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MAINTENANCE NOTICE
Due to maintenance work, our HR Management System might be inaccessible on
Saturday, 20 April 2024, from 6:00 to 10:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
Due to maintenance work, our HR Management System might be inaccessible on
Saturday, 20 April 2024, from 6:00 to 10:00 CEST (UTC+02:00)
BIOPAMA Action Component Project Officer
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BACKGROUND
The Biodiversity and Protected Area Management Programme (BIOPAMA) aims to improve the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, in protected and conserved areas and surrounding communities. It is an initiative of the ACP Group of States financed by the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF), jointly implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC). Specifically, the programme will enhance existing institutions and networks by making use of available best science and knowledge for building capacity to improve policies and inform decision-making on biodiversity conservation and protected areas management and governance. By improving access to, and availability of, relevant data and information, the BIOPAMA programme aims to enhance the management of protected areas (terrestrial and marine) and national systems of protected and conserved areas. A Regional Resource Hub (RRH) and Regional Reference Information System (RRIS) are initiated to be established in the Eastern and Southern African region to enable the provision of relevant data and information to assist in improved planning and decision-making as well as exchanging knowledge. The Resource Hub will focus on supporting the region to achieve its targets on improved protected area management and governance through the collection and collation of relevant information and development of tools and capacity needed for sound decision making.
The project also implements an Action Component which comprises a well-funded and high profile grants programme to support tangible actions on the ground that are aimed at strengthening PA and natural resource management effectiveness and governance. The Action Component involves the implementation of a comprehensive portfolio of small to medium sized grants addressing priorities for action identified through the RRH and RRIS with on the ground activities.
The project also implements an Action Component which comprises a well-funded and high profile grants programme to support tangible actions on the ground that are aimed at strengthening PA and natural resource management effectiveness and governance. The Action Component involves the implementation of a comprehensive portfolio of small to medium sized grants addressing priorities for action identified through the RRH and RRIS with on the ground activities.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The BIOPAMA Action Component Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day administration, coordination and supervision of the implementation of the Action Component for Eastern and Southern Africa. S/he will work closely with the BIOPAMA Regional Coordinator, the BIOPAMA Technical Officer and the BIOPAMA Global Action Component Grant Manager, as well as the regional and global BIOPAMA Finance Officers. The Action Component Officer will be responsible for working with national agencies to update national- and site-level priority actions for calls for proposals. S/he will support and advertise the call for proposals, including all potential grantee enquiries and organizing capacity building activities. S/he will organise the expert Regional Advisory Committee who will assess the project proposals to be selected by the BIOPAMA AC Validating Committee. S/he will work closely with the global BIOPAMA team to contract grantees, ensure reporting in line with donor requirements, will manage all reporting, internal and external, related to the Action Component and will support the promotion and capitalization of the granted projects.
The Action Component Officer (ACO) will be responsible for the following main duties:
1. Programme management and implementation:
• Ensure effective and efficient implementation of the BIOPAMA Action Component in Eastern and Southern Africa through timely implementation of programme activities in accordance with the BIOPAMA workplan, project documents, supporting agreements (e.g. contracts, MoUs, etc.), annual work plans and the procedures and policies of IUCN;
More specifically the ACO is expected to carry out the following duties:
• Develop a thorough understanding of the BIOPAMA Action Component mechanism;
• Take responsibility for implementing all processes required at regional and national levels for grants management and ensuring that they are delivered in a timely, effective and accurate manner;
• Plan and undertake regular communication with other members of the Action Component global team - reviewers, finance and contract personnel and provide relevant updates periodically;
• Provide guidance to the global team on regionally tailored approaches for an effective communication programme to promote and explain the grant mechanism opportunity to stakeholders across the ACP region;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA global team to deliver regional BIOPAMA communication products and communicate results;
• Support the communication of the launch of the calls for proposals in the region;
• Provide regular technical advice to the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator and assist in work planning and the preparation of reports related to the implementation of the Action Component in Eastern and Southern Africa;
• Work, together with the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator, to ensure integration and compliance with the IUCN Environmental and Social Management System and the BIOPAMA AC Operational Manual;
• Identify key regional and national networks and organizations and develop and maintain contact lists and liaison;
• Work, together with the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator, to establish and oversee a Regional Advisory Committee which acts as a review team. Ensure the secretariat of the RAC et elaborate report for the BIOPAMA AC validating Committee;
• Conduct the ESMS clearance of the project proposals;
• Contribute regional support to the processes for solicitation, review and evaluation of proposals in consultation with other members of the Action Component global team;
• Provide advice on due diligence assessments and screening of applicants in consultation with the regional BIOPAMA AC Finance Officer and the global team;
• Prepare letter to applicants on the outcomes of their proposal submissions and liaise with them when needed;
• As necessary, provide direct technical support for capacity building, particularly of local-level civil society organizations and mentor applicants and grantees through aspects of grant management, from the initial proposal design and submission process, to assisting with project monitoring and evaluation;
• Manage the submission of technical and financial reports from grantees, and verify completion of products, deliverables, and short-term impacts by grantees in order to review the efficiency and efficacy of project implementation;
• Monitor performance through communication with grantees and through site visits where appropriate;
• Ensure close synergies between the grants programme and RCMRD’s roles in BIOPAMA particularly in regard to management effectiveness assessments and activities that will improve the quality of baseline protected and conserved area information and ensure that relevant information derived from grant projects is accessible to the Regional Resource Hub at RCMRD;
• Contribute to information sharing, lessons learning and documentation of Action Component project and programme experiences;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA global team to promote BIOPAMA AC funded projects’ results and success stories;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA Technical Officer (TO) for supporting the capitalisation process of BIOPAMA AC funded projects, supporting good project logical framework and indicators, project monitoring and enabling information sharing from the projects to the RRIS.
