POSITION DESCRIPTION
COMIFAC Coordinator
Yaoundé, Cameroon
January 2013
Management and Engineering Technologies International, Inc. (METI) under an agreement with the US Forest Service (USFS), as a part of the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Central African Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), seeks a full-time Coordinator to work with the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) Executive Secretariat (ES) leadership, staff, and partners with a focus on partner communication, regional representation, synergy elaboration, and technical assistance provision. The Coordinator will also be responsible for the coordination of the execution of a U.S. State Department funded Central Africa Regional REDD Readiness program.
Background:
Since 2009, USFS has worked to directly support the workplan of COMIFAC throughout the Congo Basin as part of CARPE. The USFS COMIFAC Coordinator works intimately with COMIFAC ES and COMIFAC partners to integrate and provide USFS technical assistance to a variety of forestry and natural resource management activities. The Coordinator also plays an integral role in maintaining communication between CARPE, COMIFAC ES and USFS, producing summary activity reports for all parties and representing USFS and CARPE at COMIFAC meetings and functions.
Additionally, starting in 2013, USFS will be implementing a Regional REDD Readiness program in the Congo Basin. While the detailed design of this program is not yet finalized, it will seek concrete ways to form productive connections with the REDD+ readiness Programs at various stages of implementation in the Congo Basin countries. The program will also aim to help Forest departments and ministries define what their comparative advantage is in guiding and integrating with REDD+ readiness initiatives and a pay-for-performance mode of REDD+ implementation that is consistent with international views and agreements on biodiversity and social “safeguards” for REDD implementation.
Position Description:
Responsibilities of the Coordinator include, but are not limited to:
- Provide and/or mobilize USFS technical assistance to COMIFAC in forest management, land use planning, forest inventory, and other technical areas outlined in the Letter of Intent;
- Communicate ongoing CARPE activities at the landscape and cross-cutting regional level to COMIFAC ES and its partners;
- Communicate ongoing COMIFAC ES and COMIFAC partner activities to CARPE;
- Represent CARPE and USFS interests at regional meetings (COMIFAC and partner) that take place in Yaoundé and elsewhere;
- Develop strategies for collaboration and integrate CARPE methodologies, tools, and results into regional partner activities and programs;
- Assist the USAID/CARPE team to monitor the performance of any USG grant funding provided to the COMIFAC ES (including liaison and management functions related to new exploratory partnership mechanisms);
- Coordinate execution of the Regional REDD Readiness program, including:
- Stay abreast of relevant regional and bilateral REDD readiness programs;
- Develop terms of reference for implementation activities, partners, and technical assistance missions;
- Provide and/or mobilize USFS technical assistance;
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have:
- Masters or Ph.D. in conservation biology, environmental sciences, forestry, sustainable development, or related field;
- Knowledge of land use planning principles and processes utilized by the USFS or other land management agencies in the United States or Africa;
- Knowledge of national forest inventory and monitoring principles and methodologies utilized by the USFS or other land management agencies in the United States or Africa;
- Knowledge of regional and national biodiversity issues, programs, and challenges;
- Ability to adapt US knowledge and processes to the context of a region with limited human, financial and material resources and with different legal, social and economic frameworks;
- Knowledge of key technical and policy issues pertinent to the development and implementation of REDD+ policies/programs;
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership to effectively work with a very broad range of interested parties, across cultures, languages and varying capacity levels in order to catalyze improved conservation outcomes;
- Experience representing at various levels the interests and expertise of a complex, multifaceted institution or program to a diversity of actors and audiences (such as other US Government agencies, United Nations organizations, African natural resource management agencies, the academic community, consulting firms, NGOs, and other donors);
- Ability to effectively contribute to shaping and influencing institutional policies, strategies, and direction of programs;
- Experience organizing, facilitating, and participating in meetings and technical discussions and negotiations;
- Experience managing and monitoring small grants programs;
- Strong ability to work independently in difficult conditions while maintaining productivity;
- Ability to manage budgets and staff;
- Experience living and working in Africa on natural resource management activities with preference to those with experience in governmental and donor coordination in Central Africa;
- Fluency in French, sufficient to effectively communicate and work on a daily basis in technical subject matter with a wide variety of actors who do not speak English;
- Flexibility to work under often unpredictable and uncontrollable circumstances.
Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon
Period of Performance: After a probationary period, the successful candidate will hold this position for one (1) year, with the possibility of renewal/extension.
Application Instructions:
Please send electronic submission including C.V. and cover letter with “COMIFAC Coordinator” in subject line to Michelle Rosalez: mrosalez@meticorp.com by Jan 31st. Finalists will be contacted.