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Technical Officer for the Protected Areas Observatory, BIOPAMA Programme
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BACKGROUND
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Technical Officer will work closely with the BIOPAMA Coordinator for the ESA region and will contribute to bridging what is often viewed as a gap between science & technology supply and protected area policy and management demand. S/he will build strong relationships within the region, in particular with the technical staff within key decision-making and supporting bodies to support the development of a sustainable Observatory for Biodiversity and Protected Areas. S/he will support the uptake of data and information through user-centered design, the evaluation of product use, and s/he will foster an open environment for data sharing and knowledge exchange. S/he will therefore contribute high-level technical GIS and database know-how, decision-support tool development skills and a good network in the geo-spatial and conservation sector in the Eastern and Southern African region and beyond. The specific responsibilities of the Technical Officer can be grouped into three main categories detailed below:
Networking and Communications:
(i) Build close relationships with- and between the technical staff (BIOPAMA technical focal points) within the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) in the region (SADC, EAC and IGAD) with the purpose of building a sustainable model for the Observatory to service the entire ESA region effectively;
(ii) Liaise closely with the REC BIOPAMA technical focal points and other relevant stakeholders to identify information and data available in the region relevant to the needs of decision-maker (supporting the work of the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator);
(iii) Coordinate efforts to link up with- and build relationships with- existing data centres/holders in the ESA region to identify information and datasets relevant to Protected Areas and biodiversity management (and the needs identified in the region);
(iv) Identify how these datasets and information can be linked to and integrated into the Regional Reference Information System (relevant datasets would include for e.g. existing PA (site and network) and biodiversity management information and data sets, ecosystem services information, PA/biodiversity valuation information, social and socio-economic data sets, agricultural, fisheries and extractive industries related data sets, infrastructure development planning information);
(v) Liaise with relevant stakeholders in the region to improve the understanding of capacity needs for spatial information processing and analysis for PA and biodiversity planning across the region and how BIOPAMA can contribute to addressing these needs;
(vi) Facilitate and/or build networks of spatial analysis experts providing decision-makers with relevant spatial decision support tools in the region (e.g. from PA Agencies and relevant government departments as well as NGOs and private sector);
(vii) Communicate spatial and non-spatial information easily and simply to all stakeholders.
(viii) Gain an understanding of the technical environment to ensure responsive development of systems, tools, databases and applications.
(ix) Communicate relevant progress, successes, lessons learnt and products of the Observatory across the region (in liaison with the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator and IUCN HQ Communications team)
Data and Information:
(i) Facilitate the connection of data and information on biodiversity and protected areas from datacentres/holders in the region with the Regional Reference Information System (RRIS);
(ii) Actively promote data sharing and data sharing agreements with national and regional governmental agencies, research institutions, NGOs, academic institutions;
(iii) Liaise closely with technical architects and developers of the RRIS at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to inform the design of web applications based on user requirements identified in the region;
(iv) Develop a strategy (in liaison with the JRC) to improve user engagement and use of products;
(v) Support technical planning, development, and implementation of web-based decision-support applications and interfaces for end users in the region;
(vi) Utilize best practices in user-centric design methodology and usability principles to co-create effective user applications/RRIS experiences;
(vii) Work with data custodians to enable them to establish geospatial web services (on in-house servers, servers at the Observatory, servers at the JRC, or in the cloud).
(viii) Facilitate technical support and training to stakeholders based on needs identified and on the use of RRIS and associated tools as relevant;
(ix) Assist with requests from regional and national stakeholders for data analyses, or facilitate requests through the JRC in Italy;
(x) Provide technical support to national governments on improving data access and availability for reporting against CBD PoWPA, WHC and other MEAs;
(xi) Maintain a registry of all available data and information.
(xii) Monitor and evaluate the use of information products produced through the Observatory.
The Observatory will provide direct technical support and implementation of activities in some cases (e.g. workshop facilitation and training; data analyses), while other activities and services that may require more expert input or considerable more time than is available from the Technical Officer could be sub-contracted as appropriate.
Administration and Project Management:
(i) Prepare 6-month work plans for the Observatory in liaison with the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator;
(ii) Prepare six-month and annual written reports on delivery/performance of the Observatory, against the work plan developed for each six-month period and the overall project document.
