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Programme Officer - Conservation action - Madagascar
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BACKGROUND
IUCN is seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic candidate to join the IUCN Species Conservation Action Team as Programme Officer – Species Conservation.
IUCN SOS – Save Our Species aims to improve the conservation status of globally threatened species, their habitats and the people depending on them. It provides grants for conservation projects targeting globally threatened species. By strategically focusing on species conservation priorities and by providing rapid action funding that can be mobilized quickly during crises, SOS provides critically-needed resources where and when they matter most.
IUCN Save Our Species supports science-based conservation action on the ground that saves animals, plants and fungi from extinction. We focus our efforts where they will have the biggest impact by funding frontline conservation organisations across the world who have unique knowledge of their region and the local biodiversity. IUCN Save Our Species is IUCN’s response to the challenges identified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ mobilising IUCN’s unique knowledge and expertise of the IUCN experts Commissions.
This is a local recruitment. Only Malagasy nationals, individuals with residence status, or the appropriate employment visa for Madagascar are eligible to apply. The Programme Officer will be recruited by IUCN and based in the upcoming Madagascar Country Office, in Antananarivo, Madagascar. As a temporary arrangement until the office opens, the Programme Officer will work remotely from home.
IUCN SOS – Save Our Species aims to improve the conservation status of globally threatened species, their habitats and the people depending on them. It provides grants for conservation projects targeting globally threatened species. By strategically focusing on species conservation priorities and by providing rapid action funding that can be mobilized quickly during crises, SOS provides critically-needed resources where and when they matter most.
IUCN Save Our Species supports science-based conservation action on the ground that saves animals, plants and fungi from extinction. We focus our efforts where they will have the biggest impact by funding frontline conservation organisations across the world who have unique knowledge of their region and the local biodiversity. IUCN Save Our Species is IUCN’s response to the challenges identified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ mobilising IUCN’s unique knowledge and expertise of the IUCN experts Commissions.
This is a local recruitment. Only Malagasy nationals, individuals with residence status, or the appropriate employment visa for Madagascar are eligible to apply. The Programme Officer will be recruited by IUCN and based in the upcoming Madagascar Country Office, in Antananarivo, Madagascar. As a temporary arrangement until the office opens, the Programme Officer will work remotely from home.
JOB DESCRIPTION
MAJOR DUTIES
The Programme Officer will support the effective implementation, monitoring and coordination of the SOS Lemurs Phase II initiative in Madagascar. The role will ensure close follow-up with an assigned portfolio of SOS Lemurs grants, support field monitoring and reporting, contribute to data collection and learning, and facilitate coordination between Madagascar-based partners and the SOS Lemurs Secretariat.
The position is part of a Madagascar-based programme team. Responsibilities will be coordinated with the other Programme Officer to ensure consistent support across the SOS Lemurs portfolio.
The position will also contribute, as relevant, to other species conservation initiatives and project development efforts led by the Species Conservation Action Team in Madagascar.
SPECIFIC DUTIES
I. Grant and portfolio coordination
• Manage the day-to-day administration of an assigned portfolio of SOS Lemurs Phase II grants in Madagascar, in close coordination with the Senior Grants Officer.
• Liaise regularly with grantees to follow progress, identify implementation challenges, and support timely delivery of activities, reports and deliverables.
• Review grantee technical reports, monitoring plans and supporting documentation, and provide consolidated feedback.
• Maintain and update project management tools (project trackers) and other portfolio monitoring documents.
• Support grant agreement processes, amendments, reporting follow-up in line with IUCN SOS procedures.
• Contribute to calls for proposals and/or direct award processes, including application review and grant selection, as needed.
• Support the preparation of donor progress reports by consolidating grantee information, results and examples from the field.
II. Field monitoring and day-to-day grantee support
• Plan and conduct project monitoring missions to SOS Lemurs-funded sites, and prepare mission reports accordingly.
• Support grantees in understanding and applying SOS Lemurs requirements, including reporting, indicators, ESMS, communications and visibility.
• Provide practical guidance to grantees and escalate issues requiring HQ decision-making.
III. Monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact data
• Support the collection, verification and consolidation of grant-level monitoring data.
• Contribute to the SOS Lemurs monitoring and evaluation framework, indicator tracking tools and programme dashboards.
• Support the collation of impact data and lessons learned for donor reporting, evaluations, communications and learning products.
• Contribute to mid-term and final evaluation processes by supporting document preparation, grantee coordination, field logistics and follow-up.
• Help identify good practices and learning across the portfolio.
IV. Capacity-building, workshops and knowledge exchange
• Support the planning and delivery of capacity-building activities for SOS Lemurs grantees, including workshops, webinars and peer-learning activities.
• Provide operational and logistical support for in-country events and technical workshops, including preparation of agendas, materials, participant follow-up and documentation of key lessons.
• Support knowledge exchange between grantees and relevant technical partners.
V. Stakeholder engagement, visibility and programme development
• Support regular communication with relevant Madagascar-based stakeholders, including grantees, local partners, IUCN Members, technical experts and national institutions, as agreed with the line manager.
• Support links between SOS Lemurs activities and relevant national biodiversity priorities, policies and initiatives.
• Maintain regular coordination with the IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO).
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, visibility and alignment with other conservation initiatives in Madagascar.
• Contribute technical inputs, field information, photos, stories and data for communication products highlighting SOS Lemurs’ achievements and lessons learned.
