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Deputy Regional Head–Delivery and Operations - COR, Nairobi
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BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND:
The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, east Africa, southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The ESARO region is extremely rich in biodiversity with high number of endemic species and the largest remaining populations of iconic wildlife left on the continent. ESARO’s Programme focuses on biodiversity conservation through a diverse portfolio of projects and programmatic initiatives ranging from activities at the level of individual protected areas to shaping regional policy on biodiversity conservation. ESARO defines and delivers on its programmatic priorities in collaboration with IUCN members, commissions and other strategic partners.
The Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) Programme is in charge of marine and coastal issues, including biodiversity conservation, development and management of marine protected areas, other effective conservation measures (OECMs) and their networks, blue economy, ecosystem & fisheries management, High Seas, blue carbon, marine spatial planning, marine pollution, integrated management and governance of coastal areas, adaptation to climate change and disasters risks reduction.
In order to accelerate and scale up efforts in the region towards coastal and ocean resilience, IUCN has been coordinating efforts, together with countries and partners, in developing the Great Blue Wall initiative. The Great Blue Wall is a Western Indian Ocean (WIO)-born, Africa-driven roadmap to achieve a nature positive world by 2030. It aims at unlocking unprecedented nature-based recovery efforts through the establishment of a transformational movement. Its goal is to dramatically accelerate and upscale ocean conservation actions while enhancing socio-ecological resilience and the development of a regenerative blue economy by catalyzing political leadership and financial support. This will be achieved by spearheading the establishment of a connected network of nature-people positive seascapes (or regenerative seascapes). This network of seascapes will be connected by a living blue wall that will act as a regional ecological corridor formed by conserved and restored critical blue ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses and corals. While the Great Blue Wall will act as a wall against climate change impacts and biodiversity loss, it will also shelter coastal communities and create the enabling conditions and necessary mechanisms to empower local stakeholders to become stewards of the ocean while accelerating the development of a regenerative blue economy. The Great Blue Wall is an action-focused and action-driven regional response to 3 interconnected crises, i.e. Biodiversity - Climate – Socioeconomic with 3 clear objectives to be achieved by 2030:
- Effectively and equitably conserve at least 30%of the ocean by 2030
- Conserve and restore critical blue ecosystems to achieve net-gain by 2030
- Unlock the development of a regenerative blue economy that directly benefits coastal communities while also delivering conservation outcomes.
To guide its development, implementation and in order to achieve its goals, the COR programme is based on the premises of IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa’s Blue Resilience Programme Framework, composed of 3 key pillars and one Transversal: Blue Planet, Blue Nature, Blue People and Blue Partnerships. The Blue Resilience Framework aims at structuring IUCN’s interventions in the region and build resilience at ocean and seascape level and can be described as follow:
3 key pillars:
- Blue Planet: As the world embarks on ambitious journey of conservation and protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, it is of paramount importance to ensure that such target is not only achieved on paper but more importantly on the ground by in particular empowering local stakeholders to become the stewards and managers of the ocean. This pillar therefore focuses on this effort by supporting the establishment of relevant governance frameworks at seascape level as well as the necessary enabling policy frameworks at national, regional and international levels. It also focuses on increasing the effectiveness and equity of area-based conservation measures.
Blue Nature: Like any living organism, a seascape has its own critical features (or “organs”) that need to be protected and restored (or “healed”) if the rest of the seascape is to stay healthy. This pillar therefore focuses on securing the integrity of critical ecosystems by accelerating and upscaling critical blue ecosystems restoration and conservation efforts by driving the implementation at scale of Nature-based Solutions
Blue People: For a large-scale seascape to thrive and effectively managed, it is of paramount importance that stakeholders directly benefits from these areas and from ocean conservation efforts. To achieve the scale of impact required, it is also crucial that economic activities are not only sustainable and produce socio-economic benefits but also contribute to the regeneration of our ocean. This pillar therefore focuses on unlocking the potential of our blue natural capital by supporting the development of a regenerative blue economy.
