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Regional Head, Land Systems
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BACKGROUND
LOCATION: SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE BASED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IUCN-ESARO COUNTRY OFFICE LOCATIONS - NAIROBI, KIGALI, DAR ES SALAAM, KAMPALA, MAPUTO, PRETORIA, HARARE AND LUSAKA
BACKGROUND;
The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The ESARO region hosts a variety of forest types, diverse agricultural and land use management systems and a large footprint of drylands ecosystems (65% of the land area). Small scale rural agriculture supports more than 70% of the communities for livelihood and sustenance. The vast majority of the people in drylands depend on transforming multiple ecosystem services into economic and socio-cultural goods and services that support their livelihoods and food security. Biodiversity (35% hotspots) in dry lands habitats/ forests underpin ecosystem services that vital for livelihoods of millions of people. According to Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) Tool on Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunities Assessment, this region has the greatest area of FLR with more than 100 million hectares having the potential to be restored. The magnitude of land and ecosystem degradation is significant and deserves urgent and ambitious response.
The Regional Head, Land Systems will develop, resource, and manage IUCN ESARO’s Lands Systems programme activities in the country and region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners.
S/He will be responsible for the overall management of lands programme activities, ensuring that they are coherent and consistent with IUCN’s “one programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s biodiversity, integrated water resources management, Marine and coastal conservation programmes and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities.
S/He will serve as both a senior member of the Regional Leadership Team and the IUCN Global Environmental Management (GEMP), Global Drylands Initiative (GDI) and Global Forest Program (GFP) teams that help set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on land system issues. The Regional Head, Land Systems is also a senior member of the ESARO Technical Coordination Group (TCG) and, accordingly, works with the other members of the Group in strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation
BACKGROUND;
The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The ESARO region hosts a variety of forest types, diverse agricultural and land use management systems and a large footprint of drylands ecosystems (65% of the land area). Small scale rural agriculture supports more than 70% of the communities for livelihood and sustenance. The vast majority of the people in drylands depend on transforming multiple ecosystem services into economic and socio-cultural goods and services that support their livelihoods and food security. Biodiversity (35% hotspots) in dry lands habitats/ forests underpin ecosystem services that vital for livelihoods of millions of people. According to Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) Tool on Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunities Assessment, this region has the greatest area of FLR with more than 100 million hectares having the potential to be restored. The magnitude of land and ecosystem degradation is significant and deserves urgent and ambitious response.
The Regional Head, Land Systems will develop, resource, and manage IUCN ESARO’s Lands Systems programme activities in the country and region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners.
S/He will be responsible for the overall management of lands programme activities, ensuring that they are coherent and consistent with IUCN’s “one programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s biodiversity, integrated water resources management, Marine and coastal conservation programmes and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities.
S/He will serve as both a senior member of the Regional Leadership Team and the IUCN Global Environmental Management (GEMP), Global Drylands Initiative (GDI) and Global Forest Program (GFP) teams that help set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on land system issues. The Regional Head, Land Systems is also a senior member of the ESARO Technical Coordination Group (TCG) and, accordingly, works with the other members of the Group in strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation
JOB DESCRIPTION
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES;
Strategic leadership and External Relations oversight;
Lead the strategic development of the Land Systems Thematic Programme, ensuring that priorities identified are relevant to IUCN’s members and partners and aligned with IUCN’s value proposition;
Act as a focal point for facilitating and supporting the involvement of IUCN Commissions, Members and other members of the Secretariat in the development and implementation of programmatic activities;
Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant regional, international fora and negotiations on Lands systems (forest, drylands and working lands/agriculture) in ESARO;
Lead transformative policy influencing initiatives so as to position IUCN as strategic partner in the region
Provide evidence-based support and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues on emerging issues and policy debates
Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with global programme units, members, commissions, policy bodies and donors;
Lead the design and implementation of a coherent Programme organizational structure
Develop, coordinate and build capacity of thematic and cross thematic teams including at country level for coherence across IUCN global and regional programmes, field programmes, projects, members and partners;
Programme Development and Resource Mobilization;
Provide leadership in programme development aligned with the ‘One Programme’ approach and taking responsibility for ensuring that funding for the programme is secured, and ensure that associated programme and project documentation is produced for fund-raising purposes.;
Develop highly strategic initiatives that will unlock IUCN’s capacity to establish multi-million initiatives in the region.
