Senior Advisor (m/f)

Description

• The ecosystems of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) are critical for the food security, employment and economic development of ten states in eastern and southern Africa – Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, Comoros, Réunion (France), Mauritius, Seychelles. Some 60 million people rely directly or indirectly on this biodiversity hotspot for fishing, tourism, oil and gas, and other resources. However, increased global demand for natural resources, pollution and a diversity of human activities are threatening the region’s fragile coastal and marine ecosystems. Climate change impacts, including warming of the ocean and related acidification, and increased variability and intensity of weather events are significantly exacerbating the decline in coastal and marine biodiversity
• The Nairobi Convention (NC) was established in 1985 as the legal framework and coordinating mechanism for regional marine protection under the aegis of the Regional Seas Programme established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which now hosts the NC Secretariat. Although the ten contracting parties are committed to achieve the NC goals of improved governance, conservation, management and sustainable development of the WIO, this still remains a significant challenge. Collective leadership between state, private sector and civil society actors at all levels is critical to catalyze improved governance and lasting change for the benefit of all in the context of working towards a prosperous WIO Region with healthy rivers, coasts and oceans
• In 2019, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) initiated a partnership with the NC and commissioned GIZ to support its implementation through the Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative (WIOGI). This three-year project aims to strengthen cooperation among relevant actors at the regional and national levels on the protection and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity in the WIO region. It will also achieve local impact through blue economy multi-stakeholder partnerships to improve integrated coastal zone management in Mozambique. The private sector will be a critical actor in these partnerships, and they will be designed to be participatory as well as conflict and gender sensitive, tangibly and sustainably benefitting businesses, government, local communities and biodiversity

Duties

• On behalf of the WIOGI Project, the Senior Advisor will lead on the identification and development of multi-stakeholder partnerships to help deliver improved coastal and marine management in Mozambique in the context of a sustainable blue economy
• His/her responsibilities will include:
• Provide technical leadership in implementation on behalf of the WIOGI project in Mozambique
• Engage and advise private sector companies and associations, NGOs and government authorities on sustainability issues and environmental risks relating to marine and coastal issues
• Scope partnership opportunities and help catalyze partners to develop partnerships and multi-stakeholder platforms
• Help enable multi-stakeholder partnerships to scope and implement activities relating to integrated coastal zone and marine management
• Engage private sector on blue economy and corporate sustainability, community empowerment and broader governance interventions
• Support partners to undertake evidence-based policy recommendations and advocacy
• Design, develop and implement technical assessments and partner capacity development measures
• Manage procurement, contracting and reporting procedures in line with GIZ rules and regulations, and oversee performance monitoring and delivery of grantees and consultants
• Work with a wide range of partners working on coasts, oceans and blue economy to promote exchange
• Support partners to capture and disseminate lessons on international platforms and conferences
• Support resource mobilization and new funding applications
• Support technical reporting to donors, work planning and progress/results monitoring
• Work effectively with the other WIOGI team members and partners, based in Nairobi

Requisites

• We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated professional, with ample initiative and abilities to work effectively both as a team player and independently to the highest standards and tight deadlines
• More than five years’ professional experience within an international organization in the context of integrated coastal zone or marine management, environmental management and blue economy
• Ample experience is supporting the capacity development of senior and technical level public, private and NGO actors in areas such as beach and reef management, effective collaboration, project development and multi-stakeholder partnerships
• A track record in designing and delivering partnerships in a participatory manner, in stakeholder engagement and relationship management, and in partner capacity development
• Good experience in procurement and contractual processes, work plan development, monitoring and implementation, and technical advisory services
• Experience in private sector engagement on sustainability issues and community empowerment would be an added advantage
• Proven familiarity with project management instruments and processes of international organizations
• Other key attributes include integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, as well as communication, teamwork, planning & organizing, creativity, accountability and commitment to continuous learning
• Relevant postgraduate degree, preferably in Environmental, Marine or Coastal Zone Management, Environmental Economics or Natural Resource Governance
• Strong presentation and negotiation skills
• Strong MS excel skills, with proven ability to create and manage budgets
• Excellent professional level written and spoken English and Portuguese, with ample experience in technical report and proposal writing. Knowledge of Swahili would be an advantage

Notes

• Only qualified applicants will be notified
• The applications must be sent in English language
• This is a local position, only open to candidates that are permitted to work in Mozambique