DRC: Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead, Forests

Aug 16, 2016 | World Resources Institute
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The World Resources Institute (WRI) seeks a Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead to lead development of national strategies, support work plan development, monitoring, communication and fund-raising across WRI’s Forest Program’s priority countries in the Congo Basin – with a particular focus on Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Through its Forest Program, WRI partners with more than 20 organizations, donor and government institutions to support improved management of forests across the Congo Basin. This growing partnership brings with it increasing demands for strategic planning and fundraising to execute the identified forest related activities. As a key member of the Forest Team in Central Africa, the Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead will play a lead supporting role in providing orientation in the development and implementation of WRI’s forest work across the region. The position will support a diverse portfolio of activities, ranging from forest mapping/monitoring, land-use planning, incentivizing legal/sustainable forest use and catalyzing restoration of degraded forest lands.

WRI’s work in the Congo Basin focuses on its Global Forest Watch, Forest Restoration and Forest Legality initiatives. Please consult the following links for more information on GFW and their national application, the Congo Basin Forest Atlases:

http://www.globalforestwatch.org/about

http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/congo-basin-forest-atlases

WRI seeks a full-time Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead who will be based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo or Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead will report directly to WRI’s Central Africa Regional Coordinator (based in Kinshasa, DRC) and will work closely with WRI’s national coordinators to provide training, support and guidance in developing and implementing national strategies across the Congo Basin. The Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead will also coordinate closely with other Forest Program team members across the Congo Basin and globally, as needed.  The post will require regular travel both within the region and abroad, in support of project implementation.

The ideal Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead candidate is well-organized, detail oriented, takes initiative, works well independently and as part of a team. 

The Central Africa Regional Strategy Lead's main areas of responsibility will include the following:

• Lead the development of national strategies and implementation of WRI’s Forest Program activities in support of WRI GFW’s country-based teams, across the Congo Basin
• Support identification opportunities for WRI to expand the impact of its forest initiative in Central Africa
• Support development, implementation and coordination of fund-raising actions, based on national strategies
• Support development of work plans and budget to WRI’s national forest programs in priority countries across the Congo Basin
• Support establishing an operational monitoring and evaluation process in priority countries, in coordination with WRI’s CARPE (USAID) and global M&E teams
• Support elaboration and implementation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with partner organizations and institutions
• Identify and pursue effective means to communicate about WRI’s Congo Basin forest work and analytical content to non-technical audiences, including existing and prospective funders

Required Qualifications:

• At least 5-7 years of experience working in a donor-funded development program context, including at least 2 years in a mid-level management role
• Minimum Masters degree in geography, environmental science, natural resource management or significant demonstrated experience in these or related fields
• Professional competency in English and in French
• Demonstrated experience managing or supervising staff
• Demonstrated experience in elaborating and implementing multi-dimensional strategies
• Proven fund-raising record and substantial proposal-writing experience
• Ability to think holistically and contribute to building high-impact strategies in a complex environment, while maintaining attention to details
• Strong written and oral communication skills, particularly when it comes to communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Understanding of the forest/natural resource/land-use sector in Africa (e.g., forest policies and laws, forest management and law enforcement practices, governance and institutional context, forest and land tenure regimes, biodiversity conservation), desired
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines while setting and delivering on clear priorities
• Enjoys working within a large, diverse, dynamic and collaborative team environment
• Willingness to travel up to 20% of time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of the forest/natural resource/land-use sector in Africa (e.g., forest policies and laws, forest management and law enforcement practices, governance and institutional context, forest and land tenure regimes, biodiversity conservation)

Final candidates will be required to take a writing/analytical test.

Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous, comprehensive benefits package

Location: Kinshasa, DRC or Brazzaville, RoC

Qualified applicants should apply online at careers.wri.org. All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered.