency, the environmental, climate and socioeconomic challenges faced by Brazilian cities. In this regard, the proposal shall support and strengthen federal policies, particularly:

•     The “Cidades verdes Resilientes program” (Green and Resilient Cities Program), coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA); and 
•     The Alimenta Cidades Strategy, coordinated by the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS).

A concept note has already been developed and validated by MMA and MDS representation and now needs to be further elaborated into a full Project Identification Form (PIF).

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Assistant to Representative - Programme.

Technical Focus

Support the preparation of the Project Identification Form (PIF) process for the project “Cidades Verdes que Alimentam: Nature-based Solutions and Urban Food Systems for Biodiversity, Climate and Social Inclusion in Brazil”, to be submitted first to the Government of Brazil for validation and subsequently to the GEF for approval.

The work shall be carried out in close consultation with the FAO Representation in Brazil, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), representatives of the project’s pilot cities, as well as FAO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAORLC) and FAO Headquarters.

Tasks and Responsibilities

•     Provide technical expertise and guidance for project formulation, ensuring compliance with GEF and FAO policies and alignment with national priorities. 
•     Gather and consolidate missing information required for project justification and design, including components, outcomes, outputs, budget, co-financing, Core Indicators and institutional arrangements. 
•     Prepare the PIF, ensuring the quality of the document and compliance with GEF eligibility criteria and GEF-9 programmatic guidelines.
•     Participate, when requested, in technical meetings related to PIF preparation. 
•     Perform any other related tasks required under these Terms of Reference.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING:

Minimum Requirements  

•     Bachelor’s degree in architecture and urban planning, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Biology, Agronomy, Forestry Engineering, Environmental Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Sciences, or related fields. 
•     Ten (10) or more years of relevant professional experience in environmental and sustainable development projects: 
o    At least three (3) years of proven experience in designing technical cooperation projects for international organizations, donors and/or Brazilian public institutions. 
o    Proven experience in the formulation, coordination or implementation of projects related to sustainable development, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, climate change, ecosystem restoration, natural resource management or related areas. 
o    Strong knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) frameworks and methodologies, including Theory of Change, Logical Framework Approach, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). 
o    Experience in preparing proposals for international financing mechanisms, preferably the Global Environment Facility (GEF) or similar environmental and development funds. 
•     Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Portuguese. Working knowledge of Spanish is desirable
•     Brazilian nationality or resident of the country with valid work permit to work in Brazil.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Demonstrated experience in the design, formulation and/or management of environmental technical cooperation projects in Brazil, preferably in partnership with public institutions, municipalities, international organizations and development partners.
•     Proven technical experience in one or more of the following areas: sustainable cities, urban and territorial planning, nature-based solutions (NbS), green infrastructure, urban resilience, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and mitigation, urban ecosystem restoration, or sustainable food systems. 
•     Experience in the design or implementation of projects related to urban and peri-urban food systems, food and nutrition security, urban agriculture, circular economy, food loss and waste reduction, or territorial food governance. 
•     Advanced university degree (MSc or higher) in Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Architecture and Urbanism, Environmental Engineering, Agronomy, Forestry, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, or related fields. 
•     Knowledge of the GEF Integrated Programs, particularly the Sustainable Cities Integrated Program, and familiarity with GEF Core Indicators, environmental and social safeguards, gender requirements and stakeholder engagement policies. 
•     Proven experience in multi-level governance processes involving national, state and municipal governments, including policy dialogue and institutional coordination.
•     Technical knowledge of Brazilian public policies related to urban development, climate change, biodiversity conservation, food and nutrition security, nature-based solutions and sustainable territorial development, including familiarity with initiatives such as the Green and Resilient Cities Program and the Alimenta Cidades Strategy.
•     Experience in urban food systems and food and nutrition security policies. 
•     Experience with green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in urban environments. 
•     Experience in the formulation of GEF Project Identification Forms (PIFs), Project Preparation Grants (PPGs) and CEO Endorsement documents.
•     Excellent technical writing and communication skills in English and Portuguese;