Forest Management & Climate Change Expert, CBFF

The overall goal of the Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) is to alleviate poverty and address climate change through reducing the rate of deforestation. Its purpose is to: i) slow and eventually reverse the rate of deforestation in the Congo Basin; ii) provide support mechanisms which conserve the forests and iii) maintain benefits to local communities.  Launched in June 2008, the UK and Norway Governments have committed GBP 50 million and NOK 500 million respectively.  The CBFF Governing Council, co-chaired by Hon. Paul Martin and Prof. Wangari Maathai, provides strategic guidance, oversight and ensures broad donor and stakeholder participation of the CBFF.  The Bank hosts the CBFF Secretariat which is headed by the Coordinator and includes out-posted staff in Yaoundé and Kinshasa.

Reporting to the CBFF Coordinator, the Forest Management and Climate Change Expert will be responsible for the following:

Strategic Planning and Monitoring

• Leading the development of appropriate strategies relating to sustainable pro-poor forest management, reduced carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and how Congo Basin States and their partners can best translate strategic priorities into transformative and innovative initiatives resulting in change;
• Acting as authority in the CBFF Secretariat in the area of pro-poor forest management, reduced carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation, and natural resource management.  Advising the Secretariat and other bodies on global forest development initiatives and the likely impact of these initiatives on the Bank’s forest and environmental protection programs, the COMIFAC Convergence Plan and the CBFF agenda;
• Ensuring that CBFF strategies relating to forest management, reduced emissions and poverty reduction respond to priorities defined by COMIFAC and its member states, and are complimentary and supplementary to other international, regional and national initiatives;
• Assisting COMIFAC member countries in the formulation and implementation of strategic initiatives for forests, climate change mitigation and adaptation and natural resource management and participating in related policy dialogue with the countries and the COMIFAC Executive Secretariat;
• Coordinating CBFF forest and carbon related monitoring and evaluation systems within the context of the overall CBFF monitoring and evaluation system, in particular towards ensuring coherence and coordination with national, regional and international initiatives.
• Coordinate studies and initiatives to support the establishment of baselines and methodologies for assessing change over time.

Grant Management

• Advising eligible institutions on the preparation of projects concept notes and project proposals or other CBFF related initiatives;
• Reviewing and giving technical inputs to the Concept Notes, Proposals and Projects Evaluation Documents submitted to the CBFF Secretariat for funding;
• Analyzing and making recommendations to improve the documents submitted and participate in the presentation of project proposals to the Governing Council and the Bank;
• Initiating and conducting/leading forest, environment, climate change and biodiversity conservation missions in the countries to undertake monitoring of projects and to acquire information on thematic gaps and opportunities for the benefit of the Secretariat and Governing Council;
• Coordinating the provision of advice and support to CBFF recipients with regard sustainable forest management, reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation, and natural resource management;

Administration and Finance

• Reviewing requests from grant recipients relating to project implementation (e.g. procurement, technical inputs) and making proposals to the Secretariat for action;
• Reviewing project disbursement applications and progress reports in collaboration with the CBFF financial management expert, CBFF staff and Fund Management Agent and progress reports and making proposals for action.
• Participating in the preparation of the annual work plan and budget of the CBFF to be submitted to the Governing Council;

Communication and Networking

• Providing technical guidance to other CBFF Secretariat staff in the forest and climate change sub-sector, and regular engage in dialogue and exchanges with other CBFF and Bank staff on the appraisal, supervision and monitoring of CBFF projects;
• Collaborating with the Bank’s Regional/Country offices within the Congo Basin, the Natural Resources Management and Environment Division in OSAN, and other relevant Divisions on exchange of information and lessons learned;
• Developing partnership with NGOs, Civil society regional networks and regional partner institutions of COMIFAC;
• Participating in relevant regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars, workshops related to the Congo Basin and forest/climate change related issues; and
• Any other duties relevant to the successful functioning of the CBFF as may be required.

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• At least a Master’s degree in a biological science related to forestry, climate change, natural resource and/or environmental management.
• At least seven (7) years of relevant experience related to pro-poor sustainable forest management in Central Africa and/or forestry related climate change mitigation and adaptation.  In addition, extensive experience in programme and project design, implementation and monitoring, and results-based management systems.
• Demonstrated professional competence and mastery of forestry and climate change issues.
• Analytical skills and ability to understand and solve complex project management problems.
• Experience in the Central Africa Region and/or in other major forest regions/countries, especially with development and/or conservation organizations;
• Some knowledge in project economic and financial analysis would be highly valued
• Excellent organizational skills. Ability to prioritize own work programme. Ability to deliver assignments in a timely and efficient manner.
• Very good interpersonal skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multicultural environment.
• Highly developed communication skills (spoken, written, public speaking and presentation);
• Competence in the use of Microsoft office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint);
• Ability to communicate and write effectively in French or English with good working knowledge of the other language.