2. Stakeholder Engagement and representation:
Assist in building and maintaining strong relationships with IUCN partners, donors, project participants and wider stakeholders and develop the Action Component network. More specifically:
• Where relevant, convene meetings and workshops to enable information sharing, capacity building and exchange between grantees and other stakeholders;
• Ensure that the relevant EU delegations, the regional ACP secretariat and IUCN commissions and membership are kept suitably engaged and informed;
• Contribute to project publicity, promotion, updates and knowledge products suitably branded and attributed;
• Support the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator as required through engagement on regional network groups, task forces and committees; representing IUCN and BIOPAMA at assigned relevant regional fora, meetings and workshops at national and regional levels; contribution to IUCN ESARO programme planning forums, advisory committees and, project reviews.
3. Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning:
Support the development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation systems and support accountability and programme learning processes. More specifically:
• Support the development and effective implementation of M&E frameworks and systems for the BIOPAMA Action Component in the Eastern and Southern African region. These should capture agreed upon, integrated impacts, in line with IUCN guidelines and procedures;
• Work closely with IUCN ESARO Financial Team to manage the regional level project budget and expenditure authorizations in accordance with IUCN’s financial management systems and procedures;
• Contribute to developing capacity for M&E within grant projects;
• Ensure that all the information related to the implementation of projects is adequately filed, organized and updated for easy access;
• Identify and use lessons to inform practice;
• Document and share lessons and experiences, as appropriate, including taking the responsibility for specific knowledge products;
• Support the definition of a BIOPAMA AC indicator framework from the project scale to the global targets;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA Technical Officer (TO) for supporting the capitalisation process of BIOPAMA AC funded projects, supporting good project logical framework and indicators, project monitoring and enabling information sharing from the projects to the RRIS.
4. Programme growth:
Contributing to processes that guide the growth of the ESARO Programme and development of the Thematic Programmatic portfolios. More specifically:
• Promote the integrated collaboration between IUCN’s thematic portfolios;
• Identify opportunities for new projects, building on the work of the Regional Resource Hub, and work with the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator to design and develop the concepts for these;
• Work closely with IUCN members, commissions and/or partners, and the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator to support the development of innovative proposals that address members’ and/or partners’ needs;
• Support the investigation of additional fund-raising possibilities to ensure the sustainability of project activities and the portfolio.
• Support the communication and dissemination (internally and externally) of portfolio achievements;
5. Other responsibilities:
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
The Action Component Officer (ACO) will be responsible for the following main duties:
1. Programme management and implementation:
• Ensure effective and efficient implementation of the BIOPAMA Action Component in Eastern and Southern Africa through timely implementation of programme activities in accordance with the BIOPAMA workplan, project documents, supporting agreements (e.g. contracts, MoUs, etc.), annual work plans and the procedures and policies of IUCN;
More specifically the ACO is expected to carry out the following duties:
• Develop a thorough understanding of the BIOPAMA Action Component mechanism;
• Take responsibility for implementing all processes required at regional and national levels for grants management and ensuring that they are delivered in a timely, effective and accurate manner;
• Plan and undertake regular communication with other members of the Action Component global team - reviewers, finance and contract personnel and provide relevant updates periodically;
• Provide guidance to the global team on regionally tailored approaches for an effective communication programme to promote and explain the grant mechanism opportunity to stakeholders across the ACP region;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA global team to deliver regional BIOPAMA communication products and communicate results;
• Support the communication of the launch of the calls for proposals in the region;
• Provide regular technical advice to the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator and assist in work planning and the preparation of reports related to the implementation of the Action Component in Eastern and Southern Africa;
• Work, together with the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator, to ensure integration and compliance with the IUCN Environmental and Social Management System and the BIOPAMA AC Operational Manual;
• Identify key regional and national networks and organizations and develop and maintain contact lists and liaison;
• Work, together with the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator, to establish and oversee a Regional Advisory Committee which acts as a review team. Ensure the secretariat of the RAC et elaborate report for the BIOPAMA AC validating Committee;
• Conduct the ESMS clearance of the project proposals;
• Contribute regional support to the processes for solicitation, review and evaluation of proposals in consultation with other members of the Action Component global team;
• Provide advice on due diligence assessments and screening of applicants in consultation with the regional BIOPAMA AC Finance Officer and the global team;
• Prepare letter to applicants on the outcomes of their proposal submissions and liaise with them when needed;
• As necessary, provide direct technical support for capacity building, particularly of local-level civil society organizations and mentor applicants and grantees through aspects of grant management, from the initial proposal design and submission process, to assisting with project monitoring and evaluation;
• Manage the submission of technical and financial reports from grantees, and verify completion of products, deliverables, and short-term impacts by grantees in order to review the efficiency and efficacy of project implementation;
• Monitor performance through communication with grantees and through site visits where appropriate;
• Ensure close synergies between the grants programme and RCMRD’s roles in BIOPAMA particularly in regard to management effectiveness assessments and activities that will improve the quality of baseline protected and conserved area information and ensure that relevant information derived from grant projects is accessible to the Regional Resource Hub at RCMRD;
• Contribute to information sharing, lessons learning and documentation of Action Component project and programme experiences;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA global team to promote BIOPAMA AC funded projects’ results and success stories;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA Technical Officer (TO) for supporting the capitalisation process of BIOPAMA AC funded projects, supporting good project logical framework and indicators, project monitoring and enabling information sharing from the projects to the RRIS.
