The IUCN Close the Plastic Tap programme has generated policy change and successfully implemented plastic pollution guidance in 17 countries in Africa, the Baltics, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. This includes two regional plastic waste and leakage assessments (Baltic and Mediterranean) and 13 National Assessments of plastic footprints. IUCN has also supported national level policy assessments for plastic waste and leakage in 12+ countries across the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Caribbean. IUCN’s role is to bring science and knowledge together with our convening power to influence policy for action. IUCN’s modus operandi is to work with partners on the ground to determine the priority issues and determine the most effective interventions that enable countries to abate pressing conservation problems.

IUCN, in collaboration with Grid Arendal has been selected to deliver the project Effective Capacity Building for the Global Plastics Treaty in Africa to be implemented in Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Additional observer countries from Africa and potentially other regions will be included to participate in virtual and remote events where project materials are relevant to a broader group of stakeholders.

The goal of this proposal is to empower the five African countries with knowledge and capacity to be informed and engaged in the negotiations process for the Global Plastics Treaty by strengthening the negotiation capacities of key stakeholders at different levels of governance and improving collaboration amongst key national ministries involved in the negotiations. The focus of the project is to build national capacity and support their active engagement in the treaty process and that can serve as a models for the others.

The expected results of the project are that it will develop national capacity of stakeholders around the issues of trade and plastics, circular economy, and waste management using a holistic approach. Specific attention will be placed on developing capacity building and training that works in the country context that reinforces multi-stakeholder collaborative efforts within national governments agencies and civil society.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The project officer’s primary duties will be to support IUCN deliver the results and outputs outlined in the project proposal and facilitate coordination among the respective partners implementing the project and ensure the stakeholders from the target countries are engaged.

The incumbent shall:
1. Ensure the daily project activities and work plan assigned are implemented in close collaboration with the project managers ;
2. Support and facilitate contacts and good relationships with the respective Country national focal points and ensure communication channels and exchanges are maintained effectively;
3. Facilitate the preparation of the meetings, workshops and other events and take care of follow up activities including reporting;
4. Prepare and monitor contracts with consultants, review consultants’ deliverable in collaboration with the Regional Maine Coordinator and Senior Programme Coordinator , Ocean team;
5. Ensure technical reporting to the project management team;
6. Support the Administrative and finance department regarding the financial reports and other required documentation associated with the project;
7. Support Communication activities and materials, e.g. project webpages and event preparation;
8. Liaise with the regional and national partners and ensure synergies and good collaboration and provide timely feedback to the project team;
9. Carry out other technical support from time to time as required by Project Managers;
10. Support the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Project based on the established monitoring matrix.
11. Support other regional plastic projects and develop collaboration mechanism as required

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular job description.