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IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
The consultant will provide services for coordination of the “Regional focus on sustainable timber management in the Congo Basin” project funded by the Global Environmental Facility through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and co-funded by implementing partners. The World Resources Institute (WRI) is the project implementing organization and Rainforest Alliance (RA) is a key implementing partner that is responsible for recruitment and engagement of in-country project technical advisors. The objective of this project is to promote a harmonized approach to the sustainable management of production forests in 6 countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of Congo) in the Congo Basin. This will be achieved by: 1) instruments to harmonized regional approaches to tackling illegal logging; 2) harmonized market and fiscal incentives that will make it attractive for forest users to manage production forests in a legal and sustainable manner; and 3) development of governance conditions that permit equitable participation and benefit sharing among forest stakeholders. The project forms part of the GEF Congo Basin Strategic Program and will contribute to the implementation of the Convergence Plan of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC).
The consultant will coordinate project activities and provide the necessary technical guidance and inputs to ensure successful implementation of specific project tasks and completion of deliverables. S/he will assist WRI in the implementation of pilot projects by local partners in Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Republic of Congo. S/he will liaise with COMIFAC, providing technical advice to COMIFAC. S/he will assist the project to develop effective working relations with participating government counterparts, nongovernment organizations, and community and private sector collaborators.
Responsibilties:
- Provide technical direction and coordination of regional activities in the various participating countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo);
- Contribute to the preparation of strategic and operational work plans at project level, i.e., at the regional and pilot country levels, and provide specific technical assistance to ensure achievement of targets, results and deliverables defined in those plans;
- Liaise with and provide technical advice to COMIFAC;
- Help organize and participate in meetings of the regional Project Steering Committee as well as of the National Project Coordination Committees in the pilot countries;
- Monitor and coordinate execution of the three pilot projects by local partners;
- Develop and manage effective working relations with participating government counterparts, non government organizations, international organizations, and community and private sector collaborators;
- Contribute to ensuring alignment of the project with regional and national initiatives to combat illegal logging, in particular the FLEGT process;
- Develop new technical, institutional and policy approaches to achieving project goals and results;
- Support the Project Director (WRI) in the preparation and monitoring of budgets according to approved work plans, financial projections, internal procedures and policies, and donor requirements;
- Identify and develop opportunities for counterpart funding to the GEF project;
- Prepare scopes of work for other consultants and monitor their work; and
- Foster strategic alliances and ensure coordination with governments, private sector and communities.
Qualifications:
- University degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Natural Resource Cnomics or related field required; Advanced degree a plus;
- 5 - 7 years experience in forest management and policy, project management, planning and monitoring, including experience at the grass-roots level and at least 2 years experience in a managerial position with supervisory responsibilities, preferably with an international NGO funded by international cooperation sources; regional experience is required; private sector experience is a plus;
- Strong knowledge of forestry and conservation issues, community forestry, policies and institutions in the region;
- Knowledge of customary uses of forest resources, usufruct rights and land tenure at the village level, on production forest reserves, and payment of environmental services based on REDD;
- Experience in design of proposals and projects;
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to cultivate relationships with high-level government and donor partners, private companies and NGOs and interact culturally and diplomatically with diverse stakeholders and staff;
- Excellent French and English communication skills, including strong written, presentation and verbal skills; Spanish a plus;
- Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality progress and technical reports;
- Knowledge of FSC certification, FLEGT process, illegal logging issues and the challenges facing private sector and small enterprises to access certification;
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to foster a strong sense of team work;
- Strong computer skills (MS Office and Internet); and
- Willingness and ability to travel a minimum of 35 percent of the time within the region.
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