(iii) Ensure all observatory-related expenditure (including travel, procurement and sub-contracting arrangements) complies with EC financial procedures and regulations, and follows the administrative and financial rules of ESARO (in liaison with BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator).
(iv) Maintain close coordination with the BIOPAMA Regional Coordinator for the Eastern and Southern African Region. Monitor and regularly report to the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator on progress in relation to planned goals and objectives, and agreed milestones in each country and each programme component. Identify and address issues that require attention; identify potential risks and opportunities for project implementation and propose mitigation measures and strategic actions, as needed.
(v) Maintain linkages with, and contribute to, other relevant programmes and projects (vi) Participate in Global IUCN bodies and others that fall within the specific scope of protected area information management
(vii) Contribute to IUCN’s regular publications such as newsletters, website and annual report
(viii) Provide overall input into ESARO programmes, projects, activities and initiatives and offer advice on emerging initiatives, especially related to the ESA region and/or to protected areas challenges
(ix) Adherence to the IUCN Code of Conduct.
- Respect for people from different nationalities, cultures, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation as well as the young and elderly;
- Responsible for exercising utmost care and judgement to ensure the assets belonging or entrusted to IUCN are not misused or wasted;
- Avoid all instances of conflict of interest in one’s dealings;
- Commitment to help conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources;
Networking and Communications:
(i) Build close relationships with- and between the technical staff (BIOPAMA technical focal points) within the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) in the region (SADC, EAC and IGAD) with the purpose of building a sustainable model for the Observatory to service the entire ESA region effectively;
(ii) Liaise closely with the REC BIOPAMA technical focal points and other relevant stakeholders to identify information and data available in the region relevant to the needs of decision-maker (supporting the work of the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator);
(iii) Coordinate efforts to link up with- and build relationships with- existing data centres/holders in the ESA region to identify information and datasets relevant to Protected Areas and biodiversity management (and the needs identified in the region);
(iv) Identify how these datasets and information can be linked to and integrated into the Regional Reference Information System (relevant datasets would include for e.g. existing PA (site and network) and biodiversity management information and data sets, ecosystem services information, PA/biodiversity valuation information, social and socio-economic data sets, agricultural, fisheries and extractive industries related data sets, infrastructure development planning information);
(v) Liaise with relevant stakeholders in the region to improve the understanding of capacity needs for spatial information processing and analysis for PA and biodiversity planning across the region and how BIOPAMA can contribute to addressing these needs;
(vi) Facilitate and/or build networks of spatial analysis experts providing decision-makers with relevant spatial decision support tools in the region (e.g. from PA Agencies and relevant government departments as well as NGOs and private sector);
(vii) Communicate spatial and non-spatial information easily and simply to all stakeholders.
(viii) Gain an understanding of the technical environment to ensure responsive development of systems, tools, databases and applications.
(ix) Communicate relevant progress, successes, lessons learnt and products of the Observatory across the region (in liaison with the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator and IUCN HQ Communications team)
Data and Information:
(i) Facilitate the connection of data and information on biodiversity and protected areas from datacentres/holders in the region with the Regional Reference Information System (RRIS);
(ii) Actively promote data sharing and data sharing agreements with national and regional governmental agencies, research institutions, NGOs, academic institutions;
(iii) Liaise closely with technical architects and developers of the RRIS at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to inform the design of web applications based on user requirements identified in the region;
(iv) Develop a strategy (in liaison with the JRC) to improve user engagement and use of products;
(v) Support technical planning, development, and implementation of web-based decision-support applications and interfaces for end users in the region;
(vi) Utilize best practices in user-centric design methodology and usability principles to co-create effective user applications/RRIS experiences;
(vii) Work with data custodians to enable them to establish geospatial web services (on in-house servers, servers at the Observatory, servers at the JRC, or in the cloud).
(viii) Facilitate technical support and training to stakeholders based on needs identified and on the use of RRIS and associated tools as relevant;
(ix) Assist with requests from regional and national stakeholders for data analyses, or facilitate requests through the JRC in Italy;
(x) Provide technical support to national governments on improving data access and availability for reporting against CBD PoWPA, WHC and other MEAs;
(xi) Maintain a registry of all available data and information.
