JOB : Senior Programme Officer – Forest Governance and Trade -  International Union for Conservation of Nature
Vacancy #:      6460

Unit:      TRAFFIC Central Africa
Organisation:      TRAFFIC International (TRAFFIC)
Location:      TRAFFIC - Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon
Reporting to:      Office Director - Central Africa
Work percentage:      100%
Grade:      P2
Expected start date:      01 August 2023
Type of contract:      Fixed-term (12 months)
Closing date:      19 June 2023
BACKGROUND
TRAFFIC is the leading non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. TRAFFIC International is a charity and limited company registered in the UK. TRAFFIC’s head office, based in Cambridge UK, provides worldwide leadership, coordination, cross-regional and corporate functions. TRAFFIC’s local engagement is managed through programme offices operating under the auspices of the UK charity, with staff based in a hub office and at other strategic locations where necessary. Programme offices operate within a geographic area of responsibility focused on one or multiple countries where TRAFFIC aims to help deliver priority programme outcomes.
Since 2010, TRAFFIC in Central Africa has been working on forest governance issues supporting Central African countries with various funding from ITTO, DFID (later FCDO) and in December 2020, TRAFFIC has been successfully granted funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to implement five years project entitled: “Leveraging legality along China’s timber supply to reduce deforestation”. Countries of the Project include Cameroon, China, the Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam to leverage China’s and Vietnam’s significant market role in the timber supply chain from source countries in the Congo Basin to reduce unsustainable forestry operations and illegal timber trade.
TRAFFIC work in forestry sector in Central Africa will include forest governance, legality and timber trade, private sector engagement, and training for forest industry members and enforcement agencies. Cross-cutting issues linked to behaviour change, analysing data and information on illegality, and financial crime will also be addressed.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Senior Programme Officer – Forest Governance and Trade will lead the Forestry Programme of TRAFFIC in Central Africa and support all related forestry projects’ implementation work in the region under the Supervision of the TRAFFIC Programme Office Director , focusing on the agreed annual Workplan activities and deliverables. He will also, if required, take on the role of acting Programme Office Director in the absence of the Programme Office Director and take responsibility for the Central African Office until such time as the Programme Office Director has returned.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

✓ Responsible for the development of the forestry programme in Central Africa; covering all aspects of tenure, management, revenue, livelihood, processing, trade, and relevant social, environmental and conservation challenges.
✓ Responsible for ensuring the timely and effective implementation of ongoing forestry projects and especially the NORAD Project activities in Cameroon specifically but also contributing to the Central Africa work in general while ensuring synergies with other regions/countries in East Africa, China, Vietnam and globally to capture impact and learning that arise from these activities.
✓ Lead on the development and timber trade data provision for the Programme Office.
✓ Conduct analyses of data on timber use and trade in Central Africa, including supporting the development of innovative techniques for data collection, analysis and presentation.
✓ Responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders in Cameroon, including Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife; Cameroon Customs; Cameroon members of RIFFEAC; Local Community organisations’ members (ReCTRAD, etc.); National Financial Investigative Unit; and any other relevant partners.
✓ In synergy with other projects across TRAFFIC network, develop opportunities for timber tracking, cross cutting measures including anti-corruption, financial crimes and Social Behaviour Change messaging to different actors in the supply chain.
✓ Lead the development and implementation of TRAFFIC’s law enforcement support activities in Central Africa.
✓ Assist the Programme Officer Director in fundraising for the regional programme, especially related to forestry sector.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Implementation of timber projects especially the NORAD Project

✓ Responsible for the successful implementation of forest governance/timber projects in Central Africa;
✓ Responsible for ensuring NORAD Project work plan activities are successfully implemented and results secured. That delivery is effectively coordinated with the Project Leader and project counterparts in Africa/Asia and others across the TRAFFIC network.
✓ Organising and supporting the delivery of activities and interventions in Cameroon and Republic of the Congo.
✓ Helping to establish and maintain relationships and support dialogue amongst key targeted stakeholders and collaborators in Cameroon, including both private and public sectors, and with particular attention to engaging local communities for the supply of legal timber as well as RIFFEAC’s members for capacity building reinforcement;
✓ Helping to manage relationships with relevant NORAD missions and to ensure the Project integrates productively with other NORAD-funded initiatives and programmes operating both within and between Central Africa and Asia.
✓ Supporting a rigorous evaluation process for activities and interventions delivered throughout the Project in particular; capturing and communicating the findings from this to amplify the project impact where feasible and appropriate.
✓ Supporting project management processes, including maintaining appropriate records and preparing financial and technical reporting information as required.
✓ Supporting the Project Leader in ensuring this high profile project delivers a lasting impact.
✓ Assess Congolese government actions and practical steps towards satisfying commitments to various international, regional frameworks, declarations and initiatives such as: FLEGT-VPA, COMIFAC’s Convergence Plan 2015-2025, Congo Forest Basin Partnership (CBFP), and AFRICA-TWIX.
✓ Establish where there are needs and opportunities for Asian counterparts to assist African countries in curbing illegal timber trade.
✓ Support the overall set of activities related to exchange visits between Central African countries and Asia (China, Vietnam).
✓ Develop activities to inform and increase understanding amongst government, inter-government, private sector and civil society representatives around illegal timber trade, good governance and corruption.
✓ Provide technical assistance, data analysis, scientific information and research support to the NORAD Project on illegal timber trade, related financial crimes in the Republic of the Congo Central, including formulation of recommendations for TRAFFIC, WWF and IUCN.
Last Update 19/05/2023
✓ Prepare policy briefing papers to help address illegal timber trade issues relevant to trans-continental trade between Central Africa and Asia (Vietnam, China) in line with the findings arising from the delivery of the NORAD Project.
✓ Provide thoughtful input into the production of quarterly/annual reports and work plans, and other documents.
✓ Developing concepts and proposals to help leverage the additional funding and technical resources that will be required to ensure the successful delivery and continuation of the project as appropriate;
✓ Other duties as required by the Senior Advisor – Forest Governance and Trade

Research and analysis of timber trade for relevant policy fora including CITES and CBD

✓ Undertake specific project work relating to research and data analysis when required.
✓ Under direction from the Central Africa POD:
o Support the preparation of relevant aspects of TRAFFIC’s input to meetings of the CITES Scientific Committees and CoP through the preparation of materials and research from Cameroon.

TRAFFIC’s Information Systems Management

✓ Overall responsibility for information management of the Forest Governance and trade Projects in Central Africa;
✓ Carries out data input and regular analysis in Central Africa for internal purposes and provides relevant external fora/organisations/institutes.
✓ Support research and development of innovative technologies for data collection, analysis and presentation in general.

Supervision

✓ TRAFFIC’s outposted staff in the Republic of the Congo, other Assistants and consultants in Cameroon as directed.
REQUIREMENTS
     • A university degree (Master or PhD) in a relevant discipline (e.g., forestry, biology, environment or any other relevant field).
✓ At least 10 years experience in forest governance, timber trade and sustainable development issues, preferably with an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) or Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO).
✓ Strong working knowledge of political and policymaking processes within Central Africa.
✓ National and or regional/international policy advocacy experience, including high-level political negotiations preferably within a Central Africa context.
✓ Relevant and proven experience in project cycle management, i.e. coordinating larger projects, incl. overseeing consultants and managing project budgets and reporting.
✓ Experience in implementing EU-funded projects a strong advantage.
✓ Strong research and analytical skills and an ability to articulate complex issues clearly.
✓ Strong networking skills and communication skills, and ability to work in different cultural contexts.
✓ Fluency in spoken and written French and English.
✓ A willingness and ability to travel widely and frequently and to work under pressure.
✓ Familiarity with standard word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software, and with electronic communication technology.
✓ With equal competence, preference will be given to female candidates.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

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