Lead in the identification of strategic fundraising needs and in developing concepts and identify and nurture funding opportunities for the Land System regional programme;
Develop project concepts and proposals, working closely with thematic programme teams and other relevant IUCN ESARO thematic programme, IUCN global programmes, IUCN members and Commissions and other partners;
Work with IUCN ESARO Senior management to identify donors and key strategic partners aligned to thematic and cross thematic priorities in the ESARO region;
Help maintain and strengthen relationships with key thematic donors;
Technical Programmatic management;
Accountable for overseeing quality technical implementation of contracted (“C”) projects, and the planning of the implementation of new projects during negotiation phases with donors;
Provide technical advice, guidance and support to projects, country offices as well as other Technical Thematic Coordinators, delegating appropriately;
Ensure that project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors;
Work closely with the Finance and Administration as well as Human Resource Departments to ensure that projects/programmes are financially viable and have the necessary human and other resources necessary for effective implementation;
Ensure contractual obligations and IUCN’s policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to;
Ensure that the different projects are coordinated, synergetic and integrated and support each other to optimize programs and projects outcomes;
Unlock additional synergies and collaboration with other programmes and projects
Ensure the integration of cross cutting issues into design and implementation including gender;
Monitoring and Evaluation;
Contribute to the development of the ESARO Intersessional Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
Ensure that all projects develop and effectively implement M&E frameworks and systems, in line with the overall Component M&E framework; and contributing to developing capacity for M&E within the country office and projects within the country portfolio.
Populating and updating the project portal with relevant project status and performance information
Ensure IUCN work is accountable to our donors and other stakeholders through the establishment and management of effective accountability mechanisms and processes;
Provide leadership to use data for programme decision making, of commitment to management action on the findings of monitoring, and of listening to feedback from stakeholders to inform programme development;
Learning and Communication;
Establish mechanisms and guidelines to enable lessons learning and sharing within the thematic area,
Ensure coherent and consistent communication of lessons learnt to key decision-makers and other stakeholders within the region and globally as appropriate, including via the web, print and media;
Establish and utilize mechanisms to encourage innovation both within the Programme and the Organization.
Coordinate the production of high-quality policy briefing papers, statements, external communications products and case studies to influence target audiences.
Staff Management and Development;
Develop, coordinate and supervise direct reports under the Land System thematic area to ensure that individuals work together as an integrated team
Develop a culture and focus on quality in Programme Development and implementation, ensure appropriate staffing and mentorship as appropriate.
Manage the team through effective use of the Performance Management System; regular review and evaluation of direct reports; provision of coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
Ensure that all technical thematic staff proactively build and maintain technical skills and competencies required for leading and/or delivering quality programmes.
Other responsibilities;
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Strategic leadership and External Relations oversight;
Lead the strategic development of the Land Systems Thematic Programme, ensuring that priorities identified are relevant to IUCN’s members and partners and aligned with IUCN’s value proposition;
Act as a focal point for facilitating and supporting the involvement of IUCN Commissions, Members and other members of the Secretariat in the development and implementation of programmatic activities;
Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant regional, international fora and negotiations on Lands systems (forest, drylands and working lands/agriculture) in ESARO;
Lead transformative policy influencing initiatives so as to position IUCN as strategic partner in the region
Provide evidence-based support and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues on emerging issues and policy debates
Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with global programme units, members, commissions, policy bodies and donors;
Lead the design and implementation of a coherent Programme organizational structure
Develop, coordinate and build capacity of thematic and cross thematic teams including at country level for coherence across IUCN global and regional programmes, field programmes, projects, members and partners;
Programme Development and Resource Mobilization;
Provide leadership in programme development aligned with the ‘One Programme’ approach and taking responsibility for ensuring that funding for the programme is secured, and ensure that associated programme and project documentation is produced for fund-raising purposes.;
Develop highly strategic initiatives that will unlock IUCN’s capacity to establish multi-million initiatives in the region.
