National Capacity Building Expert

About the role

The National Capacity Building Expert will lead activities to strengthen technical and institutional capacities for mainstreaming climate adaptation planning and budgeting across seven key sectors in Sierra Leone. Working under the Assistant FAO Representative Programme, the expert will coordinate with government officers, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to integrate climate change considerations into national planning processes.

Key responsibilities

• Review existing policies, plans and institutional capacities across the seven sectors to assess climate adaptation integration and identify gaps.
• Conduct capacity needs assessments through stakeholder interviews, surveys and focus groups.
• Develop and deliver training modules on climate change adaptation, planning and budgeting for government officers at national, regional and district levels.
• Collaborate with universities and research institutes to embed climate adaptation into curricula, research agendas and knowledge‑management systems.
• Provide logistical and technical support during capacity‑building sessions and ensure gender‑inclusive participation.
• Prepare progress reports, success stories, lessons learned and monitoring mechanisms to assess training impact.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in development studies, climate change, environment or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing capacity‑building initiatives for climate action.
• Fluency in English; national of Sierra Leone or holder of a valid work permit.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders including government, civil society and the private sector.

Required skills

• Capacity‑building and training design
• Curriculum development and adult learning principles
• Stakeholder assessment and facilitation
• Strategic planning and coordination