Average temperatures and sea level are projected to rise by 2oC and more than 100 cm, respectively, over the following decades. These events have decimated a large majority of fringing coral reefs, an ecosystem that plays a fundamental role in food provision, shoreline protection, and enhanced water quality for the majority of coastal developing countries. Globally, natural resource managers are facing growing challenges from multiple and cumulative stressors that are increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems and societies that depend on their goods and services. While marine conservation and management practices have focused mostly on threat reduction (e.g. reducing overfishing and pollution), managers and agencies talk with increasing frequency about safeguarding or building resilience – i.e. supporting ecosystem processes that lower sensitivity, promote recovery and enhance adaptive capacity. One rationale for such a shift in management approach is the increasing pressures from climate change, a global driver that compromises the health of many ecosystems, and which increases the need for urgent and effective local-scale management actions.

Specifically, Project REGENERATE – Reef Generate Environmental and Economic Resilience for Atoll Ecosystems - has been developed to showcase and address coral reef issues in the Maldives. The overall aims of this project are to:

• Improve access to science and technology for decision-making and establishing policy framework for increasing resilience to climate change.
• Increase Stakeholder capacity to measure and monitor and adapt to climate stresses through education, training, and outreach.
• Strengthen governance in support of decentralised management for more resilient ecosystems
• Establish sustainable financing mechanisms to support climate resilient marine management

Reporting line temporarily changed to the Director Project Development, Asia effective 2 June 2017 and will revert once the CTO comes on board.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Under the guidance of the Chief Technical Officer, with close collaboration with technical and administrative staff, the Deputy Chief Technical Officer (DCTO) will ensure the effective and timely development, planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of Project Regenerate in the Maldives. Deputizing for the Chief Technical Officer when required, the DCTO will also be responsible for liaising with counterparts in the Government of Maldives to ensure effect delivery of the project.

Specific duties of the DCTO will include, but not limited to, the following:

• As a member of the project management team for Regenerate, be responsible for leading the strategic development of the project, including developing and maintaining relationships with government, non-governmental and other civil sector partners, private sector, as well as with members of the international community
• Assist the CTO in mapping out strategic objectives and developing the project workplan
• Support the CTO in seeking new funding opportunities for the sustainability of Project Regenerate by developing relationships with potential donors and producing quality project proposals in close collaboration with national and regional staff
• Provide overall guidance and advice on project development, proposal writing and donor intelligence
• Liaise with the Government of Maldives to understand its environmental strategic objectives and priorities, and incorporate these priorities into the Project Regenerate workplan, as well as into proposals for potential business/project development
• In coordination with the Head of Finance, Asia, work with the CTO on developing and maintaining project budgets, including compliance to reporting requirements
• Together with the appropriate technical staff, develop, maintain and report on M&E plans and activities for the project
• Ensure regular programme reporting requirements by both donors and ARO are met
• Oversee the day to day administration of the project and work with Project Regenerate and ARO staff to ensure that all ARO human resources and procurement policies and procedures are met in Project Regenerate
• Provide a liaison with Government of Maldives to facilitate the smooth administration of Project Regenerate, and explore further collaboration between the Government of Maldives and IUCN
• Identify needs for technical support and provide recommendations to the CTO on how these may be met.
• Undertake specific capacity building measures and exercises (training, mentoring, other) as necessary
• Represent Project Regenerate in external and internal IUCN meetings, at national, regional and international levels, as needed.
• Provide leadership in communicating Project Regenerate at the national level
• Maintain regular contacts with IUCN Members and partners, with a view to building relationships and exploring new areas of cooperation for Project Regenerate
• Assist in carrying out Due Diligence checks of potential grantees in Maldives
• Perform other duties as may be assigned.