-PO Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation

Deadline For Application : 15th May 2024

ROLE OVERVIEW

Under the Supervision of the Director Environment & Natural Resources, the incumbent will be the Head of the Natural Resources Division will work under the general supervision and guidance of the Head of Director Environment & Natural Resources. The incumbent will contribute to the creation of sub-regional institutional and legal environment conducive to the implementation of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements and related Protocols, the ECOWAS Environmental Policy (ECOWEP) and any other relevant strategies and action plans related to sustainable forest ecosystems management, biodiversity conservation, desertification control and landscape restoration.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead in the development and implementation of the Strategies, Action Plans, Programs, and projects for promoting the sustainable Natural Resources Management.
• Coordinate the development of biodiversity conservation, land degradation neutrality (LDN), regional targets.
• Coordinate in the development of regional initiatives, projects and or programs, tools and indicators to support Member States within the framework of the implementation of the West African Forest Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems and the Sub Regional Action Programme to Combat Desertification in West Africa (SRAP) including LDN.
• Contribute to the capacity building of the Member States for the implementation of their National Forest Investment Plans and national LDN plans.

• Lead in the capacity building of Member States in developing common positions for the negotiations prior to the Conference of Parties of the major Multilateral Agreements and related protocols (Convention on Biodiversity; United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change);
• Contribute to the formulation, implementation and monitoring of regional programs and projects in sustainable natural resources management combining various partners with different sources of funding and procedures.
• Facilitate mobilize financial resources for the implementation of the West African Forest Convergence Plan and SRAP-LDN implementation.
• Contribute to the development of appropriate measures, mechanisms, and legislations to facilitate the implementation of the programme on biodiversity conservation, forest ecosystems management, landscape restoration, Land Degradation Neutrality and fighting droughts.
• Contribute to the development of partnerships and alliances at local, national, sub-regional and international levels, and contributing towards international Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Ecosystems Management and Forest Landscape Restoration initiatives.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

·       Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, or related fields from a university of recognized standing.

·       10 years’ experience in environmental science and climate change adaption & mitigation management including 2 years relevant international work and 2 years at a supervisory level.

·       Proven experience in Environmental & Climate change data and information gathering and management.

·       Knowledge of ECOWAS Treaty and ECOWAS policies and strategies related to environment, climate change, climate services, and natural resources and of sub-regional organizations working in environment and climate change.

·       Proven application of expertise within a specific area of ECOWAS’s environment and natural resources policy operation.

·       Proven knowledge of programmes on biodiversity conservation, forest ecosystems management, landscape restoration, Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

AGE LIMIT

Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCIES

·       Ability to lead in assigned programs and projects by providing the necessary managerial and operational expertise required for the fulfillment of the organization’s mandate (e.g. establish networks and benchmarks).

·       Ability to lead by example and organize teamwork to encourage cooperation to achieve targeted results, champion and build momentum for change and to bring about employee engagement; develops and implements internal controls for pilot Program to manage potential barriers to implementation.

·       Excellent self-management skills, demonstrating ethics and integrity and displaying due regards for internal controls of rules, delegations, and transparency.

·       Ability to bring together complementary skills/expertise, assess individual contributions and recognize/address accomplishments and shortcomings in a manner that brings continued success to the organization.

·       Knowledge of program management at the level usually acquired from a certification in program management (e.g. Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or Program Management Professional PgMP).

·     Ability to research benchmarks and trends to bring about the best recommendations for the development and improvement of programs/projects that will best serve the community/organization.

·     Well-developed networking and interpersonal skills to seek feedback, information, and data from a network of professionals from multiple countries/sectors/organizations and to identify and prioritize the most critical community requirements.

·     Ability to manage and co-ordinate client management initiatives (e.g. feedback loops, surveys, studies, needs assessments) and make recommendations.

·     Ability to develop and implement best practices in client services (e.g. dashboards, incentive management, feedback mechanisms).

·     Ability to develop and implement stakeholder management plans, programs, and initiatives to obtain buy-in on new initiatives, to better understand dissenting views, to obtain resources and to increase perceptions of success.

• Diplomacy, tact, and respect of other people from varied backgrounds, understanding diverse cultural views especially within west Africa with the ability to convert diversity into opportunities to improve program/operational outcomes.
• Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths bringing together innovative practices.
• Ability to remain objective in appraisals, evaluations and in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences positions, gender issues or opinions, and encourages staff to overcome cultural and gender barriers and background differences.
• Ability to serve the interest of a culturally diverse multinational teams/organizations/communities and some disable groups without prejudice, bias, or sympathy to a select group.

• Solid understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, associated dynamics and expectations as required to collaborate, participate, contribute, and lead effectively.
• Applied knowledge of the Community mandate, strategic plan/priorities as well as the economic, political, and social state/trends of member states, especially as pertains to own scope of work.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS best practices, program management approaches and research techniques to lead and/or contribute to the development or assessment of programs, projects, or initiatives.
• Superior knowledge of the rules and procedures of ECOWAS to appropriately interpret and apply directive text, provide technical advice, coach others and assess performance.

• Ability to analyze a situation by way of indicators (e.g. performance, technical) to assess the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success, in deciding.
• Ability to pull together information from different sources to identify the source of problems, consequences of alternative courses of action, potential obstacles, and ways to avoid the problem in the future.
• Ability to break down very complex situations/information into simple terms (using charts, diagrams, effective expository writing) to explain recommendations and conclusions aimed at solving problems or improving operations/programs/projects.
• Ability to develop new insights into situations, apply innovative solutions to problems and to design new methods of addressing issues/disconnects where established methods and procedures are inapplicable, unavailable, or no longer effective.

• Proficiency in oral and written French and English languages.
• Ability to communicate with impact, clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner conveying credibility & confidence when making presentations, setting expectations, and explaining complex issues.
• Ability to listen intently and correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately.
• Accomplished technical writing skills (e.g. proposals, terms of reference, program assessments, blueprints, business processes) with well-developed editing.
• Ability to give honest feedback, provide recognition, address shortcomings, and motivate direct reports to work at peak performance.
• Fluency in one of the three ECOWAS official languages (English, French & Portuguese)

• Superior organizational and project/program management skills with significant experience identifying timelines, targets, costs, and resources necessary to deliver on operational/program/project outputs.
• Ability to set effective goals and targets for self, others, and the work unit and adjusting work or project priorities in response to changing circumstances.
• Ability to identify gaps affecting the achievement of program/project expectations and to design and implement intervention plans required to build the desired capacity (e.g. training, structural realignment, partnerships, reallocation of resources.
• Ability to implement rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to set in place regular reporting schedules relevant to key outputs (e.g. management indicators, project milestones, program results, processing targets).
• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.