(xii) Monitor and evaluate the use of information products produced through the Observatory.
The Observatory will provide direct technical support and implementation of activities in some cases (e.g. workshop facilitation and training; data analyses), while other activities and services that may require more expert input or considerable more time than is available from the Technical Officer could be sub-contracted as appropriate.
Administration and Project Management:
(i) Prepare 6-month work plans for the Observatory in liaison with the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator;
(ii) Prepare six-month and annual written reports on delivery/performance of the Observatory, against the work plan developed for each six-month period and the overall project document.
(iii) Ensure all observatory-related expenditure (including travel, procurement and sub-contracting arrangements) complies with EC financial procedures and regulations, and follows the administrative and financial rules of ESARO (in liaison with BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator).
(iv) Maintain close coordination with the BIOPAMA Regional Coordinator for the Eastern and Southern African Region. Monitor and regularly report to the BIOPAMA ESA Coordinator on progress in relation to planned goals and objectives, and agreed milestones in each country and each programme component. Identify and address issues that require attention; identify potential risks and opportunities for project implementation and propose mitigation measures and strategic actions, as needed.
(v) Maintain linkages with, and contribute to, other relevant programmes and projects (vi) Participate in Global IUCN bodies and others that fall within the specific scope of protected area information management
(vii) Contribute to IUCN’s regular publications such as newsletters, website and annual report
(viii) Provide overall input into ESARO programmes, projects, activities and initiatives and offer advice on emerging initiatives, especially related to the ESA region and/or to protected areas challenges
(ix) Adherence to the IUCN Code of Conduct.
- Respect for people from different nationalities, cultures, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation as well as the young and elderly;
- Responsible for exercising utmost care and judgement to ensure the assets belonging or entrusted to IUCN are not misused or wasted;
- Avoid all instances of conflict of interest in one’s dealings;
- Commitment to help conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources;
REQUIREMENTS
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• Minimum of a relevant post-graduate qualification (Masters level) in environmental management, geographic sciences, natural resource management, conservation or an ecology or natural science related discipline and a formal training (certificate or course) in geographic information systems • Extensive experience in the management of geographic information systems (GIS), databases, internet user interfaces as well as spatial analysis and development of decision support tools • Extensive experience in developing detailed user requirements in collaboration with stakeholders (i.e. translation of needs expressed by decision-makers into data and information/analysis needs to develop decision-support tools) • Experience in facilitating open data exchange, crafting data sharing agreements, and building consensus on standards is a distinct advantage • Knowledge of information product life cycle processes, to include planning, analysis, design, development, testing, use evaluation, etc. • Proven experience in working with large spatial and non-spatial databases. Specific experience with PostGreSQL/PostGIS an advantage. • Experience with use of open source geospatial tools an advantage • At least 5 years’ experience in biodiversity and/or protected areas information management, ideally involving terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, at national and/or regional levels, preferably in the Eastern and Southern African region. • Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, and to establish effective working relationships both within and outside the organization with a diversity of stakeholders. An extensive existing network in the geospatial sector across the ESA region would be a great advantage. • Experience in the development and implementation of capacity building programmes and training on information management, GIS and/or spatial analysis related topics would be an advantage • Experience in communicating and collaborating with management agencies, academic institutions and local, national and regional stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes • Demonstrated high level skills in project planning, overseeing implementation and evaluating progress, including work planning, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation. • Strong communication and presentation skills and an ability to prepare appropriate and timely reports to a wide range of audiences and cultures. A high level of competency in the English language is required. An adequate level of fluency in another language of the region (e.g. Portuguese) is not a requirement but would be an additional asset. • Time management skills including an ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet deadlines. • Demonstrated commitment to achieving biodiversity conservation and livelihoods goals, in collaboration with others. • Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment, to think laterally and to resolve complex issues in a dynamic and changing environment. • Awareness and an ability to acknowledge and respect different cultures, and to engage appropriately with people of different backgrounds. • A team player who is able to contribute effectively to collaborative issues, and to demonstrate innovation and leadership, as appropriate. • Willingness to undertake frequent travel in the region |
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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