Conservation Programme Management Fellow

COAM Fellowship Programme

March 2014 to March 2015

Description

Come and experience the dramatic beauty of the Central Highlands landscape and embrace yourself with the rich culture and warm hospitality of the local people in Bamyan, Afghanistan. The ‘Koh-e-Baba’ or ‘grandfather mountains’ provide an essential source of water tthe entire country by feeding into its’ major rivers. Furthermore, the region provides a wide array of vital ecosystem services such as food, grazing land, arable land, fuel, and medicine.  Large areas remain to be scientifically explored and are expected to be home to some of the worlds’ most rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

The population living in this area, made up mostly of subsistence farmers, relies heavily on the high elevation rangelands for livestock grazing and shrub collection for fuel. The little fertile land available in the bottom of valleys is used for arable farming, mainly of potato and wheat. The high dependency of local communities on the land, and localized population pressure has resulted in the over-exploitation of natural resources, reduced natural vegetation cover, accelerated soil erosion and degradation of the rangelands.

COAM implements integrated solutions to the above problems and seeks for solutions that simultaneously halt rangeland degradation, promote rangeland restoration, provide viable alternative livelihoods, raise environmental awareness and promote sustainable development, poverty reduction and/or gender equity. For example, as part of COAM’s Green Technology programme, hundreds of improved clean cooking stoves we produced, reducing fuel consumtion by upto 50% and completely removing smoke pollution in people’s homes. This project reduced pressure on natural rangeland plants and also eliminated the risks of smoke inhalation and open fire which kills thousands of women and children annually in Afghanistan and causes even more severe health problems.

The COAM fellowship is aimed at recent graduates, young professionals and established professionals who are looking for a new experience. Relevant fields include natural resource management, environmental education, NGO practice, green technology, social science, and microfinance. The fellow will take two projects under his/her wing and he/she will learn about each step of the project management cycle. In addition to their specific project, fellows will participate in regular field trips, workshops, training, and external meetings with local government partners, Universities, other NGO’s and UN agencies, and conduct community consultations. You will also be involved in all aspects of organization management and you will help to build capacity amongst national staff to ensure the sustainability and self-relience of the organization. The Fellowship is a unique opportunity to learn about grass roots conservation and development work on the ground in an interesting and challenging natural and human environment.

Benefits

Fellows are given a stipend as well as professional experience and leadership training.

Fellowship benefits include:

• An opportunity to develop the contacts and skills necessary to advance your professional career in conservation, natural resource management, and human development;
• A chance to gain leadership and management skills whilst implementing at least two COAM projects with each a different approach to natural resource management;
• A chance to work with leading donor agencies such as DIFID, UNEP, UNDP-GEF, CLP, and the Finland Embassy;
• An opportunity to help build capacity in a young and dynamic organization with incredible potential;
• An opportunity for hands-on conservation and field experience through numerous site visits and field tours demonstrating different conservation approaches, techniques and projects;
• Working with conservation colleagues from around the world;
• Monthly stipend ~ $300/month (net taxes), which is more than sufficient to cover all your local expenses;
• Basic accommodation and local transportation;
• International flight and visa.

Why Bamyan, Afghanistan?

• Bamyan is the most peaceful and safe province in the whole of Afghanistan, with an extremely friendly and welcoming community. For the most recent security information, please visit: http://www.ngosafety.org/.
• Bamyan is home to one of world’s most impressive UNESCO world heritage sites, the gigantic ‘Bamyan Budha’s. Which were hacked out of the cliffs near Bamyan center around 500AD and unfortunately blown up by the Taliban in 2001. The remains are still immensely impressive. Other UNESCO sites in the region include the ‘city of screams’ and ‘the red city’, for more info. Please visit: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/208.
• The COAM office is located at the footstep of the Koh-e-Baba Mountains. A beautiful mountains range which provide ample opportunity for exploring, hiking, and even skiing. Please visit:
• Bamyan is a place of extremes: extreme climate, extreme poverty and extreme landscapes. Decades of war have caused major negative consequences for the natural environment as well as local economic development, education and health. If you are seeking for meaning in your professional career and truly contribute to projects that make a tangible difference, than this is the position for you.

Requirements

From a future fellow, COAM expects minimally:

-          an MSc degree in a relevant field;

-          minimally 23 years of age;

-          experience living and working abroad with basic living conditions under demanding circumstances;

-          excellent organizational, management, and leadership skills;

-          culturally aware and sensitive;

-          excellent interpersonal skills;

-          excellent written and oral English skills.

And preferably:

-          at least 2 years of experience in the conservation and/or human development sector;

-          Technical knowledge on watershed management, environmental education, horticulture, beekeeping and/or green technology;

-          Excellent written and oral Persian;

-          In-country work experience in Afghanistan or the region.

Application Guidelines

Application deadline: January 10th, 2014.

To apply for this position please send the following information to admin@myafghanmountains.org and technical@myafghanmountains.org :

-          CV;

-          Short cover letter explaining your suitability and interest for the fellowship (max. 1 A4);

-          An ‘educational output or outreach material’ for one of COAM’s projects, for example a poster, brochure, leaflet, presentation, video, or any other idea you may have;

-          An example of your written work, for example a report, proposal, essay, website page or article.