Technical Coordinator – Marine and Coastal Resilience Programme
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Dar es Salaam
Full-Time
5th July 2018
1594
THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OR RESIDENCE OF KENYA OR TANZANIA ON LOCAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.
POSITION WILL BE BASED IN EITHER NAIROBI,KENYA OR DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
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 is extremely rich in biodiversity with high number of endemic species and the largest remaining populations of iconic wildlife left on the continent. ESARO’s Programme focuses on biodiversity conservation through a diverse portfolio of projects and programmatic initiatives ranging from activities at the level of individual protected areas to shaping regional policy on biodiversity conservation. ESARO defines and delivers on its programmatic priorities in collaboration with IUCN members, commissions and other strategic partners.
The IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme (GMPP) is a team of staff committed to effectively addressing key global challenges in the marine and polar environment. GMPP cooperates with other IUCN thematic and regional programmes and with the IUCN Commissions to ensure that marine and polar ecosystems are maintained and restored in their biodiversity and productivity, and that any use of the resources is sustainable and equitable.
The Marine and Coastal Resilience Programme is in charge of marine and coastal issues, including biodiversity conservation, development and management of marine protected areas and their networks, ecosystem & fisheries management, marine spatial planning, marine pollution, integrated management and governance of coastal areas, adaptation to climate change and disasters risks reduction. The Marine and Coastal Resilience Programme has been developed on the basis of a situation analysis and on lessons learned by IUCN Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Asia programme, initially catalysed by the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The Programme addresses the high level of vulnerability of ecosystems and livelihoods by increasing their resilience using a “resilience framework” that integrates four components: (i) Ecological and Social Diversity, (ii) Innovative and sustainable infrastructure and technology, (iii) Equitable and resilient governance systems, and (iv) Data and information for adaptive management, and has been designed to advance resilience-based management of socio-ecological systems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region as well as build programmatic linkages between the IUCN-GMPP and IUCN-ESARO.
The Technical Coordinator - Marine and Coastal Resilience Program reports directly to the IUCN ESARO Regional Programme Coordinator and functionally to the Director - Global Marine and Polar Programme. He/she will serve as both a senior member of the Regional senior management team and the IUCN global Marine and Polar Programme team that helps set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on Marine and Coastal issues. The Technical Coordinator 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; and learning, innovation and knowledge generation at the overall Intersessional Programme level. This also includes (when requested) contributing to the development of and adhering to IUCN/ESARO policies and procedures related to both organizational and Programme management.
The Technical Coordinator will develop, resource, and manage IUCN ESARO’s Marine and coastal resilience programme activities in the region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners. He/she will be responsible for the overall management of Marine and coastal resilience programme activities, ensuring that they are coherent and consistent with IUCN’s “one programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s Marine and coastal conservation framework and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities. is responsible for: i) Guiding the strategic direction and development of the thematic area, including development and marketing of project proposals with donors; ii) Ensuring that programmatic activities within the thematic area are effectively and efficiently implemented; iii) Promoting learning, knowledge generation and innovation within both the thematic area and in relation to the ESARO and GMPP Intersessional Programme and Strategy; and iv) Ensuring that progress and performance of the regional Marine Programme is regularly monitored and evaluated.
The Technical Coordinator will be based in Nairobi, Kenya or Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and will provide support to crucial climate change and coral reef resilience research activities in the Indian Ocean, whilst at the same time identifying, fund-raising for and building a programme of marine conservation projects and activities in the East and Southern Africa Region, with a focus on coastal climate change adaptation in the region.
POSITION WILL BE BASED IN EITHER NAIROBI,KENYA OR DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
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 is extremely rich in biodiversity with high number of endemic species and the largest remaining populations of iconic wildlife left on the continent. ESARO’s Programme focuses on biodiversity conservation through a diverse portfolio of projects and programmatic initiatives ranging from activities at the level of individual protected areas to shaping regional policy on biodiversity conservation. ESARO defines and delivers on its programmatic priorities in collaboration with IUCN members, commissions and other strategic partners.
The IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme (GMPP) is a team of staff committed to effectively addressing key global challenges in the marine and polar environment. GMPP cooperates with other IUCN thematic and regional programmes and with the IUCN Commissions to ensure that marine and polar ecosystems are maintained and restored in their biodiversity and productivity, and that any use of the resources is sustainable and equitable.
