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Regional Protected Areas Programme Coordinator

Closing date: 06 July 2012 (extended)

BACKGROUND


Regional Protected Areas Programme Coordinator
for Central and West Africa


IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is a world leader in developing knowledge and understanding for effective action for conservation of biodiversity and management of natural resources.

The IUCN Programme for Central and West Africa, PACO, seeks to recruit its Regional Protected Areas Programme (RPAP) Coordinator based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He/she is both a senior member of the Programme that delivers the technical program of IUCN in Central and West Africa and of the IUCN Global Programme team that helps set strategic direction and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on biodiversity and protected areas conservation.

The RPAP Coordinator takes a lead role in the development of the Regional Protected Areas Programme through providing vision and guidance in developing a well-defined strategic focus in the short, medium and long term. He/she will develop, resource, and manage IUCN’s Protected Areas programme activities in the region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners. He/she is responsible for the overall management of RPAP activities, to ensuring that they are coherent and consistent with IUCN’s “one programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s conservation framework and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities.

The candidate will possess an advanced degree in a natural science related to protected areas conservation or related fields and at least 10 years of relevant work experience.

Expected start date: 01 October 2012
Type of contract: one year (renewable)
Closing date for applications: 29 june 2012
Location: Regional Office for West and Central Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/

For more information about the position, and to apply to the job, please visit the following link: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=240
IUCN is an equal opportunities employer

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordinator
IUCN Regional Protected Areas Programme (RPAP) for Central and West Africa, PACO

Our mission: “To influence, encourage & assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity & diversity of nature & to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable & ecologically sustainable.”

IUCN is a world leader in developing knowledge and understanding for effective conservation action. A unique worldwide partnership, IUCN brings together states, government agencies & NGO members, & some 10,000 scientists & experts from 181 countries in a global web of networks to provide a neutral forum for dialogue & action on environment & sustainable development issues.

IUCN PACO Region currently has nearly 200 staff members working in its offices in Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon, DR Congo, Congo. The IUCN Central and West Africa Regional Office is located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The IUCN Regional Protected Areas Program (RPAP) Coordinator reports directly to the Regional Programme Coordinator and functionally to the Head of IUCN’s Global Protected Areas Programme and is a senior member of the Regional Programme committee that delivers the technical program of IUCN in Central and West Africa.

The RPAP Coordinator will develop, resource, and manage IUCN’s Protected Areas programme activities in the region in close collaboration with other relevant IUCN programmes, Members, Commissions and partners. He/She is responsible for the overall management of RPAP activities, focusing on the following specific duties:
- Take a lead role in the development of the Regional Protected Areas Programme through providing vision and guidance in developing a well-defined strategic focus in the short, medium and long term, ensuring effective programming and project implementation, and undertaking analysis and evaluation of on-going programmatic activities;
- Provide technical advice and support on biodiversity and protected areas conservation to Country Offices and Project Offices and act as the focal point for biodiversity and protected areas related activities particularly with Members, Commissions, partners and other IUCN component programmes as required;
- Work closely with IUCN Commissions, Country offices, Project Offices and other thematic programmes to develop and maintain an appropriate project portfolio and funding for implementation of the Regional Programme;
- Work closely with the Protected Areas Pan African advisor towards the development of an Africa wide portfolio of projects and activities;
- Work with colleagues in the region and headquarter on biodiversity and protected areas issues to ensure that they function as an integrated team, that there is coherence and consistency in the policy statements, and a high quality of technical and policy advice is given to field programmes and projects;
- Coordinate the analysis of relevant biodiversity and protected areas policy and the dissemination of policy information and advice to various parts of the Region and other networks in the most effective way;
- Oversee the development and implementation of any relevant biodiversity and protected areas initiatives in the region and provide where needed, guidance and support to the development and implementation of other IUCN Cross Cutting Initiatives;
- Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant international fora and negotiations on biodiversity and protected areas conservation in Central and West Africa;
- Develop and maintain appropriate collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations on biodiversity and protected areas related issues of mutual interest;
- Lead fundraising for the Regional Protected Areas Programme through maintaining good relationships with donor and funding agencies so as to ensure the financial viability of the Programme;
- Oversee the development and implementation of annual budgets and work plans and provide a timely progress report of the programme financial and technical activities in accordance with IUCN’s practices;

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- Participate in joint planning, assessment and communication activities of the Regional Programme and facilitate the development of joint programmes with Members and partners.
- Capitalization and dissemination in the region of lessons learnt from our programmes and projects as well as those learnt from partners and colleagues;
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- Supervise staff and lead capacity development on issues related to Protected Areas in component programmes;
- Facilitate group discussions on relevant protected areas emerging issues to position IUCN as a reference in the region;

REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate will have demonstrated their ability to:
- Candidates should possess an advanced degree in natural science related to Protected Areas conservation or related fields and at least 10 years of relevant work experience
- Experience with project and programme development and management
- Previous working experience on issues related to biodiversity and protected areas conservation
- Demonstrated fundraising, budgeting and programme planning ability
- Demonstrated outstanding skills in network development and network administration and ability to achieve results through networking in cross-cultural situations
- Lead and inspire multicultural and multidisciplinary teams
- Exposure to and knowledge of major biodiversity and protected areas conservation issues, both policy and field related
- proven writing ability
- Demonstrated spoken and written fluency in French and English
- Advanced computer processing skills

DUTY STATION: The successful candidate will be based in Ouagadougou-Burkina Faso, with frequent travel across Central and West Africa.

FUNCTION GROUP: SP in the IUCN classification system

Applications:

Interested candidates who meet the selection requirements are requested to send their curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation in French or English (the letter must specifically address the Selection Criteria/requirements in the order presented above), and the names and contact details of three referees, including one recent employer.

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).
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
For more information about the position, and to apply to the job, please visit the following link: https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=240

IUCN is an equal opportunities employe

REQUIREMENTS

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).

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/