The goal of the IUCN ESARO Drylands program is that “Dryland landscapes are sustainably managed to protect biodiversity and contribute to local livelihoods and national economies”. IUCN will use its influence to encourage and assist societies to promote good governance and to respect local knowledge to ensure that dryland ecosystems are sustainably managed. To protect Drylands Biodiversity, IUCN addresses the underlying constraints to effective natural resource governance, builds the institutional capacity for sustainable natural resource management, and supports access to markets for the products of sustainably managed drylands. IUCN emphasizes building the capacity of local environment and development partners, empowering natural resource managers, and enabling them to influence policy processes that will lead to sustainable investment and resilient livelihoods.
This post will drive forward IUCN’s work within the EC’s Securing Rights and Restoring Lands for Improved Livelihoods and the Botswana component of the Kalahari-Namib Project which are jointly operating in the Boravast and Khawa communities in Botswana. The aim’s of these two project are to improve the sustainable management of dryland areas for the benefit of biodiversity and local livelihoods. The projects work to address the structural governance and policy barriers to effective dryland management as well as input new knowledge and technologies to support sustainable, collective management of these fragile drylands. The EC and KNP projects work in close partnership with the local government offices, the Kgalagadi Technical Advisory Committee and supports stronger institutional engagement between the State and local communities through participatory planning processes
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The post-holder will represent IUCN in the project sites through secondment to the national implementing partner, Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR), reporting to the IUCN Senior Programme Officer based in Pretoria, South Africa and DFRR Project Focal Point based in Gaborone, Botswana.
Specific Responsibilities:
1. Support the timely implementation of DFRR and IUCN activities within the EC and KNP Botswana projects;
2. Provide technical, logistical and administrative support and facilitation to project activities and ensure quality outputs;
3. Build and maintain strong working relationships with government and community partners within the project sites;
4. Ensure close collaboration with the UNDP/ORASECOM demonstration project working in the area;
5. Support the production of annual work-plans, budgets, and progress reports;
6. Provide regular oversight and support to community projects to implement and comply with project reporting requirements;
7. Represent DFRR and IUCN in local meetings as agreed with the DFRR Project Focal Point and IUCN Senior Programme Officer;
8. Provide timely reports and updates to the DFRR Project Focal Point and IUCN Senior Programme Officer of project progress and challenges;
9. Ensure the coding, collection, collation, reporting, organization, and archiving of all project data and documents;
10. In consultation with the DFRR Project Focal Point and IUCN Senior Programme Officer and collaborating partners, develop and implement tools, systems and procedures for effective planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of project activities.
REQUIREMENTS
• A minimum of a First degree in natural resources management, social sciences or related sciences;
• At least 2 years work experience in planning and implementing community level activities in dryland resource management, including project management, monitoring and evaluation, and managing relationships with partners;
• Knowledge and experience of using PRA tools with community groups;
• Knowledge of dryland development issues, and in particular Sustainable Land Management
• Familiarity with the Kgalagadi area of Botswana
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English, Setswana and Afrikaans
• Demonstrated ability to work with government agencies, research institutions and NGOs; Experience of working in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment;
• Demonstrated skills in computer literacy, technical writing and communication.
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).
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