The Marine and Coastal Resilience Programme is in charge of marine and coastal issues, including biodiversity conservation, development and management of marine protected areas and their networks, ecosystem & fisheries management, marine spatial planning, marine pollution, integrated management and governance of coastal areas, adaptation to climate change and disasters risks reduction. The Marine and Coastal Resilience Programme has been developed on the basis of a situation analysis and on lessons learned by IUCN Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Asia programme, initially catalysed by the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. The Programme addresses the high level of vulnerability of ecosystems and livelihoods by increasing their resilience using a “resilience framework” that integrates four components: (i) Ecological and Social Diversity, (ii) Innovative and sustainable infrastructure and technology, (iii) Equitable and resilient governance systems, and (iv) Data and information for adaptive management, and has been designed to advance resilience-based management of socio-ecological systems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region as well as build programmatic linkages between the IUCN-GMPP and IUCN-ESARO.
The Technical Coordinator - Marine and Coastal Resilience Program reports directly to the IUCN ESARO Regional Programme Coordinator and functionally to the Director - Global Marine and Polar Programme. He/she will serve as both a senior member of the Regional senior management team and the IUCN global Marine and Polar Programme team that helps set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on Marine and Coastal issues. The Technical Coordinator 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; and learning, innovation and knowledge generation at the overall Intersessional Programme level. This also includes (when requested) contributing to the development of and adhering to IUCN/ESARO policies and procedures related to both organizational and Programme management.
The Technical Coordinator will develop, resource, and manage IUCN ESARO’s Marine and coastal resilience programme activities in the region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners. He/she will be responsible for the overall management of Marine and coastal resilience programme activities, ensuring that they are coherent and consistent with IUCN’s “one programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s Marine and coastal conservation framework and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities. is responsible for: i) Guiding the strategic direction and development of the thematic area, including development and marketing of project proposals with donors; ii) Ensuring that programmatic activities within the thematic area are effectively and efficiently implemented; iii) Promoting learning, knowledge generation and innovation within both the thematic area and in relation to the ESARO and GMPP Intersessional Programme and Strategy; and iv) Ensuring that progress and performance of the regional Marine Programme is regularly monitored and evaluated.
The Technical Coordinator will be based in Nairobi, Kenya or Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and will provide support to crucial climate change and coral reef resilience research activities in the Indian Ocean, whilst at the same time identifying, fund-raising for and building a programme of marine conservation projects and activities in the East and Southern Africa Region, with a focus on coastal climate change adaptation in the region.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Technical Coordinator is directly responsible for leading the strategic direction of the ESARO Marine and Coastal Resilience Thematic Programme, in line with the ESARO Intersessional Programme and Programme Strategy (which is ESARO’s contribution to the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme) – positioning IUCN as a lead technical body in the region. He/she will be responsible for: i) Guiding the strategic direction and development of the thematic area, including development and marketing of project proposals with donors; ii) Ensuring that programmatic activities within the thematic area are effectively and efficiently implemented; iii) Promoting learning, knowledge generation and innovation within both the thematic area and in relation to the ESARO and GMPP Intersessional Programme and Strategy; and iv) Ensuring that progress and performance of the regional Marine and Coastal Resilience Programme is regularly monitored and evaluated. More specifically, this involves:
1. Strategic Oversight
1. Strategic Oversight
- Ensuring that IUCN’s work in the region is of high technical quality, based on good science and drawing upon state of the art thinking and knowledge
- Leading the strategic development of the Marine and Coastal Resilience Thematic Programme, including periodically conducting situation and scoping analysis to develop/refine the Thematic Area’s strategic framework, ensuring that priorities identified are relevant to IUCN’s members and partners and aligned with IUCN’s value proposition;
- Leading fundraising and resource mobilization for the Thematic Area through the development of proposals and maintaining good relationships with donors and funding agencies so as to ensure the financial viability of the Programme. This work requires coordination with the regional team, global programmes and the IUCN strategic partnerships unit when required.
