Overview

BirdLife International is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and experienced individual for the position of Africa Forest Coordinator. The main responsibility will be to lead the development and implementation of Africa’s Forest Flagship Initiative and coordinate the implementation of BirdLife’s Africa Forests Programme and management of associated forest conservation projects, especially in West Africa.

Responsibilities:
1. Leadership and coordination of BirdLife’s Africa Forests Conservation Programme:
• Lead the development of a BirdLife strategy for forest conservation work in Africa, building off relevant existing strategies, plans and processes (e.g. BirdLife Africa Regional Plan, BirdLife West Africa Strategy, CEPF Guinean West Africa Forest Long-term Vision, etc.), and based on priorities of Partners and emerging opportunities
• For collaborative work, e.g. in Gola and Sao Tome & Principe, support the implementing team and partners and ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities and functions between BirdLife and Partners and maintain good working relationships
• Create a network of technical and financial stakeholders in West Africa and support Partners to capitalise on this, through building regional and large-scale projects and securing funding
• Strengthen links with other BirdLife Africa initiatives and Partners elsewhere in Africa, where practical and advantageous

2. Management and development of forest conservation projects:
• Ensure effective management of other existing portfolio of forest conservation projects and ensure timely delivery of high-quality reports and other project deliverables. This will include coordinating implementation of the EU funded PAPFor ‘Conservation of the Gola Forest Landscape’ project
• Develop new forest conservation projects as per need to cover priority conservation gaps, and/or co-finance existing ones

3. Mobilise resources (funds, partnerships and information) for forest conservation in Africa:
• Enhance fundraising drive for forest conservation, including through cultivation and maintenance of relationships with donors and development institutions
• Lead development and implementation of a ‘Forest Flagship initiative’ to be used for raising the profile of, and innovative fundraising for, forest conservation in Africa
• Create a network of technical and financial stakeholders in Africa and support Partners to capitalise on this, through building regional and large-scale projects and securing funding
• Act as point person for communications and fundraising on Forests conservation

4. Promote BirdLife’s Africa Forest Conservation achievements:
• Prepare and deliver presentations on BirdLife forest conservation achievements at key forums
• Facilitate documentation and dissemination of lessons from forest conservation actions in Africa

5. Others:
• Any other duties as delegated by the Head of Conservation – Africa

Required skills, experience and qualifications:
• Relevant Master’s degree level
• Post graduate qualification in Forestry, Natural Resources Management, or related field; with a proven track record in project development, fundraising and management
• Significant relevant experience with experience at senior management level in international conservation (with demonstrable experience in Africa) and organisational management
• Design, implementation and monitoring of complex and multi-stakeholder conservation and/or development projects in different African countries
• Understanding of key institutions driving forest loss and conservation in Africa, their mandates and opportunity to influence them
• Working with NGOs, government agencies, private sector and community-based organisations
• Successful proposal development
• Strategic management, networking at senior level, negotiation, programme development and management
• Ability to act independently
• Basic financial literacy
• Ability to write professional articles and give presentations to international audiences
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (both French and English)
• Ability to look at the strategic and operational dimensions of issues and plan accordingly
• Ability to generate innovative ways of doing things, and in the process enhancing the quality of products and efficiency in the use of resources
• Willingness to travel at short notice when required
• Word processing, presentations, spreadsheets and database management
• English. French an added advantage
• Frequent travel, up to 10 weeks per year

Application deadline: 21 February 2020

Location:
The position will be based in either of these three location: Accra in Ghana, Dakar in Senegal or Nairobi in Kenya.

Salary & benefits:
Commensurate with experience and qualifications and in accordance with BirdLife International, Africa Division terms and conditions.
• Gross monthly salary: EURO 3200- 3800
• Length/duration of this position: 3 years
• Working hours: Full time 40 hours per week
• Date when the job expected to start: 15 March 2020

Application:
Applications, including a covering letter summarizing the applicant’s suitability for the position, a detailed CV and names and contact addresses of three referees known to the applicant in a professional capacity, should be sent via email before the to: recruitment-africa@birdlife.org

Interviews: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.