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European Programme Officer Nature Based Solutions

Vacancy #:   5572
Unit:   European Regional Office- Nature-Based Solutions
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   European Regional Office Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
Reporting to:   Director – IUCN European Regional Office
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P1
Expected start date:   01 May 2021
Type of contract:   Fixed-term
Closing date:   01 March 2021
BACKGROUND
The International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN and the European Regional Office

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,400 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 17,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

The IUCN European Regional Office in Brussels, provides vital linkages for IUCN (its Members, National Committees, scientific Commissions and the global Secretariat) to key EU institutions, governments, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, the private sector (including land users and managers, financing institutions and businesses) and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and related national and regional biodiversity plans; mainstream biodiversity within policy processes; and promote nature-based solutions to social, environmental and economic challenges.

Through its programme on Nature-Based Solutions, the IUCN European Regional Office provides valuable knowledge and capacity building for their development and upscaling, demonstrating the importance of restoring and conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and their services to address global challenges such as adaptation to climate change, natural hazards and disasters (flooding, avalanches, tsunamis), health, water and food security.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Upscaling Nature Based Solutions

Europe faces enormous challenges, such as mitigating climate change, enhancing resilience to natural disasters, ensuring safe and nutritious food to more than 500 million people, safeguarding water and air quality, protecting biodiversity, strengthening the economy, and dealing with increasing urbanization and human health issues.

Using nature to respond to some of the most pressing challenges of our time can be cost-effective, help safeguard the environment and halt biodiversity loss, and provide numerous economic and social benefits. IUCN engages with policy makers, scientists, planners, practitioners, land owners, businesses, the finance sector and civil society to promote Nature-based Solutions to highlight success stories and best practices that will inspire action new partnerships to protect and restore ecosystems across Europe, and to mobilise investment in natural capital and mainstreaming the values of nature across sectors.

One of the key focus areas of the IUCN European Programme is to collaborate closely with cities for the implementation of Nature -based Solutions. Urban landscapes are the everyday environment for the majority of the global population, with more than 75 per cent of Europeans living in these areas. The continuous increase in the number and size of urban regions, and the ensuing transformation of landscapes, pose great challenges for reducing the rate of biodiversity loss and ensuring human welfare. IUCN is committed to mobilising the biodiversity conservation expertise of its large network to help cities, local and regional authorities raise awareness for the value of nature and incorporate Nature-based Solutions within their planning and policies and to develop new partnerships for action.

The IUCN European Regional Office is involved in various demonstration projects that promote and implement Nature-based Solutions to gather evidence on the services that nature provides for people and economy, while creating regenerative business and development opportunities. These include:
• GrowGreen - aims to create climate and water resilient, healthy and livable cities by investing in Nature-based Solutions. Through demonstration projects and partnerships with a group of cities across Europe and China, GrowGreen is developing a replicable approach to the development and implementation of Nature-based Solutions strategies at city level.
• NetworkNature – creates opportunities for cooperation to maximise the impact and upscaling of Nature-based solutions by: strengthening the evidence base by gathering experiences, knowledge, tools and services; expanding Nature-based Solutions to new sectors and target audiences; to ensure dialogue and exchange between science, policy and practice, and to accelerate capacity building for Nature-based Solutions with business, investors and policy makers.
• SINCERE - Spurring INnovations for forest eCosystem sERvices in Europe develops novel policies and new business models by connecting knowledge and expertise from practice, science and policy, across Europe and beyond. It facilitates continuous collaborative learning from the project’s innovation actions, located in nine regions in Europe and two international cases in Peru and Russia. Innovations developed through SINCERE aim to explore new means to enhance forest ecosystem services in ways that benefit forest owners as well as serving broad societal needs.


Under the supervision of European Programme Manager Nature Based Solutions, the European Programme Officer Nature Based Solutions will contribute to the implementation of the above projects as well as other activities to upscale Nature-based Solutions in Europe and perform the following tasks:

• Support the delivery of several European projects on Nature-based Solutions, liaising with project partners and drawing on IUCNs knowledge network to provide inputs for achieving deliverables as required;
• Support the development of new project ideas and support fundraising efforts to help IUCN expand its engagement with cities, subnational and national governments, business and civil society for Nature-based Solutions, and strengthen IUCNs involvement in related networks and initiatives in Europe;
• Lead the development of promotional and communication materials, such as webstories, presentations, project brochures and webinars, that help raise awareness for the value of nature based solutions for specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• Develop and maintain collaboration with IUCN Members, experts and partners across Europe and represent IUCN at external events;
• Organisation and assistance with the preparation of events and workshops
• Follow closely EU policy developments related to Nature-based Solutions;
• Support the development of an evidence base of examples and best practices related to Nature based Solutions;
• Assist with the technical reporting and administrative management of projects.
REQUIREMENTS
  • A Masters degree in environmental sciences, ecosystem management, sustainable development, or any other discipline that is relevant to nature conservation; knowledge of urban issues is an advantage;

• At least 5 years of work experience in the field of nature conservation, sustainable development or a related area of work; experience with the private sector is an asset;

• Experience in developing project proposals for the European Commission (Horizon 2020 is an advantage);

• Experience with project management and good organisational, administrative, and reporting skills;

• Knowledge of European nature legislation and familiarity with EU funding and policy processes;

• Excellent level of written and spoken English (native speaker or equivalent), other languages an asset;

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to create engaging communication strategies and products;

• Experience organizing events and workshops;

• Excellent organizational, administrative, and reporting skills;

• A motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently, become familiar with new topics quickly, and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;

• A team player with a strong interest in working in an international environment and willingness to travel.
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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