- Acting 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;
- Work closely with IUCN Commissions, Country offices, Project Offices and other thematic programmes to develop and maintain an appropriate project portfolio and funding for implementation of the Regional Programme;
- Developing and maintain strong strategic partnerships with global programme units, members, commissions, policy bodies and donors and work closely with Country offices, Project Offices and other thematic programmes to develop and maintain an appropriate project portfolio and funding for implementation of the Regional Programme;
- Oversee the development and implementation of any relevant Marine and Coastal initiative in the region and provide where needed, guidance and support to the development and implementation of other IUCN Initiatives;
- Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant regional, international fora and negotiations on Marine and Coastal in WIO and facilitate discussions on relevant Marine and Coastal emerging issues to position IUCN as a reference in the region;
- Developing, coordinating and supervising a Marine and Coastal Resilience programme team (including programme and project officers) to ensure that individuals work together as an integrated team, that there is coherence and consistency in programmatic outputs and a high quality of technical advice is given to IUCN global and regional programmes, field programmes, projects, members and partners;
- Oversee the development and implementation of annual budgets and work plans and provide a timely progress report of the Programme financial and technical activities in accordance with IUCN’s practices.
2 Day to day operations
- Day to day implementation of WIO LMMA Project including: (i) lead the planning and implementation of project; (ii) define project tasks and resource requirements; (iii) develop full scale project plans; (iv) manage project budget and resource allocation; (v) plan and schedule project timelines; (vi) track project deliverables using appropriate tools and (vii) constantly monitor and report on progress of the project to all stakeholders;
- Providing technical advice, guidance and support to other marine and coastal projects (eg. CRCC, MARPLASTICCs), country offices as well as other Technical Thematic Coordinators, delegating appropriately;
- Ensuring that project/programme strategies and workplans are developed and implemented according to plan and commitments to partners and donors (including assuring quality of performance & progress, timing and budget);
- Capitalize and disseminate to key decision-makers within the region, lessons learnt from programmes and projects as well as those learnt from partners;
- Working 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; and
- Ensuring that contractual obligations and IUCN’s policies and procedures are efficiently adhered to.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation
Supporting the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems and processes at Programme and project level. More specifically, this will involve:
- Contributing to the development of the ESARO Intersessional Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
- Ensuring that all projects develop and effectively implement M&E frameworks and systems, in line with the overall Component M&E framework;
REQUIREMENTS
- An advanced degree in natural science related to marine and coastal areas, marine protected area, Integrated Coastal Zone Management or related fields;
- Relevant working experience in relation to marine and coastal areas and an up-to-date knowledge of the current thinking on climate impacts on coastal and marine systems, coastal and marine biodiversity conservation, with particular reference to the establishment and effective management of marine protected areas systems at national and site levels;
- Familiarity with established and emerging biodiversity conservation approaches, and methodologies and processes related to coastal and marine management;
- Experience in 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
- Ability to interact effectively with and directly support or identify experts required to support all aspects of the ESARO Programme with information on the status and conservation of threatened species;
- An in-depth understanding of the ESARO region and marine science / conservation, particularly in relation to areas, species, and priorities;
- Experience with result based portfolio and project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and principles and facilitation skills;
- Strong experience with 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;
- Experience with important bilateral and multilateral donors, including the GEF and the GCF
- Demonstrated outstanding skills in network development and network administration and ability to achieve results through networking in cross-cultural situations.
- Strong interpersonal, management and supervisory skills and experience, with a minimum of 8 to 10 years’ experience in managing organizations and/or teams;
- Excellent verbal and communication skills in English a must. Ability to communicate in French or Portuguese an added advantage.
- Adheres to IUCN ESARO core values of Transparency, Inclusiveness, Professionalism and Accountability
- Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoint) use of internet and online communication tools;
- Demonstrates strong leadership and people - management experience including supervision of staff, consultants and coordination and effective management of virtual team settings;
- Must be a hands-on, highly motivated, results driven and resourceful individual;
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure managing competing demands and complex situations and deliver satisfactory and timely results;
- Excellent interpersonal skills to support building networks and partnerships;
- Must be a strong team player with proven communication and diplomacy skills and ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams displaying sensitivity and respect for diversity;
- Must be a proactive individual who is able to energize and motivate teams
- Committed to continuous learning and proactive and mature attitude towards self-development;
- Willing to travel frequently within the region.