• Represent IUCN and SOS Lemurs at relevant national and international events;
• Support the identification of partnership or project development opportunities related to species conservation in Madagascar and contribute inputs to project concepts or proposals where relevant.
• Carry out other relevant tasks at the request of and in agreement with the line manager.
The Programme Officer will support the effective implementation, monitoring and coordination of the SOS Lemurs Phase II initiative in Madagascar. The role will ensure close follow-up with an assigned portfolio of SOS Lemurs grants, support field monitoring and reporting, contribute to data collection and learning, and facilitate coordination between Madagascar-based partners and the SOS Lemurs Secretariat.
The position is part of a Madagascar-based programme team. Responsibilities will be coordinated with the other Programme Officer to ensure consistent support across the SOS Lemurs portfolio.
The position will also contribute, as relevant, to other species conservation initiatives and project development efforts led by the Species Conservation Action Team in Madagascar.
SPECIFIC DUTIES
I. Grant and portfolio coordination
• Manage the day-to-day administration of an assigned portfolio of SOS Lemurs Phase II grants in Madagascar, in close coordination with the Senior Grants Officer.
• Liaise regularly with grantees to follow progress, identify implementation challenges, and support timely delivery of activities, reports and deliverables.
• Review grantee technical reports, monitoring plans and supporting documentation, and provide consolidated feedback.
• Maintain and update project management tools (project trackers) and other portfolio monitoring documents.
• Support grant agreement processes, amendments, reporting follow-up in line with IUCN SOS procedures.
• Contribute to calls for proposals and/or direct award processes, including application review and grant selection, as needed.
• Support the preparation of donor progress reports by consolidating grantee information, results and examples from the field.
II. Field monitoring and day-to-day grantee support
• Plan and conduct project monitoring missions to SOS Lemurs-funded sites, and prepare mission reports accordingly.
• Support grantees in understanding and applying SOS Lemurs requirements, including reporting, indicators, ESMS, communications and visibility.
• Provide practical guidance to grantees and escalate issues requiring HQ decision-making.
III. Monitoring, evaluation, learning and impact data
• Support the collection, verification and consolidation of grant-level monitoring data.
• Contribute to the SOS Lemurs monitoring and evaluation framework, indicator tracking tools and programme dashboards.
• Support the collation of impact data and lessons learned for donor reporting, evaluations, communications and learning products.
• Contribute to mid-term and final evaluation processes by supporting document preparation, grantee coordination, field logistics and follow-up.
• Help identify good practices and learning across the portfolio.
IV. Capacity-building, workshops and knowledge exchange
• Support the planning and delivery of capacity-building activities for SOS Lemurs grantees, including workshops, webinars and peer-learning activities.
• Provide operational and logistical support for in-country events and technical workshops, including preparation of agendas, materials, participant follow-up and documentation of key lessons.
• Support knowledge exchange between grantees and relevant technical partners.
V. Stakeholder engagement, visibility and programme development
• Support regular communication with relevant Madagascar-based stakeholders, including grantees, local partners, IUCN Members, technical experts and national institutions, as agreed with the line manager.
• Support links between SOS Lemurs activities and relevant national biodiversity priorities, policies and initiatives.
• Maintain regular coordination with the IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO).
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, visibility and alignment with other conservation initiatives in Madagascar.
• Contribute technical inputs, field information, photos, stories and data for communication products highlighting SOS Lemurs’ achievements and lessons learned.
• Represent IUCN and SOS Lemurs at relevant national and international events;
• Support the identification of partnership or project development opportunities related to species conservation in Madagascar and contribute inputs to project concepts or proposals where relevant.
• Carry out other relevant tasks at the request of and in agreement with the line manager.
REQUIREMENTS
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• MSc degree (or higher) in biodiversity conservation, species/habitat management, environmental sciences or other relevant discipline; • Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in the field of biodiversity conservation, preferably involving on-the-ground conservation activities; • Good knowledge of biodiversity conservation challenges in Madagascar, preferably with experience working with local conservation organisations, civil society organisations and/or community-based partners; • Experience in grant-making or project management, with strong project management skills at multiple levels including planning, implementation, reporting, and monitoring; • Experience in developing and implementing activities aimed at building the capacity of civil society organisations; • Fundraising experience is an asset; • Experience in monitoring and evaluation is an asset; • Capacity to produce high-quality briefs and reports; • Good knowledge of IUCN standards and knowledge tools for species conservation is an asset; • Fluency in Malagasy, excellent spoken and written English and French; • Computer literacy in MS Office packages; • Solution-oriented approach: demonstrates a ‘thinking outside the box’ attitude; • Demonstrated ability for critical thinking, analysis and strategic planning; • Proven ability to bring ideas from concept through to realisation and implementation; • Outstanding writing and editing skills; strong attention to detail; • Strong interpersonal and presentation skills; • Ability to cope with varied workload and flexible working hours; • Capacity to work effectively under time pressure and extended hours; • Willingness to travel sometimes at short notice; • Team-oriented attitude and ability to work independently; • Proven ability to work with multi-disciplinary groups, including governments, experts, civil society and local communities; • Respond well to remote supervision; • Ability to work effectively in a remote management set-up, maintaining regular communication, timely follow-up and a high level of responsiveness; • A demonstrated high-level ability to work in a multi-cultural, international organisation, applying high standards of respect, tolerance and support required. |
SALARY
The minimum gross annual salary for this position is MGA 72'894'691. While this is an indicative amount effective as of the current date, changes may occur as per IUCN's compensation practices without prior notice. The same applies to other organisations hosted by IUCN.
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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