Development Cooperation and Finance Expert for the EU REDD Facility at the EFI Policy Advice Office, Barcelona, Spain

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The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 23 European member countries, and over 120 Associate Member institutions. EFI’s Headquarters is located in Joensuu, Finland. EFI has several Regional Offices across Europe, a FLEGT office (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is establishing an office in Brussels.

EFI hosts the EU FLEGT Facility and the EU REDD Facility, which support partner countries, the European Commission, EU Delegations and EU Member States in the implementation of the EU FLEGT Action Plan and REDD+ activities.

The EU FLEGT Facility supports efforts to combat illegal logging and promote trade in legal timber. It works with timber producing and exporting countries to develop appropriate systems to ensure the legal trade and export of timber products, aiming to address forest governance failures. The Facility currently works in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Facility provides this support through technical assistance in the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) processes and other equivalent arrangements, through facilitation of dialogue between the EU and timber exporting countries and other forms of cooperation.

The EU REDD Facility provides support to the development of REDD+ policies and actions. It assists both the EU and developing countries in this context. Important work areas include building the necessary capacities of developing countries, supporting forest governance reform and providing advice for the development of EU-financed REDD+ related actions. The Facility builds synergies with FLEGT VPA processes where relevant, including taking lessons from the FLEGT Action Plan for other sustainable approaches to addressing the drivers of deforestation outside the forest sector.

EFI is looking for a senior expert in development cooperation and finance to reinforce the EU REDD Facility on REDD+ financing-related issues and assist the REDD+ Team Leader in the development of the EU REDD Facility in this field.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Development and Finance Expert will provide technical as well as strategic advice and inputs to the planning and implementing activities related to REDD+ finance and governance executed through the EU REDD Facility. He/she will lead implementation of the related part of the EU REDD Facility work plan and assist the REDD+ Team Leader in developing the EU REDD Facility thinking and expertise on REDD+ finance, governance and development aspects.

The Development and Finance expert will assume responsibility for the production of outputs related to REDD+ finance, governance and development aspects. This includes coordinating, administrating, managing, supervising and coaching staff and consultants and managing projects and budgets within the EU REDD Facility; networking and coordinating work of the EU REDD Facility with REDD+ partners and potential collaboration partners, including EU Delegations; representing EFI and the EU REDD Facility at international meetings and events; interface on relevant aspects with the EU FLEGT Facility, as well as mobilize and integrate operational and strategic linkages between REDD+ and FLEGT.

The Development and Finance expert will report to the REDD+ Team Leader.

Qualifications

• MSc or higher university degree in forestry and/or natural resource management, governance, development cooperation, policy science or a related and suitable field.
• Wide scope of knowledge and expertise in the fields of development cooperation and finance, including a minimum of 5 years of experience in project development and management in developing countries and 3 years of experience managing cooperation projects and funds at headquarters level.
• Experience of managing external project partners, service providers and consultants. Experience in working in a multi-lateral and EU context.
• Wide scope of knowledge and expertise in sectors such as development, governance and forest and land use strategies and policies. A good understanding of climate change policies and REDD+ is a considerable asset.
• Leadership, capacity for initiative and track record of creative, structured and strategic thinking and pragmatic problem-solving.
• Ability to tactically and strategically work on complex and politically sensitive issues with governments as well as public sector, industry and civil society actors.
• Excellent communication and networking skills; and solid writing, reporting and presentation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and proven intercultural competence with demonstrated ability of working in multi-disciplinary, international teams and environments.
• Proficiency in English is pre-requisite. Proficiency in French, and Spanish and/or Portuguese skills is an asset.

Duty station and travel

The Development and Finance Expert will be based at the EU REDD Facility at the EFI Policy Advice Office in Barcelona, Spain, with frequent travel to Brussels and REDD+ countries, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Employment conditions

The Development and Finance Expert will be an EFI staff member. EFI offers a competitive benefits and salary package.

Interested candidates are requested to send an application letter and CV by 30 April 2012, using our online application form. If it is not possible for you to apply online please send your application to: Human Resources Office, EFI, email: efi.hr@efi.int.

For more information about the position please contact Ms Valérie Merckx, REDD+ Team Leader, FLEGT and REDD Unit, phone +34 627 96 66 68, email:valerie.merckx@efi.int