1 Transversal:
Blue Partnerships: Because overcoming today’s challenges will require all parties to join forces, and for conservation efforts to be sustainable and impactful at scale, innovation and ambitious partnerships will be a critical piece of the solution. Setting-up such type of partnerships is IUCN’s DNA. Areas of work include innovative finance, technology and communication as well as broader ecosystem of partners, coalition building as well as knowledge and experience sharing.
Key Objectives
This position reports directly to the IUCN ESARO’s COR RH. He/she will serve as a senior member of the regional coastal and ocean program that helps set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN engagement on marine and coastal issues in the region.
The COR Deputy Regional Head – Program Delivery and Operations, will be directly responsible for the day-to-day management of IUCN COR project portfolio in the region, building on and aligning with IUCN ESARO’s Blue Resilience Framework and add value to nationally defined priorities. This position will also provide additional support on programme and proposal development when required, in close collaboration with the COR RH and the COR Leadership Team as well as other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners.
This position is responsible for: i) In close collaboration with regional programmatic managers, country teams and implementing partners, ensuring that the COR project portfolio activities are effectively and efficiently implemented; ii) Promoting project management learning, knowledge generation and innovation within project portfolio, between regional programmes and between country teams and partners; and iii) Lead progress and performance review of the COR programme in the region, (iv) ensure that project budgets, expenditures and project implementation are in line with the workplans and work with regional programme managers, country teams and partners to adjust accordingly when required, (v) ensure that IUCN online systems are kept up to dates and (vi) coordinate sound and strong procurement and other critical processes related to project implementation.
This position will ideally be based in IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi. Other country offices (i.e. South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros) could also be considered for the right candidate.
The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, east Africa, southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The ESARO region is extremely rich in biodiversity with high number of endemic species and the largest remaining populations of iconic wildlife left on the continent. ESARO’s Programme focuses on biodiversity conservation through a diverse portfolio of projects and programmatic initiatives ranging from activities at the level of individual protected areas to shaping regional policy on biodiversity conservation. ESARO defines and delivers on its programmatic priorities in collaboration with IUCN members, commissions and other strategic partners.
The Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) Programme is in charge of marine and coastal issues, including biodiversity conservation, development and management of marine protected areas, other effective conservation measures (OECMs) and their networks, blue economy, ecosystem & fisheries management, High Seas, blue carbon, marine spatial planning, marine pollution, integrated management and governance of coastal areas, adaptation to climate change and disasters risks reduction.
In order to accelerate and scale up efforts in the region towards coastal and ocean resilience, IUCN has been coordinating efforts, together with countries and partners, in developing the Great Blue Wall initiative. The Great Blue Wall is a Western Indian Ocean (WIO)-born, Africa-driven roadmap to achieve a nature positive world by 2030. It aims at unlocking unprecedented nature-based recovery efforts through the establishment of a transformational movement. Its goal is to dramatically accelerate and upscale ocean conservation actions while enhancing socio-ecological resilience and the development of a regenerative blue economy by catalyzing political leadership and financial support. This will be achieved by spearheading the establishment of a connected network of nature-people positive seascapes (or regenerative seascapes). This network of seascapes will be connected by a living blue wall that will act as a regional ecological corridor formed by conserved and restored critical blue ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses and corals. While the Great Blue Wall will act as a wall against climate change impacts and biodiversity loss, it will also shelter coastal communities and create the enabling conditions and necessary mechanisms to empower local stakeholders to become stewards of the ocean while accelerating the development of a regenerative blue economy. The Great Blue Wall is an action-focused and action-driven regional response to 3 interconnected crises, i.e. Biodiversity - Climate – Socioeconomic with 3 clear objectives to be achieved by 2030:
- Effectively and equitably conserve at least 30%of the ocean by 2030
- Conserve and restore critical blue ecosystems to achieve net-gain by 2030
- Unlock the development of a regenerative blue economy that directly benefits coastal communities while also delivering conservation outcomes.
