Consultant – GLFx Chapters Africa Hub Officer

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a

Consultant – GLFx Chapters Africa Hub Officer

Overview

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) was first launched in 2013 by CIFOR with core partners including UNEP, the World Bank, and the Government of Germany. Meaningful engagement of youth and other typically marginalized stakeholders was a cornerstone of GLF’s operation from the beginning.

Today, the GLF is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on sustainable land use, dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement.

Building on a decade of successful conferencing during which we achieved the mainstreaming of the landscape approach the GLF has evolved to five innovation areas each set up to contribute to strengthening and enabling decentralized local action towards ecosystem restoration. These include: 1) Creating a Digital Knowledge Commons (having reached a billion people in 185 countries); 2) Pioneering Youth Leadership (60,000, 160 countries); 3) GLF Learning Program (Landscape Academy (18,000 learners); 4) GLF Investment Case, sustainable finance, and value chains, and 5) GLFx and GLF Communities of Practice. GLFx, is our program to decentralize the Forum to create community led GLF chapters, and communities of practice, that are designed to carry out restoration and other activities (including advocacy) on the ground while creating a learning hub at the national and subnational level.

GLF is supported by its Charter Members, 33 leading sustainable development organisations who invest in and co-create activities on the GLF platform and offer opportunities for intergenerational learning and exchange.

GLF is a place where a farmer can inform action, pathways, and policies; where international organizations can learn from the private sector and vice versa; and where CEOs, community leaders, communicators and scientists can share, learn, connect, and act together.

From building the investment case for sustainable landscapes, to conserving and restoring peatlands, to supporting restoration in Africa, GLF has been at the cutting edge in hosting and facilitating all manner of discussions to accelerate positive action for people, for the environment, and for the achievement of global climate and SDGs.

Duties and responsibilities

GLFx is an inclusive grassroots movement that bridges local voices to global agendas and brings the spirit of GLF to local communities. The GLFx initiative will foster regular gatherings of like-minded stakeholders towards the acceleration of restoration activities within their degraded ecosystems. These multi-stakeholder dialogues will gather key actors, including private sector, NGOs, and government, for solution-oriented discussions to catalyze restoration action. The GLFx mechanism will collect and share ideas and insights emerging from local projects to regional and global levels while disseminating upcoming, innovative restoration technology rapidly to a local level. GLFx will build on existing restoration initiatives, unite youth, indigenous, rural, and women’s groups, and be underpinned by technical support provided by CIFOR and ICRAF

In close collaboration with the GLFx Coordinator and the whole GLFx team, the GLFx Chapters Africa Hub Officer will be in charge growing, engaging, creating opportunities, and managing, the GLFx chapters from Africa, as well as supporting their integration into all GLF activities. The GLFx Chapters Africa Hub Officer will play a key role in achieve GLF’s aspiration to building decentralized and dedicated chapters of changemakers across Africa.

The GLFx Chapters Africa Hub Officer will work closely with the following team members:

• GLF Program Manager, Community & Action
  
• GLFx Coordinator
  
• GLFx team members
  
• GLF Africa Hub Coordinator1
  
• GLF Youth Coordinator
  

  Key responsibilities include the following:

  • Act as the focal point for all GLFx Africa chapters, responsible for the day-to-day management of the relationship with representatives. This can include, but is not limited to, leading GLFx chapter meetings, engage in the platform, support creation of knowledge products
    
  • Work closely and support all Africa-based chapters with a specific focus on the implementation of their Community Action Plan, from planning, to delivering and monitoring
    
  • In collaboration with other team members, design, plan and carry out activities to engage and support the Africa chapter network, also ensuring their inclusion in all GLF activities, (including, but not limited to, GLF events, communication efforts, learning programs, and more)
    
  • Connect with the GLF Communication team to ensure the stories from the chapters are spotlighted globally
    
  • Ensure collaboration, networking and knowledge sharing among different chapters and the wider GLFx ecosystem of CIFOR-ICRAF Scientists and other Charter Members and partners.
    
  • Support the GLFx Coordinator on finalizing a strategy for the program, ensuring its continuous and sustainable growth and value for the Africa chapters
    
  • Support the GLF administration officer during chapter recruitment and lead the onboarding of new Africa chapters
    
  • Support the GLF Africa Regional Hub Coordinator in the development and implementation of the Africa regionalization agenda, through chapters engagement
    
  • Any other tasks as they arise.
    

    
    
    

    Education, knowledge and experience

    • University degree in disciplines that are relevant to one or more of the GLF themes and sustainable development goals
    • Experience collaborating with international organizations and local communities
    • Experience with community engagement, partner relations and growing online or in-person communities of practice is an asset
    • Ability to plan, implement and evaluate complex projects
    • Ability to produce high quality written content

      Personal attributes and competencies

      • Self-motivated, resourceful and energetic
      • Enjoy networking and meeting new people from different cultures
      • Able to find creative solutions, is flexible and adaptable
      • Able to strategize at both macro and micro levels
      • A team player, able to work in multidisciplinary teams and have outstanding interpersonal communications skills
      • Outstanding diplomatic and negotiation skills
      • Proven ability to work well under pressure.

        Terms and conditions

        • This is a full-time consultancy position.
        • Period of the consultancy is expected to be July 2023 – December 2023, with possibility for extension.
        • Work locations: home based, preferably in CEST-EAT time zone.
          To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor.org/careers and https://www.worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf
          To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org and www.worldagroforestry.org
          CIFOR-ICRAF promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged.
          CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

          Application process The application deadline is 28 Jun-2023
          We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.