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Forest Officer, Bahari Yetu
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BACKGROUND
THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION TO BE BASED IN DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA WITH FREQUENT TRAVEL TO THE PROJECT SITES IN RUFIJI, KILWA AND UNGUJA 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 – in 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. 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.
The Forest Officer will drive the implementation of the Community Coastal Forest Management component of the project. This position reports directly to the Project 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. He/she will also support the land system country team on request basis.
The Forest Officer will be based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania with frequent travel to the project sites in Rufiji, Kilwa and Unguja 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 – in 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. 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.
The Forest Officer will drive the implementation of the Community Coastal Forest Management component of the project. This position reports directly to the Project 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. He/she will also support the land system country team on request basis.
The Forest Officer will be based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania with frequent travel to the project sites in Rufiji, Kilwa and Unguja Island.
JOB DESCRIPTION
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the Project Manager, ‘Bahari Yetu’, the Project Officer will work with relevant project with the project team, national and county government staff, project partners, service providers, local communities, and IUCN staff from the Tanzania country office as the IUCN technical lead for coastal forest resources management and development interventions both planning and technical delivery. The Project Officer will be responsible for technical and operational delivery of key objectives of 'Bahari Yetu’ project.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Project management;
Facilitate the preparation of detailed work plans, budgets and schedules for coastal/seascape forest level 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 forest level workshops and similar events;
Oversee overall implementation of the project community coastal forest management related 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;
Coordinate and track deliverables of consultants and implementing partners under the community coastal forest management component, including ensuring necessary final approvals;
Manage the budget and allocation of project resources, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting in liaison with project finance officer as necessary;
Technical direction and capacity building;
Support the development of community-based forest management plans for village lands and forest reserves.
Assess the potential for nature-based solutions that will increase restoration potential and improved management of VLFRs
Together with TFS and CSOs support the capacity building for Local Government Authorities and Communities to implement the VLFRs and co-management plans.
Develop local policy-relevant materials to communicate the relevant information arising from 'Bahari Yetu’ to stakeholders
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 Country Portfolio and 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 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 reporting processes and requirements of the community coastal forest management component of the project.
Other responsibilities:
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time
Reporting to the Project Manager, ‘Bahari Yetu’, the Project Officer will work with relevant project with the project team, national and county government staff, project partners, service providers, local communities, and IUCN staff from the Tanzania country office as the IUCN technical lead for coastal forest resources management and development interventions both planning and technical delivery. The Project Officer will be responsible for technical and operational delivery of key objectives of 'Bahari Yetu’ project.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Project management;
Facilitate the preparation of detailed work plans, budgets and schedules for coastal/seascape forest level 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 forest level workshops and similar events;
Oversee overall implementation of the project community coastal forest management related 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;
Coordinate and track deliverables of consultants and implementing partners under the community coastal forest management component, including ensuring necessary final approvals;
Manage the budget and allocation of project resources, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting in liaison with project finance officer as necessary;
Technical direction and capacity building;
Support the development of community-based forest management plans for village lands and forest reserves.
Assess the potential for nature-based solutions that will increase restoration potential and improved management of VLFRs
Together with TFS and CSOs support the capacity building for Local Government Authorities and Communities to implement the VLFRs and co-management plans.
Develop local policy-relevant materials to communicate the relevant information arising from 'Bahari Yetu’ to stakeholders
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 Country Portfolio and 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 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 reporting processes and requirements of the community coastal forest management component of the project.
Other responsibilities:
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time
REQUIREMENTS
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• Position requirements: Education; A university degree preferably in relevant disciplines, such as, Forest Management, Forest Ecology, Forest Engineering, Natural Resources Management or related fields; 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 five years of proven experience in: Sound expertise in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of environmental projects; Experience in managing and implementing community led forest projects/programs; Strong experience in the application of remote sensing and GIS for natural resources management; Experience in working with government, NGOs, private sector, municipalities, and local community initiatives; Experience in designing and managing land use planning projects including establishment of village land forest reserves; Familiarity with IUCN’s prior work and tools and guidelines on forest assessments and management; 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.
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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