To guide its development, implementation and in order to achieve its goals, the COR programme is based on the premises of IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa’s Blue Resilience Programme Framework, composed of 3 key pillars and one Transversal: Blue Planet, Blue Nature, Blue People and Blue Partnerships. The Blue Resilience Framework aims at structuring IUCN’s interventions in the region and build resilience at ocean and seascape level and can be described as follow:
3 key pillars:
- Blue Planet: As the world embarks on ambitious journey of conservation and protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, it is of paramount importance to ensure that such target is not only achieved on paper but more importantly on the ground by in particular empowering local stakeholders to become the stewards and managers of the ocean. This pillar therefore focuses on this effort by supporting the establishment of relevant governance frameworks at seascape level as well as the necessary enabling policy frameworks at national, regional and international levels. It also focuses on increasing the effectiveness and equity of area-based conservation measures.
Blue Nature: Like any living organism, a seascape has its own critical features (or “organs”) that need to be protected and restored (or “healed”) if the rest of the seascape is to stay healthy. This pillar therefore focuses on securing the integrity of critical ecosystems by accelerating and upscaling critical blue ecosystems restoration and conservation efforts by driving the implementation at scale of Nature-based Solutions
Blue People: For a large-scale seascape to thrive and effectively managed, it is of paramount importance that stakeholders directly benefits from these areas and from ocean conservation efforts. To achieve the scale of impact required, it is also crucial that economic activities are not only sustainable and produce socio-economic benefits but also contribute to the regeneration of our ocean. This pillar therefore focuses on unlocking the potential of our blue natural capital by supporting the development of a regenerative blue economy.
1 Transversal:
Blue Partnerships: Because overcoming today’s challenges will require all parties to join forces, and for conservation efforts to be sustainable and impactful at scale, innovation and ambitious partnerships will be a critical piece of the solution. Setting-up such type of partnerships is IUCN’s DNA. Areas of work include innovative finance, technology and communication as well as broader ecosystem of partners, coalition building as well as knowledge and experience sharing.
Key Objectives
This position reports directly to the IUCN ESARO’s COR RH. He/she will serve as a senior member of the regional coastal and ocean program that helps set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN engagement on marine and coastal issues in the region.
The COR Deputy Regional Head – Program Delivery and Operations, will be directly responsible for the day-to-day management of IUCN COR project portfolio in the region, building on and aligning with IUCN ESARO’s Blue Resilience Framework and add value to nationally defined priorities. This position will also provide additional support on programme and proposal development when required, in close collaboration with the COR RH and the COR Leadership Team as well as other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners.
This position is responsible for: i) In close collaboration with regional programmatic managers, country teams and implementing partners, ensuring that the COR project portfolio activities are effectively and efficiently implemented; ii) Promoting project management learning, knowledge generation and innovation within project portfolio, between regional programmes and between country teams and partners; and iii) Lead progress and performance review of the COR programme in the region, (iv) ensure that project budgets, expenditures and project implementation are in line with the workplans and work with regional programme managers, country teams and partners to adjust accordingly when required, (v) ensure that IUCN online systems are kept up to dates and (vi) coordinate sound and strong procurement and other critical processes related to project implementation.
This position will ideally be based in IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi. Other country offices (i.e. South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros) could also be considered for the right candidate.
JOB DESCRIPTION
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic support and management;
Support the implementation of the COR Regional Program Strategy and associated large projects, with a focus on ensuring seamless integration with country and global IUCN program strategies to address IUCN’s strategic priorities
Support Identifying key target audiences, influencers and partners to drive IUCN COR’s work in the region forward, including key delivery, organizational, partnership and fundraising objectives
Identify organizational and program-related challenges, emerging issues and solutions faced by the programs at the regional and country level
Ensure critical monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of COR’s programmatic and project efforts in the region that demonstrates impact and reflects IUCN’s initiatives and projects as appropriate to local conditions
Design support, including development of mature theories of change, monitoring and evaluation, work plans, risk assessments, alignment with IUCN COR’s strategic goals and objectives, project institutional arrangements, governance and delivery
Proposal writing and review when applicable, contract or lead the proposal writing and coordination
Ensure coordination within the program on large-scale, multi-country and priority projects
Flag and help project teams/project leads avoid pitfalls and issues experienced by other projects that could have been averted with more sound design.
Share best practices/processes/resources to streamline the proposal development process and increase the uptake of best practices for project implementation across the program.
Program Coordination;
Represent IUCN COR’s efforts and work in the region, with a focus on project delivery, creating synergies with other non-COR project activities and teams, and ongoing development efforts, addressing issues and opportunities
Liaise with other programs and project teams in ensuring and pushing program excellence
Project management;
Day-to-day technical oversight on all COR projects, both at Regional and Country levels, with a focus on ensuring program quality control, and impactful program and project delivery
Lead development and delivery of strong and sound regional work plans and related budgets. Ensure that the best adaptive management practices are mainstreamed and adhered to by regional and in-country teams.
Ensuring that project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors (including assuring quality of performance & progress, timing and budget);
Serve as initial coordinator for new large-scale and priority public-funded projects,
Analyze delivery risks/delays identified, and provide projects the necessary management support
Monitor/track success and progress for selected projects comparing against criteria that will be developed specific to that project
Support high-risk projects or those not meeting expectations
Gather and share lessons learned and other resources for project management and implementation across the division (e.g., project management tools, finance/operations processes, etc.).
Ensure knowledge sharing between program staff across the COR program, for transfer of ideas on program development, program implementation, and strategic partnership building
Working closely with COR RH and the Finance and Administration Department as well as Human Resource, support efforts to ensure that projects/programme are financially viable and have the necessary human and other resources necessary for effective implementation;
Ensuring that contractual obligations and IUCN’s policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to;
Ensure that all IUCN online system are kept up to date
In close coordination with the COR RH and the Regional Communication officer, ensure that IUCN’s work is effectively ad widely shared (including by producing high quality communication material), including on online platforms and other media channels.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting;
In close collaboration with ESARO’s Regional and COR M&E Officers, support the development and implementation of a regional COR monitoring and evaluation systems and processes at programme and project level;
Oversee IUCN portal entries and management, and mid-year and annual reports development for regional COR portfolio;
Facilitate targeted socio-economic and scientific surveys and analysis, and project evaluation management.
Programme development;
Support fundraising and resource mobilization efforts for the programme, including writing of proposals based on COR RH guidance, regional strategic framework and in-country guidance.
Other Duties;
Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.
Strategic support and management;
Support the implementation of the COR Regional Program Strategy and associated large projects, with a focus on ensuring seamless integration with country and global IUCN program strategies to address IUCN’s strategic priorities
Support Identifying key target audiences, influencers and partners to drive IUCN COR’s work in the region forward, including key delivery, organizational, partnership and fundraising objectives
Identify organizational and program-related challenges, emerging issues and solutions faced by the programs at the regional and country level
Ensure critical monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of COR’s programmatic and project efforts in the region that demonstrates impact and reflects IUCN’s initiatives and projects as appropriate to local conditions
Design support, including development of mature theories of change, monitoring and evaluation, work plans, risk assessments, alignment with IUCN COR’s strategic goals and objectives, project institutional arrangements, governance and delivery
Proposal writing and review when applicable, contract or lead the proposal writing and coordination
Ensure coordination within the program on large-scale, multi-country and priority projects
Flag and help project teams/project leads avoid pitfalls and issues experienced by other projects that could have been averted with more sound design.
Share best practices/processes/resources to streamline the proposal development process and increase the uptake of best practices for project implementation across the program.
