Country Relations Officer (LAC)

The Country Relations Officer (LAC) in the GEF Programming Division supports strategic engagement with Latin America and Caribbean countries, providing capacity building, project review, and portfolio monitoring. The role involves managing relationships with country focal points, supporting the implementation of the GEF Country Engagement Strategy, and facilitating collaboration across stakeholders to promote environmental and sustainable development goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day coordination to and manage strategic engagement with GEF recipient country focal points (Operational Focal Points, Political Focal Points, GEF Council Members and Alternate Members).
• Contribute to the development of training/workshop materials and provide timely information, relevant training, and updates on GEF operational policies and guidelines to the GEF Operational Focal Points and other stakeholders.
• Support Division-wide efforts to engage and build effective partnership with recipient countries per the GEF Country Engagement Strategy, including the provision of information, training and operational support to Operational and Political focal points, in coordination with the Regional Coordinators and Country Relations Officers.
• Help implement the GEF Country Engagement Strategy.
• Maintain formal and informal communication channels with GEF Operational and Political focal points, Convention Focal points, and other stakeholders and address issues and challenges relating to GEF operations in a timely and constructive manner with these recipient country representatives.
• Engage and collaborate with GEF Operational and Political focal points, Convention focal points, civil society partners, as well as GEF Agencies and other stakeholders; promote the GEF and advocate key stakeholders in the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
• Manage and direct strategic engagement and collaboration with GEF Operational and Political focal points, civil society partners, as well as GEF Implementing Agencies and GEF Secretariat staff in relationships with operational and policy focal points.
• Support the Division team in effective collaboration across Focal Areas, with Integrated Programs, and with Regional Teams.
• Contribute to the development of Division strategies as directed.
• Lead development and maintenance of relationships with Focal Points in designated countries.
• Serve as the GEF Secretariat focal point for the Operational Focal Points (OFPs), Political Focal Points, Council Members and other stakeholders in the designated countries.
• Onboard newly appointed OFPs and introduce them to the OFP role, their country portfolio, GEF Policies, STAR and non-STAR funding resources available, GEF Results Framework.
• Lead dialogue with OFPs to identify any needs, requests, and challenges, and identify opportunities to address these requests.
• Act as a focal point for GEF colleagues in discussing/resolving issues that require OFP involvement.
• Lead capacity building activities in addition to Country Engagement Strategy activities in close collaboration with Regional Coordinators, Partnerships team, other colleagues and partners.
• Prepare or contribute to country briefs and analytical products as requested.
• Support the regional representative during replenishment meetings and follow up on the regions’ coordination.
• Organize various workshops and meetings to build the capacity of key stakeholders to access GEF resources.
• Support Council members and respective constituencies in developing and maintaining good relations of the GEF with their governments.
• Organize and lead Constituency meetings, present decision items, prepare presentation materials, facilitate Q/As and discussions among the country representatives.
• Foster strong relationships within constituency to identify further opportunities for operational and knowledge transfer and collaboration.
• Coordinate with the GEF Conventions, CEO FO and Communication teams the participation of GEF PFPs/OFPs bilateral meeting, high-level events and GEF events.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., social sciences, international relations, public policy, or other field related to development).
• At least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong operational experience working with organizations with governance structures similar to the GEF.
• Established track record of excellence in significant operational work and project management.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage and develop appropriate and sound relationships with a range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies, private sector entities, developing country counterparts, and NGOs.
• Experience working in developing countries, particularly in conservation and sustainable development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with countries and Agencies and represent GEFSEC in delivering high quality and technically work, with internal and external partners.
• Flexibility in adjusting to changing work program requirements in a dynamic and fast paced work environment.
• Experience in the design and execution of conservation and sustainable development projects is preferred.
• Experience in developing and implementing GEF projects is desirable.
• Excellence in written and spoken English and Spanish are essential.
• Knowledge of Portuguese is desirable.
• Understanding of the GEF's policies, procedures, and operational modalities.
• Willingness to frequently travel to global, regional and national GEF related events.

Skills

• Project Management
• Operational Experience with Governance
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Conservation Project Design
• Sustainable Development
• GEF Project Implementation
• Portfolio Monitoring
• Capacity Building
• International Relations
• Development Agency Collaboration
• Technical Report Preparation
• Bilingual Communication English Spanish
• GEF Procedures
• Policy Analysis
• Environmental Program Coordination
• Travel for Work
• Scientific and Technical Collaboration

Languages

English, Spanish, French, Portuguese