Policy & Advocacy Coordinator

Description

• WWF Mozambique vision is that “natural capital is well maintained and thriving ensuring sustainable and equitable development for the wellbeing of the People of Mozambique.” This is based on a shared vision of the WWF Network, focussing on six major goals - water, wildlife, the ocean, climate and energy, forests, and food – and three key drivers of environmental problems – markets, finance and governance. In order to escalate the challenge to the top of the global agenda, WWF aims at 1) engaging and supporting the national government in translating the recently adopted Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) and other key global commitments into ambitious national targets and urgent actions across key policies, legislation, budgets and sectoral work from agriculture to forestry to infrastructure, sustainable development and beyond, as well as developing and implementing ambitious and inclusive National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP), National Biodiversity Finance Plan (NBFP) and sectoral plans; and 2) integrating KM-GBF implementation into WWF’s own conservation strategies and programs. It strives to mobilize key stakeholders to encourage global decision makers to play a leadership role including the public and civil society, business and the financial sector, as well as political players. Effectively engaging the stakeholders requires the strong involvement of teams in the country office, the region and across the WWF Network, supported by strong scientific research in order to make a strong science-based and economically sound case for urgent action
• WWF Mozambique seeks to recruit a highly motivated, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and experienced Policy & Advocacy Coordinator to work on coordinating a range of policy issues relating to natural resources management including, and to help WWF Mozambique maintain high profile with policy makers, national and local government, civil society and other stakeholders. We are looking for someone with the right set of skills, attitude and approach, and who is able to gather evidence and analyse policy impacts to achieve positive change for people and nature
• Job Purpose and Major Functions: The Policy & Advocacy Coordinator will provide policy support to WWF Mozambique conservation teams to achieve WWF ambitious goals, and build a future where people live in harmony with nature. He/she will perform the following major functions:
• Design, manage and implement policy and advocacy related projects/programmes including the Voices for Diversity (VfD) programme and the RINaWa project: Strengthening Research and Innovation in Natural Resources Management and Waste Management in Southern Africa Region
• Provide strategic advice, coordinate across conservation teams to ensure policy coherence, facilitate the development of policy positions, policy briefs and advocacy strategies related to the achievement of the goals and outcomes of the WWF Mozambique strategy, and ensure WWF’s influence on key policy outcomes in the country, including co-ordinating with relevant external partners to drive powerful policy change

Duties

Policy-related Programme Development and Implementation (60%)

• Prepare and submit, in coordination with the conservation staff, annual work-plans and technical and financial reports for the VfD programme and the RiNaWa project according to Donor and WWF standards and tools
• Oversee administrative and financial management of the VfD programme and the RiNaWa project including monitoring spending versus budgets and mobilizing financial and technical resources for effective and efficient implementation
• Ensure that the VfD programme and the RiNaWa project always works towards greater community involvement and ownership
• In coordination with the Country Director and Conservation Manager, lead initiatives to increase awareness of the value and need to protect nature, and contribute to securing support for implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework from the public and civil society, business and the financial sector, and political actors in Mozambique
• Facilitate the domestication of key global commitments (e.g. Global Biodiversity Framework, Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution, Climate Change) at national level by key actors, including contributing to WWF advocacy efforts to achieve a robust country NBSAPs with ambitious targets ahead of COP 16
• Support for WWF Mozambique’s fundraising efforts to mobilize additional financial resources for the policy projects portfolio
• Participate in regular coordination meetings with other WWF programmes (national, regional and international) as appropriate, and participate in regular donor and government coordination meetings as appropriate
• Support the process of planning, development and implementation of WWF conservation programmes/projects with respect to policy level engagement and influence including supporting the analysis, review and final output processes for all project reporting

Policy Engagement and Coordination (40%)

• Facilitate the engagement of local communities and civil society organizations in key national, regional and global policy processes
• In collaboration with the ICT team, develop a communication strategy, produce messages that will appeal to, engage and motivate target audiences, and work and advise communications team on social media approaches, and support implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Keep up to date with and horizon-scan developments in natural resources management related policy and laws, and maintain an overview of emerging policy priorities at national level
• Summarise, analyse and evaluate (using case studies, legal precedents, research and statistics) relevant policy and guidance publications to ensure WWF Mozambique staff and partner civil society organizations understand key policy changes within the conservation sector and their implications
• Lead the design and implementation of research studies for policy development and influence, and perform more detailed analysis and manipulation of data or research findings, highlighting and prioritising any issues for further investigation and producing into finished pieces suitable for an external audience and supporting public decision making
• Lead on external awareness raising of key recommendations by organising and facilitating dialogue meetings, workshops and seminars with government representatives, civil society and other relevant stakeholders
• In collaboration with WWF conservation team, write and edit policy recommendations from research activities undertaken by WWF and partner civil society organizations, and produce public facing materials to promote research findings and policy recommendations

Requisites

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in environmental policy, environmental studies, environmental science, environmental economics or a closely related field
• Thorough understanding of conservation, rural development, and civil society/community-based organization engagement issues in Mozambique
• Experience and good understanding of undertaking literature searches and critically appraising literature
• Understanding and knowledge of Mozambique’s regulatory frameworks and legal system
• Good understanding of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Minimum of 8 years of experience working on policy issues, ideally around natural resources management and areas of weak governance
• Demonstrable experience of leading policy development evidenced by recent policy outputs relating to conservation
• Design, implementation and analysis of research methodologies for policy related work, and writing of policy position papers and using these to influence outcomes
• Experience on facilitating the engagement of a diverse ser of stakeholders (e.g. government, local communities, private sector, academia, NGOs, CBOs/CSOs) in policy and decision-making processes
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to converse at all levels; both internally and externally
• Analytical and problem solving skills demonstrating the ability to understand and discuss complex issues in relation to environmental and social policies in a context relevant to various audiences
• Ability to write engaging and insightful reports
• Ability to engage and influence key stakeholders through verbal and written communications
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently and as part of a team, including successful experience of working collaboratively with representatives from other organisations
• Proven IT skills including advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and databases
• Fluency in English and Portuguese
• Good interpersonal skills

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Working Relationships:
• Internal - Interacts with WWF Mozambique conservation staff on daily basis; Co-ordinates and interacts with WWF-International and the WWF Network staff as appropriate
• External - Interacts as required with national and provincial administrations, non-governmental organizations, local Partner NGOs, civil society, decision makers, private sector and Donors