Program Coordination;
Represent IUCN COR’s efforts and work in the region, with a focus on project delivery, creating synergies with other non-COR project activities and teams, and ongoing development efforts, addressing issues and opportunities
Liaise with other programs and project teams in ensuring and pushing program excellence
Project management;
Day-to-day technical oversight on all COR projects, both at Regional and Country levels, with a focus on ensuring program quality control, and impactful program and project delivery
Lead development and delivery of strong and sound regional work plans and related budgets. Ensure that the best adaptive management practices are mainstreamed and adhered to by regional and in-country teams.
Ensuring that project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors (including assuring quality of performance & progress, timing and budget);
Serve as initial coordinator for new large-scale and priority public-funded projects,
Analyze delivery risks/delays identified, and provide projects the necessary management support
Monitor/track success and progress for selected projects comparing against criteria that will be developed specific to that project
Support high-risk projects or those not meeting expectations
Gather and share lessons learned and other resources for project management and implementation across the division (e.g., project management tools, finance/operations processes, etc.).
Ensure knowledge sharing between program staff across the COR program, for transfer of ideas on program development, program implementation, and strategic partnership building
Working closely with COR RH and the Finance and Administration Department as well as Human Resource, support efforts to ensure that projects/programme are financially viable and have the necessary human and other resources necessary for effective implementation;
Ensuring that contractual obligations and IUCN’s policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to;
Ensure that all IUCN online system are kept up to date
In close coordination with the COR RH and the Regional Communication officer, ensure that IUCN’s work is effectively ad widely shared (including by producing high quality communication material), including on online platforms and other media channels.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting;
In close collaboration with ESARO’s Regional and COR M&E Officers, support the development and implementation of a regional COR monitoring and evaluation systems and processes at programme and project level;
Oversee IUCN portal entries and management, and mid-year and annual reports development for regional COR portfolio;
Facilitate targeted socio-economic and scientific surveys and analysis, and project evaluation management.
Programme development;
Support fundraising and resource mobilization efforts for the programme, including writing of proposals based on COR RH guidance, regional strategic framework and in-country guidance.
Other Duties;
Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.
REQUIREMENTS
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• Position requirements: Education; Advanced degree in environmental sciences, political sciences, business administration, sustainable development or any other discipline that is relevant to nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools; Work Experience; We’re looking for an outstanding, hands-on, highly motivated, autonomous, innovative, solution oriented, results driven and resourceful individual with at least: 10+ years of proven experience in coordinating state of the art implementation and coordination of large-scale program portfolio Knowledge and experience in sustainable development, natural resource management, coastal and marine conservation, environmental economics or blue economy is considered a strong asset; Outstanding experience in programme and project portfolio management, development and fundraising; Demonstrated budgeting, programme and project planning and day-to-day activity coordination abilities; Experience with result-based portfolio and project cycle management, and monitoring and evaluation methodologies; Sound ability to see the big picture, think strategically, connect the dots and able to deal with complex situation and projects Entrepreneurial character and capacity to work autonomously required For this position, we are looking for a high caliber professional self-driven and solution oriented Strong interpersonal, management and supervisory skills and experience, including working with remote implementing partners and teams; Be willing to undertake frequent travel (25% of the time) and interact with multicultural stakeholders; Demonstrated work experience and understanding of the WIO region a strong advantage. Established network within coastal/marine/blue economy related stakeholders will be considered a strong asset, as well as among potential technical partners and donors. Language requirement; Excellent verbal and communication skills in English is essential, with ability to communicate in French and/or Portuguese as an added 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 ESARO core values of Transparency, Inclusiveness, Professionalism and Accountability; Strong interpersonal, management and supervisory skills and experience, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in managing organizations and/or teams; Ability to manage complex situations and facilitate the establishment of networks and multi-stakeholder participatory processes; Be willing to undertake frequent travel and interact with different stakeholders from diverse cultures. |
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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