Lead in the identification of strategic fundraising needs and in developing concepts and identify and nurture funding opportunities for the Land System regional programme;
Develop project concepts and proposals, working closely with thematic programme teams and other relevant IUCN ESARO thematic programme, IUCN global programmes, IUCN members and Commissions and other partners;
Work with IUCN ESARO Senior management to identify donors and key strategic partners aligned to thematic and cross thematic priorities in the ESARO region;
Help maintain and strengthen relationships with key thematic donors;
Technical Programmatic management;
Accountable for overseeing quality technical implementation of contracted (“C”) projects, and the planning of the implementation of new projects during negotiation phases with donors;
Provide technical advice, guidance and support to projects, country offices as well as other Technical Thematic Coordinators, delegating appropriately;
Ensure that project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors;
Work closely with the Finance and Administration as well as Human Resource Departments to ensure that projects/programmes are financially viable and have the necessary human and other resources necessary for effective implementation;
Ensure contractual obligations and IUCN’s policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to;
Ensure that the different projects are coordinated, synergetic and integrated and support each other to optimize programs and projects outcomes;
Unlock additional synergies and collaboration with other programmes and projects
Ensure the integration of cross cutting issues into design and implementation including gender;
Monitoring and Evaluation;
Contribute to the development of the ESARO Intersessional Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
Ensure that all projects develop and effectively implement M&E frameworks and systems, in line with the overall Component M&E framework; and contributing to developing capacity for M&E within the country office and projects within the country portfolio.
Populating and updating the project portal with relevant project status and performance information
Ensure IUCN work is accountable to our donors and other stakeholders through the establishment and management of effective accountability mechanisms and processes;
Provide leadership to use data for programme decision making, of commitment to management action on the findings of monitoring, and of listening to feedback from stakeholders to inform programme development;
Learning and Communication;
Establish mechanisms and guidelines to enable lessons learning and sharing within the thematic area,
Ensure coherent and consistent communication of lessons learnt to key decision-makers and other stakeholders within the region and globally as appropriate, including via the web, print and media;
Establish and utilize mechanisms to encourage innovation both within the Programme and the Organization.
Coordinate the production of high-quality policy briefing papers, statements, external communications products and case studies to influence target audiences.
Staff Management and Development;
Develop, coordinate and supervise direct reports under the Land System thematic area to ensure that individuals work together as an integrated team
Develop a culture and focus on quality in Programme Development and implementation, ensure appropriate staffing and mentorship as appropriate.
Manage the team through effective use of the Performance Management System; regular review and evaluation of direct reports; provision of coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
Ensure that all technical thematic staff proactively build and maintain technical skills and competencies required for leading and/or delivering quality programmes.
Other responsibilities;
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
REQUIREMENTS
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• POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Education; Master’s degree in Environmental Management, Natural resources management, Development studies or other relevant discipline. High proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc) Work Experience; Minimum 7-10 years of experience in developing, managing and implementing multi-stakeholder projects, in Eastern and Southern Africa. Demonstrated understanding of issues related to land-use dynamics at the field, national and regional level. A good knowledge on land-use dynamics, and its social, environmental and economic implications. Knowledge of the current thinking on climate impacts on land systems; Familiarity with established and emerging biodiversity conservation approaches, and methodologies and processes related to land systems management; Network development and alliance building skills to consult and collaborate across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals; demonstrated ability to build consensus Results based portfolio and project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and principles and facilitation skills; Project and Programme development and management, with demonstrated fundraising, budgeting and programme planning abilities and past performance, including experience of development and successful marketing of project proposals with donors, and subsequent delivery and reporting; Strong interpersonal, management and supervisory skills and experience. Language Proficiency; Fluency in written and spoken English is a must. Good written and spoken ability in French is an asset. |
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 world’s 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.
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