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National Project Officer for Cape Verde, IslandPlas

Vacancy #:   7002
Unit:   Coastal and Marine Programme
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   West and Central Africa Regional Office, Dakar, Senegal
Reporting to:   Regional Marine and Coastal (MACO) Programme Coordinator- IUCN West and Central Africa Programme – PACO
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P1
Expected start date:   01 November 2024
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (14 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:   16 September 2024
BACKGROUND
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private, and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development, and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and some 18,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments, and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools, and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples’ organisations, and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems, and improve people’s well-being.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

IUCN is implementing the IslandPlas project “Advancing Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in African Islands”, which will be implemented in seven island areas comprising Cabo Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Zanzibar. The project aims to achieve its impact through demonstrating effective, quantifiable solutions to addressing plastic leakage from island areas. Key stakeholders from government, private sector, informal sector and civil society interlinked in a vibrant collaborative network will co-generate and demonstrate demand-responsive solutions to plastic waste incorporating alignment across policy, business operations, and behaviour change at different levels. Evidence and lessons will be packaged to contribute to the global wealth on Plastics Waste Free Islands ‘Blueprint for the journey to zero plastic waste ’ to inform practice beyond the target Islands.

The National Project Officer will play a key role in the daily management of the IslandPlas project in the respective country of implementation and will therefore manage the IslandPlas project activities that advance sector engagement with role players in the plastics and related sectors, including actors in government, industry, business and civil society and oversees national implementation of solutions and actions to address plastic pollution upstream, midstream and downstream. The National Project Officer will perform under the supervision of Coastal and Marine Programme Coordinator and the Regional Regional Plastics Pollution Manager and will regularly report to the central coordination manager providing updates on the implementation progresses of the project.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The position will serve in the role of National Officer for Cape Verde for IslandPlas : Advancing Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in African Islands. H/she will aid the implementation of the Project in Cape Verde and will be responsible for engagement at the national level to deliver the project objectives, in coordination with the Marine and Coastal Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa and the Senior Programme Manager for IslandPlas, East Africa Programme.

These terms of reference contain the main responsibilities and duties of this position. However, in a constantly evolving organization like IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably assigned to them but not part of their normal terms of reference. When a task becomes a regular part of the staff member's responsibilities, the terms of reference should be changed in consultation with the manager, the staff member, and the Human Resources Unit. Any of the beforementioned can initiate the consultation.


MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
i. Oversee overall national implementation of the "IslandPlas: Advancing Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in African Islands" project in the respective country, in close collaboration with IUCN regional teams;
ii. Plan and ensure that adequate measures are in place for effective day-to-day project management and coordination of activities of the IslandPlas project to ensure the highest quality of outputs and outcomes in line with project workplans and budgets;
iii. Liaise regularly with the central coordination team led by the Regional Plastics Pollution Manager, to be based in Nairobi, Kenya;
iv. Provide timely project progress updates and detailed implementation information on implementation of the IslandPlas project to the National Steering Committee meetings;
v. Coordinate the planning and organization of national project meetings; and create the necessary linkages and partnerships with the relevant national and sub-national institutions in country;
vi. Coordinate and track deliverables of in-country consultants, including ensuring necessary final approvals;
vii. Assess and report on project results from the country based on the relevant measurement indicators and processes in support of reporting to the donor and relevant stakeholders;
viii. Manage the budget and allocation of project resources, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting in liaison with respective national and/or regional finance department/units as necessary;
ix. Assist in provision of relevant communication material and resources from the project to respective Regional and National Communication Officers for showcase of project results in websites and other media;
x. Identify additional funding sources to further scale up the plastics programme in the region;
xi. Monitor and report on project progress by regularly informing the results monitoring matrix;
xii. Represent IUCN and the project at relevant in-country partner and stakeholder meetings and events;
xiii. Connect and liaise with other relevant projects in the respective country and pursue synergies as necessary;
xiv. Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
REQUIREMENTS
  • Education

• A university degree preferably in relevant disciplines, such as, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Coastal and Ocean Management, Sustainability Studies, Policy and Environmental law, chemistry or related fields;


• Professional certification or work experience in circular economy, pollution/waste management, environmental design, sustainable material management or in other relevant areas will be an added advantage.

• Computer literacy in relation to office applications (Word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools.

• Work Experience

We are looking for an outstanding, hands-on, highly motivated, autonomous, innovative, solution oriented, results driven and resourceful individual with at least six years of proven experience in:


• Minimum 3 years of experience in managing and implementing marine plastics-related projects/programs, which may include recycling, reuse or other repurposing, pollution prevention, working with relevant waste sector actors; or engagement in extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks for reducing plastic pollution;

• Sound expertise in project development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of environmental projects;

• Prior understanding of plastic life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies; waste characterization techniques; and waste management infrastructure and processes;

• Experience in working with government, NGOs, private sector, municipalities, and local community initiatives;

• Experience in managing stakeholder relations, ideally in an international organization or related setting;

• Familiarity with IUCN’s prior work and tools and guidelines on plastic pollution an added advantage;

• Experienced in network development and alliance building for synergistic action

• Must be a proactive individual committed to continuous learning and attitude towards self-development;

• Language requirement

Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Portuguese and English. French proficiency is an advantage.


• Core Competencies

Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision-making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.


• Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

• Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.

• Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.

• Functional competencies

Adheres to IUCN core values of Transparency, Inclusiveness, Professionalism and Accountability.


• Demonstrated computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Good organizational, administrative, reporting and communication skills.

• A motivated self-starter with ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs.

• A team player with a strong interest to work in an international environment.

• Be willing to undertake frequent travel and interact with different stakeholders at national/sub-national levels.
APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/


About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

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