Vacancy #: 6803 Unit: ESARO - Coastal and Ocean Programme Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya Reporting to: Program Manager, Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR), Kenya Work percentage: 100% Grade: P1 Expected start date: 01 June 2024 Type of contract: Fixed-term (12 months) Closing date: 02 May 2024 BACKGROUND THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION.
We are recruiting for THREE positions to be based in three countries - Madagascar, Comoros and Zanzibar. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK IN ANY OF THE THREE COUNTRIES.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was founded in 1948 and brings together over 1,400 members (States, government agencies, NGOs and affiliates) and some more than 15,000 scientists and experts from over 160 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN has approximately 1,000 staff, most of whom are located in its regional and country offices, and at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. IUCN is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from qualified women and men.
The IUCN Eastern & Southern Africa Region and West and Central Africa regional offices host a vast variety and abundance of the worldโs biological and natural resources. Covering 49 countries, the two regions contain several centres of endemism where species of birds, mammals and plants reside nowhere else in the world. The regions are also incredibly socially diverse, with a rich mix of cultures, ethnicities, religions and languages and a colourful blend of traditional customs and beliefs with contemporary societal practices.
IUCN is implementing the IslandPlas project โAdvancing Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in African Islandsโ, which will be implemented in seven island areas comprising Cabo Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Zanzibar. The project aims to achieve its impact through demonstrating effective, quantifiable solutions to addressing plastic leakage from island areas. Key stakeholders from government, private sector, informal sector and civil society interlinked in a vibrant collaborative network will co-generate and demonstrate demand-responsive solutions to plastic waste incorporating alignment across policy, business operations, and behaviour change at different levels. Evidence and lessons will be packaged to contribute to the global wealth on Plastics Waste Free Islands โBlueprint for the journey to zero plastic waste โ to inform practice beyond the target Islands.
The National Project Officer will play a key role in the daily management of the IslandPlas project in the respective country of implementation and will therefore manage the IslandPlas project activities that advance sector engagement with role players in the plastics and related sectors, including actors in government, industry, business and civil society and oversees national implementation of solutions and actions to address plastic pollution upstream, midstream and downstream. The National Project Officer will liaise regularly with the Regional Plastics Pollution Manager based in Nairobi Kenya, and relevant regional Offices in the two regions of Eastern & Southern Africa Region and West & Central Africa. The National Project Officer will perform under the supervision of the Regional Plastics Pollution Manager and will regularly report to the central coordination manager providing updates on the implementation progresses of the project. JOB DESCRIPTION - Oversee overall national implementation of the \"IslandPlas: Advancing Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in African Islands\" project in the respective country, in close collaboration with IUCN regional teams;
- Plan and ensure that adequate measures are in place for effective day-to-day project management and coordination of activities of the IslandPlas project to ensure the highest quality of outputs and outcomes in line with project workplans and budgets;
- Liaise regularly with the central coordination team led by the Regional Plastics Pollution Manager, to be based in Nairobi, Kenya;
- Provide timely project progress updates and detailed implementation information on implementation of the IslandPlas project to the National Steering Committee meetings;
- Coordinate the planning and organization of national project meetings; and create the necessary linkages and partnerships with the relevant national and sub-national institutions in country;
- Coordinate and track deliverables of in-country consultants, including ensuring necessary final approvals;
- Assess and report on project results from the country based on the relevant measurement indicators and processes in support of reporting to the donor and relevant stakeholders;
- Manage the budget and allocation of project resources, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting in liaison with respective national and/or regional finance department/units as necessary;
- Assist in provision of relevant communication material and resources from the project to respective Regional and National Communication Officers for showcase of project results in websites and other media;
- Identify additional funding sources to further scale up the plastics programme in the region;
- Monitor and report on project progress by regularly informing the results monitoring matrix;
- Represent IUCN and the project at relevant in-country partner and stakeholder meetings and events;
- Connect and liaise with other relevant projects in the respective country and pursue synergies as necessary;
- Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time. REQUIREMENTS โข EDUCATION:
-A university degree preferably in relevant disciplines, such as, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Coastal and Ocean Management, Sustainability Studies, Policy and Environmental law, chemistry or related fields;
- Professional certification or work experience in circular economy, pollution/waste management, environmental design, sustainable material management or in other relevant areas will be an added advantage.
-Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools.
EXPERIENCE:
- Weโre looking for an outstanding, hands-on, highly motivated, autonomous, innovative, solution oriented, results driven and resourceful individual with at least six years of proven experience in:
-Sound expertise in project development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of environmental projects;
- Experience in managing and implementing marine plastics-related projects/programs, which may include recycling, reuse or other repurposing, pollution prevention, working with relevant waste sector actors; or engagement in extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks for reducing plastic pollution;
- Prior understanding of plastic life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies; waste characterization techniques; and waste management infrastructure and processes;
- Experience in working with government, NGOs, private sector, municipalities, and local community initiatives;
- Experience in managing stakeholder relations, ideally in an international organization or related setting;
- Familiarity with IUCNโs prior work and tools and guidelines on plastic pollution an added advantage;
- Experienced in network development and alliance building for synergistic action;
- Must be a proactive individual committed to continuous learning and attitude towards self-development;
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, French or Portuguese as may be applicable in the respective country/project area, with ability to converse in two of those languages an added advantage. 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). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the worldโs largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve peopleโs well-being.
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