2. Stakeholder Engagement and representation:
Assist in building and maintaining strong relationships with IUCN partners, donors, project participants and wider stakeholders and develop the Action Component network. More specifically:
• Where relevant, convene meetings and workshops to enable information sharing, capacity building and exchange between grantees and other stakeholders;
• Ensure that the relevant EU delegations, the regional ACP secretariat and IUCN commissions and membership are kept suitably engaged and informed;
• Contribute to project publicity, promotion, updates and knowledge products suitably branded and attributed;
• Support the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator as required through engagement on regional network groups, task forces and committees; representing IUCN and BIOPAMA at assigned relevant regional fora, meetings and workshops at national and regional levels; contribution to IUCN ESARO programme planning forums, advisory committees and, project reviews.
3. Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning:
Support the development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation systems and support accountability and programme learning processes. More specifically:
• Support the development and effective implementation of M&E frameworks and systems for the BIOPAMA Action Component in the Eastern and Southern African region. These should capture agreed upon, integrated impacts, in line with IUCN guidelines and procedures;
• Work closely with IUCN ESARO Financial Team to manage the regional level project budget and expenditure authorizations in accordance with IUCN’s financial management systems and procedures;
• Contribute to developing capacity for M&E within grant projects;
• Ensure that all the information related to the implementation of projects is adequately filed, organized and updated for easy access;
• Identify and use lessons to inform practice;
• Document and share lessons and experiences, as appropriate, including taking the responsibility for specific knowledge products;
• Support the definition of a BIOPAMA AC indicator framework from the project scale to the global targets;
• Work effectively with the BIOPAMA Technical Officer (TO) for supporting the capitalisation process of BIOPAMA AC funded projects, supporting good project logical framework and indicators, project monitoring and enabling information sharing from the projects to the RRIS.
4. Programme growth:
Contributing to processes that guide the growth of the ESARO Programme and development of the Thematic Programmatic portfolios. More specifically:
• Promote the integrated collaboration between IUCN’s thematic portfolios;
• Identify opportunities for new projects, building on the work of the Regional Resource Hub, and work with the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator to design and develop the concepts for these;
• Work closely with IUCN members, commissions and/or partners, and the Regional BIOPAMA Coordinator to support the development of innovative proposals that address members’ and/or partners’ needs;
• Support the investigation of additional fund-raising possibilities to ensure the sustainability of project activities and the portfolio.
• Support the communication and dissemination (internally and externally) of portfolio achievements;
5. Other responsibilities:
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
REQUIREMENTS
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• University Degree in Natural Resource Management, Ecology, or a relevant field. An Advanced University Degree in a relevant field highly advantageous. A certificate or diploma in an ecology related discipline accompanied by 7 years’ relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the University Degree requirement • Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages and electronic communication tools. • At least 7 years of experience in biodiversity conservation and/or protected areas management, ideally involving terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, at national and/or regional levels, in Eastern and/or Southern Africa • Experience with grant management systems including implementation, monitoring and evaluation methodologies; • Experience in communicating and collaborating with management agencies, local communities, academic institutions and local, national and regional stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes; • Hands-on experience with report writing; • Proven experience in project administration; • Demonstrated experience in capacity building and working as a facilitator or trainer in a multi-cultural setting • Fluency in English, both written and verbal (Portuguese and French would be an added advantage) • Adheres to IUCN ESARO core values of Transparency, Inclusiveness, Professionalism and Accountability; • Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills; • Good communication skills and proven writing ability; • Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team player with proven communication and diplomacy with the ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams with sensitivity and respect for diversity; • Highly motivated and results-oriented individual; • Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision to prioritize tasking and manage workflow in a high pressure environment; • Committed to continuous learning and proactive and mature attitude towards self-development; • Willing to travel frequently within the Eastern and Southern African region. |
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
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Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
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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.
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