The “Sustainable Landscapes in Eastern Madagascar” (SLEM) project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) aims to implement sustainable landscape measures to enhance resiliency of smallholders, reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and channel private finance into climate-smart investments in agriculture and renewable energy that transform livelihoods. A key emphasis for the project is to help beneficiaries become more resilient to climate change and so there are a series of interventions that aim to deliver adaptation and mitigation to support project objectives. The Senior Project Advisor (SPA) is responsible for CI Africa Field Division (AfFD) representation, leadership and management of the Sustainable Landscapes in Eastern Madagascar Project (SLEM) working directly with the Chief of Party in the field.
The SPA is an extension of the office of the Director of Programs at the AfFD. This is a unique position deployed in the field to deliver strategic oversight, direct assistance and guidance to the GCF SLEM Chief of Party. The SPA is responsible for advising on the general technical direction of the entire project, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and stakeholders, with a focus on achieving results as defined in the donor agreement. This position represents the authority of AfFD Director of Programs in overseeing all aspects of Design and Delivery in the field and will need to demonstrate the experience and judgement commensurate with projects at this scale and degree of complexity.
This position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, experience of leading projects in developing countries and the authority to ensure coherence and consistency within project deadlines. This position will advise the Chief of Party in the preparation and presentation of all implementation plans and reports, as well as any other duties required that may arise during the course of the project. This position must address / advise on challenges and risks related to project implementation in a timely and effective manner.
Precise deliverables will be determined together with the AfFD Director of Programs and Project Chief of Party during the initial stages of implementation. The Senior Project Advisor will be responsible for ensuring an integrated vision is co-created between different project components and strong buy-in from stakeholders, as well as the key focus being on achieving the results (project deliverables) as defined in the donor agreement. Within the first three months it is expected that a complete review of budget, workplan and staffing will have been completed.
The Senior Project Advisor will work with the Chief of Party to ensure high quality Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems are in place to support high quality reporting and inform strategic communications products. The successful candidate must be able to represent the project goals and case-studies at national, regional and global forums as part of the Project’s required efforts to share lessons learned for replication. A strong emphasis will need to be on accurate, timely and defensible articulation of the climate change benefits (and co-benefits) resulting from the various project components and sub-components. The Senior Project Advisor will also represent GCF SLEM at an Executive management level within CI Africa Field Division.
The SPA will also be responsible to the Director of Programs in ensuring all safeguard policies and priorities are covered within the project as well as maintaining close oversight of potential risks to the project with strategies to manage these risks which are documented over time.
The requirement for a Senior Project Advisor at this stage is as a result of a specific set of circumstances concerning the implementation of GCF SLEM. This is a specialist senior management role and the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate a successful track record as a Chief of Party (or equivalent).
RESPONSIBILITIES
· Supports the Chief of Party in leading and managing the project team – providing strategic direction, vision, coordination, resource management, and supervision to accomplish gender sensitive strategic goals and objectives and to deliver superior quality products.
· Builds local and institutional capacity, including managing and mentoring.
· Provides oversight (on behalf of the AfFD Director of Programs) of the implementation of all technical requirements, including project results and deliverables, ensuring compliance with safeguards standards and in developing solutions to keep deliverables on track whilst motivate staff and partners.
· Represents the Africa Field Division with the donor, internal and external stakeholders, building and maintaining critical partnerships for CI.
· Supports the AfFD Director of Programs in overseeing the preparation of annual work plans, budgets, and annual progress reports. Ensuring that the COP submits timely, accurate and professional reports that meet donor requirements. Oversight and maintenance of effective project reporting, evaluation, and communication systems.
· Oversees grant implementation, ensuring that all strategic objectives are met through proper design, staffing, implementation and quality assurance.
· Guarantees the efficient and effective use of resources to reach the desired results of the project, monitoring the work plans, budgets and finances, in accordance with the procedures of the donor. Perform other duties as required on behalf of the AfFD Director of Programs.
WORKING CONDITIONS
· Working outside normal working hours; Ability to travel frequently in the remote areas and in the forest; ability to work with local partners, High adaptability to difficult conditions; Ability for teamwork; Supporting the staff in the implementation of other activities outside of its main responsibilities if needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
· A track record of leading large, complex projects with one or more technical competencies at an advanced level that are relevant to this project. The track record must be verifiable through the results of previous projects.
· Master’s degree in relevant discipline or equivalent field related to the objectives of the project - sustainable agriculture, SMART agriculture, value chains and commodities; natural resource management including species conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation (REDD+), land-use planning, livelihood trainings. Advanced degree strongly preferred.
· At least fifteen (15) years or more of progressively responsible work experience implementing multi-sector programs, department, or a complex consortium of organizations, with demonstrated strong management skills related to a complex field delivery program.
· At least 10 (10) years of leadership and management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs;
· Proven leadership in the administration of similar activities with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision and budgeting;
· Experience and knowledge of relevant donor regulations, policies and procedures with demonstrated success managing international projects of similar scope and scale;
· Proven ability to engage and collaborate effectively and establish strong working relationships with senior representatives of national and local government, the private sector and civil society;
· Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track program quality through donor approved monitoring and evaluation systems;
· Superb technical and analytical skills;
· Superior interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills;
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills with written and oral English and French fluency required; Verbal communication skills in Malagasy will be an added advantage;
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook;
Preferred
· Previous experience or training with sustainable agriculture, agribusiness or Commodity-based Trade practices and protocols that help to improve livelihoods;
· Ability to help identify and drive interventions that will lead to improved resilience for local Malagasy farmers and participating communities.
· Previous Senior Project Director, Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party experience preferred.
· Ability to identify key messages based on science and evidence and to translate these into meaningful practices that local communities can adopt as a part of their ability to address climate change.
· Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
· Experience and/or prior knowledge of ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation projects, meat value-chains, or accredited professional development and job creation programs
· Demonstrated experience of generating effective teamwork for a staff >50 individuals in different geographic areas
CI works in over 40 countries, almost exclusively developing countries in the tropical and sub-tropical regions to conserve the world's heritage of biological diversity while improving the economic and social well-being of people who depend most heavily on those natural resources. Our investments are focused on about 30 biodivsersity hotspots and five high biodiversity wilderness areas. These geogrpahic foci are mostly larger landscape and seascape corridors. Our financial support comes in roughly equal portions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and bilateral and multilateral public development agencies. Our annual operating budget is approximately $120 million, making us one of the top international conservation organizations.
