Project Officer, GWI Kenya IUCN

IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources, was founded in 1948 and brings together nearly 1,100 members (States, government agencies, NGOs and affiliates) and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 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. Within the framework of global conventions IUCN has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) have thematic programmes (and Water and Wetlands is one of them) with projects spreading across twenty three countries in the Horn of Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. One of the projects that IUCN is implementing (within its Water and Wetlands Programme) is the Global Water Initiative (GWI). GWI is being funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and was developed in September 2006 with the aim of ‘ensuring that vulnerable populations world-wide have reliable access to clean water in such a way that their dignity, rights, culture and natural environment are not negatively impacted’. The goal of the initiative is to support Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) programs through 3 strategic objectives: Good Governance to improve local and community governance and the enabling policy framework; Sustainable Multiple Uses of Water which includes efficient, effective and equitable domestic and productive uses of water, sanitation, hygiene, and watershed management; and Risk Management so that vulnerable rural communities have increased resilience to water-related shocks.

The project is implemented through a partnership arrangement amongst key organizations in three geographic clusters: Eastern Africa, Western Africa and Central America. In Eastern Africa the program operates in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is being coordinated by a Regional Programme Director based in CARE Offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In Kenya, the partners are: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Action Against Hunger (AAH). The project is being implemented in the Lower Tana River Basin under the coordination of a National Coordinator, housed by CRS. The 1st three-year phase of the project took place between October 2008 and September 2011 and the 2nd three-year phase is scheduled for October 2011 to September 2014. The 2nd phase while will build on the experiences to date, will put emphasis on policy influencing, advocacy and research. . IUCN is therefore inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following position:


Position – Project Officer, GWI Kenya

Location – Lower Tana Region, Kenya


OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Officer will provide technical, managerial and administrative support to the IUCN GWI Kenya Project. Specifically the Project Officer will:-


1. Project implementation

a. Coordinate and support the implementation of a strategy for policy influencing and advocacy for the GWI partners on IWRM and development for improved livelihoods of local communities;

b. Document, package and disseminate the information and or lessons from the project to a wider audience for awareness, advocacy and policy influencing;

c. Manage the production of the project outputs (studies, reports, policy briefs, etc), including coordinating layout and design appropriately for specific audiences;


2. Project administration

a. Assist with the development and administration of annual work-plans, budgets, internal agreements, contracts and production of progress reports as required by IUCN and collaborating partners;

b. Ensure due diligence in the planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of assigned project activities;

c. Assist the management of the project related expenditures in accordance with IUCN procurement procedures;

d. Ensure the collection, collation, reporting, organization, and keeping records of all project data and documents;

e. Provide follow up support and tracking of administrative, programmatic and financial issues with WRMA Tana River Catchment Area


3. Support the Water and Wetlands portfolio

a. Initiate and support development of new concepts and projects that deliver on IUCN’s programme and the GWI objectives.


4. Representation

a. With prior approval from the Team Leader, Water and Wetlands Programme, represent IUCN at internal and external meetings at local, national, regional and international levels.


Competencies

1. Minimum of a first degree in Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management or related field;

2. Master’s degree is an asset

3. At least three years working experience in the area of water resource management and governance;

4. Strong knowledge and experience on governance, advocacy and policy influencing of natural resources management;

5. Excellent IT and communication skills (outlook, spreadsheet, word processing, database, website management etc);

6. Knowledge of Lower Tana area and familiarity with local culture and languages is considered a strong asset.


Personal attributes

1. Strong inter personal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a very good communicator

2. Innovative and dynamic, with ability to take initiative and provide creative solutions to project management problems

3. A proactive and self-motivated individual with good interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to work in a team and capacity to pay attention to detail.

4. Excellent analytical skills and ability to work with little supervision and function in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.


IUCN Project Officers are required to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is compatible with their responsibilities and in accordance with the standards of conduct expected by IUCN as set out in the IUCN Staff Rules.

Applicants are asked to submit their CV and a supporting letter of motivation and provide the names and contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees. The letter must be submitted on or before 30th November, 2011 to: earohr@iucn.org

IUCN is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from qualified men and women.

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED