Programme Officer - EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories

Closing date:

06 July 2012

BACKGROUND

IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environmental and development challenges.

IUCN works on biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and greening the world economy by supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,000 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.

IUCN’s European region covers the European continent, Russia and Central Asia, and includes the European Union overseas entities. Representing one third of the global membership, this is IUCN’s largest programmatic region. Four offices in Switzerland, Belgium, Georgia and Serbia coordinate action in the region. Together we strive to meet our goals for a sustainable future by using the expertise and the strength of the global IUCN network.
www.iucn.org/europe

There are 34 European Union (EU) Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) - or Europe overseas, for short - that are linked to 6 EU Member States: Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Found in every ocean, from the poles to the tropics, they are home to a unique diversity of species and ecosystems of global significance. Being mostly islands, they are highly vulnerable to human impacts and increasingly the impacts of climate change. Overseas countries and territories are comprised of: Anguilla, Aruba, the Azores, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Antarctic Territory, British Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF), Greenland, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Portugal, Reunion Island, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Eustatius, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sint Maarten, Wallis and Futuna

In 2008, IUCN, the Government of France and the Council of Reunion Island convened the conference “The European Union and its Overseas Entities: Strategies to Counter Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss” bringing together governments, the European Commission, experts and Civil society. The conference adopted the “Message from Reunion Island” which provides a road map for addressing biodiversity challenges in the face of climate change.

The IUCN EU overseas programme, started in 2010 and funded through the France-IUCN framework agreement (2009-2012) and now co-funded by a European Commission BEST grant, aims to advance the recommendations of the Message of Reunion Island. The programme key objectives are: to facilitate dialogue and information sharing between EU overseas actors, raise awareness of and advocate for consideration of EU overseas biodiversity and vulnerability to climate change with EU and international institutions; undertake strategic/thematic analyses to inform policy and guide regional activities; and foster regional collaboration and capacity building in biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change, in collaboration with IUCN members, Commissions and programmes.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The EU Overseas Project Officer will perform the following duties:

1)IUCN Representation
a. Act as the lead and be responsible for the engagement of IUCN on EU overseas entities matters in consultation with relevant IUCN Global and Regional Programmes.

2)Partnership building and liaison
a. Convene and provide secretariat support to the EU overseas Roundtable (and working groups) on Biodiversity and Climate Change
b. Liaise with:
•EU Member States, European Parliament, European Commission, Donors, and the EU Representations of the involved states);
•institutional networks for the EU Outermost Regions & Overseas Countries and Territories in relation with the European Commission, OCTA, and others;
•IUCN National Committees in Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain and UK and IUCN Commission experts as relevant
•European and national civil society organisations including UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and others;
•IUCN Regional Offices in Africa, the Americas and the Pacific;
•Relevant regional and global institutions and small Islands developing states.

3) Communication and advocacy
a.Build strategic alliances in support of EU overseas with national, European and international institutions
b.Organise events and activities to promote EU overseas biodiversity and climate change in EU and international fora
c.Oversee the communication activities of the programme including:
•The maintenance of web based EU overseas forum, and IUCN EU overseas website;
•Sourcing and disseminating information on EU regional and international policies and programmes of relevance to EU overseas biodiversity and climate change;
•Preparation of articles, communication products and other media communication in consultation with IUCN media teams.
d.Prepare technical papers, reports and presentations and other communication products for a range of audiences in support of EU overseas biodiversity and climate change adaptation.

4) Programme coordination
Oversee the implementation of the EU overseas programme including:
a.Prepare annual workplans and design and manage project activities according to agreed workplans and timelines
b.Prepare, monitor and revise project budgets to ensure effective programme delivery;
c.Prepare and submit all required project technical and activity reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by Donors and IUCN Finance Unit;
d.Prepare Terms of Reference, recruit (with support from Human Resources and Finance staff) and supervise consultants and other programme staff that may be required;
e.Plan and develop new activities, including the preparation of funding proposals, to further the objectives of IUCN initiative on biodiversity and climate change in EU outermost regions and overseas countries and territories, in consultation with IUCN Global and Regional Programmes, IUCN National Committees, IUCN Commission experts and EU ORs and OCTs actors;
f.Liaise with donors for fundraising opportunities and identify sources of funding;
g.Provide input into IUCN global programmes on to EU overseas as needed.

5) Perform any other related duties as may be required.
The above job description outlines the main duties and responsibilities of this position. However, in an organization such as IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that from time to time may be reasonably be allocated to them but which are not part of their regular job description. Where any task becomes a regular part of an employee's responsibilities, the job description will be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 5 years experience in programme management or policy development with either government, civil society or intergovernmental organizations in an international context, including programme planning and implementation, staff and consultant supervision, resource mobilisation, financial management, reporting and donor relations.

• Masters degree in a field related to environment or international relations.

• Excellent communication (oral and written) and representational skills in English is mandatory. Knowledge of at least one other relevant language is advantageous.

• Ability to engage and develop partnerships and working relationships with a range of stakeholders, partners and donors.

• Ability to work as a team player, including in a cross cultural setting.

Knowledge of ecosystem management and island biodiversity, preferably including climate change issues and solutions.

• Knowledge of ecosystem management and island biodiversity, preferably including climate change issues and solutions.

• Working knowledge of EU overseas and their relationship to EU institutions as well as EU and international policies relevant to EU overseas and islands would be an advantage.

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/

Programme Officer - EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories