JOB TITLE Community Agroforestry Project Manager
LOCATION Golden Stream Field Station, Toledo, Belize
DURATION Six months (with possibility to extend)
SALARY This is an unpaid / volunteer position*
REPORTING TO Executive Director
1.0 JOB DESCRIPTION
1.1 CONTEXT
Belize is one of the most important remaining biodiversity hotspots in the Central American region. With more than 60% forest cover and the second largest barrier reef in the world and playing host to some of the rarest and most threatened species globally, its effective conservation is critically important. Ya’axché Conservation Trust (www.yaaxche.org) directly manages three terrestrial protected areas under different management categories which lie in the Maya Golden Landscape, a 3,116km2 matrix of community, national and private land within which an Integrated Landscape Management approach has been adopted since 1997. As one of the largest NGO’s in Belize, Ya’axché is well known nationally and internationally for its holistic, innovative approach to finding solutions for harmony between nature and human development. Our Community Outreach and Livelihoods Program is one of three programs in the organization and comprises a team of eight permanent staff.
1.2 OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Community Agroforestry Project Manager will be responsible for four main tasks;
- Managing projects relating to community forest management - Ya’axché has been developing Belize’s first community agroforestry concession in the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve with a community group from Trio village, and has recently received funding to replicate this pioneering initiative with a second community group (Waha Leaf) within the same reserve. The CAPM will be responsible for overseeing the implementation and reporting of the latter project and will also support the continued implementation of the existing Trio concession.
- Producing an agroforestry concession management plan - The CAPM will be responsible for developing a management plan that will guide implementation of the Waha Leaf agroforestry concession, based on the existing management plan developed for the Trio concession and following a process of consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
- Seeking funding opportunities to support community forest management – Additional funding needs to be sought to support continued implementation of the Trio and Waha Leaf agroforestry concession initiatives to ensure that they are successful in the long term, and to provide opportunities for this successful model to be further replicated. The CAPM will be responsible for providing input into the development of funding proposals and exploring innovative funding sources that may offer improved financial sustainability, such as Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes.
- Providing guidance and support in the development of an Integrated Farming Strategy – As part of an ongoing project Ya’axché is producing a comprehensive ‘Integrated Farming Strategy’ for the Maya Golden Landscape. This strategy will require multi-disciplinary input and all program staff will be needed. This strategy will serve as the guiding document for the expansion of sustainable farming and agroforestry for 5 years.
1.3 SPECIFIC DUTIES
- Familiarise with Ya’axché programmatic areas and build relationships with Ya’axché’s relevant project implementing staff and project stakeholders.
- Make frequent field visits to oversee and report on project activities and to identify any changes to field implementation that may be necessary to achieve project objectives.
- Maintain regular communication with all project stakeholders and coordinate periodic meetings to review progress in implementation and provide an opportunity for issues and concerns to be raised and addressed in a timely manner.
- Build relationships with Ya’axché’s finance and administration team and familiarise with project budgeting and reporting processes. Maintaining professional financial management of donor funds is critical for the reputation of Ya’axché.
- Attend regular project manager coalition meetings with other project managers within the organization to ensure communication and effective inter-program synergy.
- Participate, facilitate or lead meetings concerning managed projects and support for other project managers.
- Coordinate the development of a management plan for implementation of the Waha Leaf agroforestry concession through the organization of a series of consultation workshops involving all stakeholders.
- Assist in the coordination of exchange visits to learn from similar community forest management initiatives in Guatemala.
- Provide input into the development of funding proposals and explore innovative funding sources to support long-term implementation of the Trio and Waha Leaf agroforestry concession initiatives and provide opportunities for further replication of the model elsewhere.
2.0 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- A BSc in conservation management or relevant topic
- Evidence of relevant practical experience, as volunteer or paid employment
- Demonstrated understanding of the issues related to community-based conservation, protected area management, climate change, governance and rural development
Desirable
- An MSc in conservation management or relevant topic
- Experience working in Central America and/or for conservation and development NGO's in tropical developing countries
- Experience in project management
- Experience in grant writing and fundraising
- Experience organizing and facilitating meetings
3.0 TECHNICAL SKILLS
Essential
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Ability to research independently
- Excellent time management skills
Desirable
- Budget or financial management skills
- Written and spoken Spanish
4.0 PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Essential
- Commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable community development
- A positive ‘can-do’ attitude
- Open to learning even outside of comfort zone
- Excellent communication skills
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Ability to operate as part of a team in a dynamic environment, as well as motivation and enthusiasm to work under own initiative
- An ability to think strategically
- Cultural sensitivity towards Belizeans in general and the indigenous communities of the Maya Golden Landscape in particular
- Ability to work independently and confidence to make decisions when necessary
- Adaptable, particularly when working with unfamiliar cultural norms
- Willingness to work in tropical forest environment in hot, humid conditions with lots of biting insects
* The volunteer must be able to cover all costs for the full six month period including international airfare, all in country travel, insurance, and any costs associated with obtaining visas and/or work permits (please refer to the Volunteer Manual for further information).
|
