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Fiji Country Project Officer - BIODEV 2030

Vacancy #:   5341
Unit:   Oceania Programme Coordination Unit
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   Oceania Regional Office, Suva, Fiji
Reporting to:   Regional Programme Coordinator
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P1
Expected start date:   10 August 2020
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (23 months)
Closing date:   26 April 2020
BACKGROUND
Stopping biodiversity decline is an urgent imperative to secure the sustainable provision of vital ecosystem goods and services that underpin humanity’s sustainable development, such as food, fibers, timber, carbon sequestration, water regulation, etc. In order to reverse the curve, a cohesive movement with individual and joint commitments from all actors - States, private sector, civil society organizations, indigenous people and local communities, citizens, men, women, and youth - need to be catalyzed. Their voluntary contributions shall serve ambitious common objectives to stop biodiversity decline by 2030 and to restore biodiversity by 2050.

AFD BIODEV 2030 project strives to galvanize such a movement between States and non-State actors and to secure ambitious science-based commitments with clear accountability mechanisms to deliver change. Led in 16 pilot countries simultaneously, the 2-year project shall facilitate a dialogue involving the stakeholders of 2 key relevant economic sectors (at least) in each country, with the objective to come up with concrete national and sectoral voluntary commitments to reduce pressures on biodiversity in the next decade.

The project shall inform this constructive dialogue with national and sectoral threat assessments based on existing data and scientific evaluations. It will also strive to build a community of practice: regional workshops, the IUCN world conservation congress in June 2020 in Marseille (France) and the CBD COP15 in November 2020 in Kunming (China) will offer opportunities to share experience, disseminate best practices and showcase results of ‘champions’ to inspire a broader movement.

The Fiji Country Project Officer - BIODEV 2030 is the focal point of the project in Fiji. He/She works under the supervision of the IUCN Oceania Regional Programmer Coordinator, collaborates functionally with the Regional Project Coordinator of ESARO based in Kenya and operationally with his local colleagues, and liaises with the global team coordinating the project with the donor. This is a local recruitment. Nationals, individuals with residence status or the appropriate employment visa for Fiji are eligible to apply.
JOB DESCRIPTION
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
•Facilitate the local set up and implementation of the AFD BIODEV 2030 in Fiji;
•Support at least two economic sectors to commit to reduce their pressure on biodiversity by 2030;
•Take responsibility for overall project management and administration for the project;
•Coordinate with global team, other IUCN Programmes working, and colleagues working on the project in other countries, to maximize synergies and share best practices;
•Contribute to advocacy for Fiji support for a strengthened post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework with ambitious targets and robust implementation mechanisms;
•Facilitate the domestication of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

SPECIFIC DUTIES
1. Develop local implementation strategy of the AFD BIODEV 2030 project, working in close collaboration and with the support of the ORO Regional Programme Coordinator and in alignment with regional and global project teams:
•Identify strategic economic sectors relevant to national economic development and to pressures on biodiversity (current and emerging), based on existing data and scientific evaluations, ensuring close consultation with the IUCN members and other key stakeholders in Fiji;
•Assist in identifying, establishing and building relationships with Fiji Government and stakeholders (including, but not limited to local businesses, sectoral associations, unions, Members) relevant and necessary for project delivery;
•Contribute to position IUCN as a key technical partner for Governments as well as other strategic partners in the region, in facilitating the domestication of the post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

2. Support planning and implementation of AFD BIODEV 2030 project initiatives in Fiji:
•In coordination with the Regional Project Coordinator of ESARO to ensure consistency of methodology and in alignment with the ORO Regional Programme Coordinator, prepare and update the work plan of the project and plan for the needed initiatives;
•Develop ToRs for workshops, service providers or consultants, Civil Support Organizations (CSO) to assist with implementation of approved activities, in compliance with IUCN guidelines and budget;
•Ensure monitoring and reporting and ensure that donor contracting requirements are being met, including the timely submission of quality progress reports and financial follow-up.

3. Contribute to the dissemination of learnings and best practices, to support the building of a regional community of practice regarding multi-stakeholder commitments for biodiversity:
•Liaise with global, regional and local IUCN programme teams to share knowledge from ongoing project, on a regular basis, and whenever appropriate;
•Support the global project communication strategy by providing insights regarding best practices and help identify local champions, able to contribute to advocacy for Fiji support to a strengthened post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework;
•Ensure that IUCN’s work to facilitate the domestication of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is effectively shared and communicated widely.

4 Other Duties
•Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager;
•Facilitate field visits for internal and external stakeholders
REQUIREMENTS
  • Post graduate degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, or other related fields, MBA a plus;

• 5+ years of work experience in working with public, CSOs and private sector stakeholders on conservation and/or sustainability including significant project management experience;

• Further experience in public and private sector engagement on policy;

• Good overview of the biodiversity legal and institutional framework in Fiji;

• Demonstrated experience in building alliances, initiatives or platforms for change that leverage the capacity of partners;

• Evidence of agile proactive thinking combined with an optimistic approach within a realistic framework;

• Proven experience in project and budget management and oversight;

• Fluent English (verbal/written) with excellent communication,presentation and organisational skills;

• An understanding of the importance of working alongside indigenous peoples and local communities to deliver the best conservation outcomes

• Knowledge of policies and approaches aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples and local communities;

• Proven knowledge and experience of Fiji’s CBD and NBSAPs and the national and international processes.
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/


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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.

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