Legal Specialist

Job Posting: 19/Feb/2025

Closure Date: 05/Mar/2025, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: LEGN - Development Law Branch

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Up to 11 months

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
- FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
- Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
- Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
- FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations._

**Organizational Setting**

The Legal Office of FAO ensures that FAO’s activities are carried out in accordance with its Constitution and the other Basic Texts of the Organization, consistent with its status as an intergovernmental organization of the United Nations system, and that its relations with governments, organizations, and individuals are based on a sound legal basis.

The Development Law Service (LEGN) provides legal advisory and technical services to governments on food, agriculture, and natural resources, including land, water, fisheries and aquaculture, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, environment, climate change and biodiversity, as well as on related agricultural issues, such as institutions, trade, and economic reform. LEGN is responsible for supporting Members in strengthening legal frameworks that promote sustainable and responsible governance of natural resources and related sectors.

The ForestLEX+ Programme—Strengthening National Legislation for Sustainable Forest Management—is an FAO-led initiative designed to support Members by providing normative, legal, and technical assistance to enhance forest governance. Recognising the critical role of legal frameworks in sustainable forest management, the Programme aims to strengthen knowledge and expertise through a global study, legal diagnostic tools, and a dynamic digital platform featuring country profiles and legislative resources. By facilitating capacity-building initiatives, including training workshops and e-learning courses, ForestLEX+ equips stakeholders—lawmakers, policymakers, legal professionals, and forest-dependent communities—with the necessary tools to assess and improve legal and institutional frameworks in alignment with international commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through structured knowledge-sharing and collaboration with governments, international organisations, academia, and civil society, the Programme fosters informed decision-making and promotes coherence in forestry legislation, ensuring that national legal frameworks are fit for purpose and effectively implemented.

The Governing for Sustainable Agrifood Systems: Strengthening Legislation and Building Capacity to Support Implementation, Compliance, and Enforcement Programme (ACE Programme) is an FAO-led initiative designed to enhance governance frameworks for agrifood systems by improving legislative capacity and institutional mechanisms. Recognising the essential role of national legal frameworks in ensuring food security, sustainability, and environmental protection, the Programme supports Members through legal reviews, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives. Current activities under the Programme include climate change-related work, which strengthens the resilience of agrifood systems through regulatory support, compliance mechanisms, and institutional capacity-building. In the foreseeable future, the Programme will also address forestry-related objectives, ensuring coherence in legal and policy frameworks governing natural resource management. Through a structured approach that integrates legal diagnostics, targeted training, and multi-stakeholder engagement, the Programme aims to equip governments and enforcement bodies with the tools to implement, comply with, and enforce laws effectively, thereby fostering sustainable agrifood systems in alignment with national priorities and international commitments.

**Reporting Lines**

The Legal Specialist reports to the Chief, LEGN, with day-to-day supervision provided by a designated Legal Officer (LEGN).

**Technical Focus**

Legal research and advisory services to governments on forestry legislation, sustainable forest management, forest governance, biodiversity protection, and related development law issues. The specialist