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Scientist, Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS REDD+)


Scientist, Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS REDD+) (Ref. 1264)
Forests and Governance Programme
Bogor, Indonesia
 
 
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) advances human wellbeing, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. We are one of 15 CGIAR research centres. Our headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, and we have offices in Asia, Africa and South America.
 
CIFOR is looking for a Scientist, Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS REDD+)
 
In 2009, CIFOR started a multi-donor funded Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS-REDD+) in 12 countries. This GCS-REDD+ is a 6-year global comparative research project on first- and second-generation REDD+ activities in selected countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America. The project consists of four components: national initiatives around policy processes and strategies (Component 1), sub-national demonstration activities, monitoring and reference levels, and knowledge sharing (Components 2 – 4). The overall goal of the project is to provide REDD+ policy makers and practitioner communities with the information, analysis and tools they need to ensure effective and cost-efficient reduction of carbon emissions with equitable impacts and co-benefits such as poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation – the ‘3E+’ criteria.
 
The aim of the research is to identify how potential barriers and constraints in national REDD+ policy arenas can be addressed through policy design. The project will use comparative research to analyse the country-specific circumstances and factors that explain varying 3E outcomes from national strategies.
 
The Scientist’s research will contribute to the development of policy-relevant conclusions on institutional design for specific country and regional contexts. The Scientist’s work will be integrated and supported by the GCS-REDD+ national REDD+ strategies component and will form part of CIFOR’s
 
Forests and Governance Programme. The Scientist will be responsible to the Programme Director and will be under the day-to-day supervision of the Component 1 leader.
  
General duties and responsibilities
 
  • Contribute to the objectives of CIFOR’s GCS-REDD+ and other related projects, and work on national REDD+ policies and strategies and the governance dimensions of REDD+
  • Conduct comparative analysis on REDD+ institutional architecture
  • Contribute to the analysis of broader reform processes, linked to national strategies and policies for REDD+, with a specific focus on the performance of policies and the political economy of forest and land use change, in collaboration with partners in at least 12 different countries
  • Design and conduct research on the finance-related aspects of REDD+ and the political dimension of monitoring, reporting and verification of both carbon flux and/or REDD+ financing in REDD+ systems
  • Represent CIFOR at national, regional and international meetings/conferences etc.
  • Develop partnerships and capacity building of CIFOR’s nationally recruited staff
  • Publish research findings
  • Explore funding opportunities and lead and contribute to new research proposals.
  • Details of duties, assignments and objectives will be further discussed and laid out in the staff’s annual performance contract.
  
Requirements
 
Education, experience and technical skills
 
  • PhD in the social sciences, preferably in political sciences, with background in forests and or environmental governance, institutional analysis, financial mechanisms, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and comparative analysis
  • At least 5 years professional work experience
  • Knowledge of REDD+, governance and political economy of land use and deforestation
  • Experience in supervision of junior scientists or doctoral students
  • Experience in project management and partner liaison
  • Fluency in English is required. Fluency in other languages used in countries where CIFOR works will be appreciated (e.g. French, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, Kiswahili, Vietnamese).
  
Personal attributes and competencies
 
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working with multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams
  • Has initiative and capable of working independently as well as in team environments
  • Competency in personal organisation, priority setting and managing multiple tasks
  • Values the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning.
  
Terms and conditions
 
  • CIFOR offers competitive remuneration in US dollars commensurate with skills and experience.
  • The appointment will be for a period of 3 years, including one year’s probation, with a possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position, and available resources.
  • The duty station will be at CIFOR headquarters in Bogor, Indonesia, with travel to research sites.
 
 Application process
 
The application deadline is 30 November 2012.
 
We will acknowledge all applications, but we will contact only short-listed candidates.
 
Please send your letter of interest and CV, including contact information for three referees, to:
 
Human Resources Department, CIFOR
 
Please indicate the position title and its reference number in the email subject line.
 
To learn more about CIFOR and the full description of the position, please visit our website at  http://www.cifor. org.
 
CIFOR is an equal opportunity employer.