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Plastics Waste Management Officer-Bahari Yetu

Vacancy #:   7096
Unit:   ESARO Tanzania Programme
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Tanzania Project Office, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
Reporting to:   Regional Programme Manager – Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR)
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P1
Expected start date:   01 January 2025
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (36 months)
Closing date:   13 December 2024
BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION TO BE BASED IN DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA WITH FREQUENT TRAVEL TO MAFIA ISLAND

BACKGROUND:

IUCN’s Tanzania Country Programme supports priorities defined under Tanzania's National Development Plan, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, National Climate Change Strategy, Agriculture and Water Sector Development Strategies and Marine and Fisheries Action Plans, Blue Economy Policies and Strategies, IUCN Intersessional Plan 2021-2024 as well as relevant Multi-lateral environmental agreements. Our 2030 strategic goals include sustainable land and landscapes management, conservation of critical natural habitats, Integrated water resources management, capacity building for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and Coastal and ocean resilience (COR) building.

IUCN’s Tanzania Country Programme is currently implementing a project called “PAMOJA TUHIFADHI BAHARI YETU – with a short form Bahari Yetu”. This is a 4-year project (2024 – 2028) with the overall goal of improving environmental protection and biodiversity conservation of the coastal and marine ecosystems in Tanzania. This project is funded by the European Union through the ‘Blue Economy for job creation and climate change adaptation programme’: a 110 M EUR programme that aims to contribute to a climate resilient Blue Economy on the Tanzanian coastal cities and ecosystems. The project is implemented in parts of the Mtwara, Coastal and Dar es Salaam regions and Unguja Island in Zanzibar. The project consists of four components:
i. Protection of Marine Resources Biodiversity,
ii. Strengthen Community-led Management of Coastal Forests,
iii. Combat plastic litter in marine and estuary water bodies,
iv. Improve institutional capacities for research, monitoring, surveillance and management of coastal and marine resources.

The project is designed to feed into 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.

The Plastics Waste Management Officer will drive the implementation of the plastics component of the project. This position reports directly to the Programme Manager. He/she will serve as a member of the Country COR Team that helps set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on Marine and Coastal issues at the country level and, accordingly, works with the other members of the team in strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation; and learning, innovation and knowledge generation at the overall Programme level.

The Plastics Waste Management Officer will be based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania with frequent travel to Mafia Island, one of project sites.
JOB DESCRIPTION
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project management;
Facilitate the preparation of detailed work plans, budgets and schedules for seascape plastics waste management project implementation in collaboration with the project team, partners and stakeholders;
Assist in processes related to inception, contracting and start-up of activities including establishment of indicators, benchmarks, work plans and inception workshops;
Coordinate and monitor the administration of project budgets and work plans according to approved external contracts and internal agreements, work plans, internal procedures and policies, and donor requirements;
Lead the organization of coastal/seascape level plastics workshops and similar events;

Technical direction and capacity building;
Assess current plastics consumption and undertaking prospective analysis on the level of plastic consumption by major sector use;
Promote the research, development and use of technologies to remove plastics and microplastics;
Develop local capacity to manage plastics as a resource, prevent their leakage into the marine environment;
Support the application of a whole supply chain approach to plastic management to build greater responsibility;
Accelerate local action and catalyze investments and partnerships to address marine litter in local hot spots and vulnerable areas through public-private funding and capacity development;
Coordinate and track deliverables of consultants and implementing partners under plastics component, including ensuring necessary final approvals;

Partnership and policy networking;
Work with industry and other levels of government, to recycle and reuse policies and actions;
Support secondary markets for plastics including using policy measures and developing international incentives, standards or requirements for product stewardship;
Work with relevant partners, particularly local governments, to advance efforts to reduce marine litter and plastics waste, notably but not exclusively in Zanzibar, Mafia island and remote communities, including through raising awareness;
Support industry leadership initiatives including CEO round table of Tanzania and foster knowledge exchange through existing alliances and other mechanisms;
Support platform for information sharing to foster awareness and education efforts on preventing and reducing plastic waste generation, plastics pollution and eliminating marine litter;
Promote the leadership role of women and youth as promoters of sustainable consumption and production practices;
Lead campaigns on Plastics and marine litter with youth and relevant partners to raise public awareness;
Liaise regularly with the central coordination team led by the Project Technical Manager to be based in Mtwara, Tanzania;
Provide timely project progress updates and detailed implementation information on implementation of the project plastics interventions;
Coordinate the planning and organization of project meetings; and create the necessary linkages and partnerships with the relevant national and sub-national institutions in country;
Assist in provision of relevant communication material and resources from the project to Communication Officer for showcase of project results in websites and other media;

Programme Development and Resource Mobilization:
As appropriate contribute in the fundraising activities including development of concepts and projects documents. This will involve establishing, maintaining and nurturing good relationships with donors, funding agencies and other technical partners so as to ensure the financial viability of the COR programme;

Monitoring and Evaluation;
Contribute to the development of the project Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
Monitor and report on project progress by regularly informing the results monitoring matrix;
In collaboration with the Project Manager and Technical Manager ensure IUCN work is accountable to donors and other stakeholders through the establishment and management of effective accountability mechanisms and processes;
Provide leadership to use data for project decision making, for the implementation of management actions based on the findings of monitoring, and to ensure that feedback from stakeholders inform programme development;
Lead plastics component reporting processes and requirements.

Other responsibilities:
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
REQUIREMENTS
  • POSITION 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.
Masters degree will be an added advantage.

Work Experience;
We’re looking for an outstanding, hands-on, highly motivated, autonomous, innovative, solution oriented, results driven and resourceful individual with at least 5 years of proven experience in:

Sound expertise in project development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of environmental projects;
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;
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 English and Swahili.

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.

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