Forest Governance Campaigner

FERN

Brussels, Belgium

FERN is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) created in 1995. Our mission is to achieve greater environmental and social justice, focusing on forests and forest peoples’ rights in the policies and practices of the European Union. We do this by co-ordinating NGO networks and by working co-operatively with partners to achieve change. 

We believe that to be effective it is essential to understand and address the social dimension of environmental conflicts; that strong coalitions are more likely to achieve lasting change; and that presenting ways forward is often more effective than highlighting problems.

We have no director, and strive to make decisions by consensus.

Details of our current campaign areas can be found at www.fern.org/campaignareas.html. We currently have 13 staff working from two offices, in Brussels (Belgium) and Moreton in Marsh (UK). We are looking for a strong campaigner to join our Forest Governance campaign team. The position will be based in the Brussels office.

A: TERMS OF REFERENCE

Main responsibility

Developing and implementing FERN’s Forest Governance Campaign with a specific focus on the Congo Basin.

Campaign related tasks

• Monitoring and analysing national and regional forest related processes, notably the FLEGT VPAs;
• Advocacy work towards EU Institutions and EU Member States;
• Developing and giving advocacy trainings;
• Supporting FERN’s Southern partners and their networks in ensuring voices of local NGOs and communities are heard in the development and implementation of (national) forest related policies;
• Facilitating common NGO understanding and positions;
• Researching and producing reports and briefing papers and writing regular updates for FERN’s newsletter;
• Developing a governance monitoring framework with Southern partners and ensure implementation;
• Organising , participating in and speaking at international meetings/seminars.
• Project management and fundraising.

General FERN tasks

• Staying informed at a general level on the various campaigns FERN is involved in;
• Carrying out general managerial and administrative tasks, shared between all staff;
• Fulfilling FERN’s policies on reporting on meetings, producing work plans etc.;
• Managing the campaign budget in close co-ordination with FERN’s financial officer;
• Maintaining a proper filing system on issues relevant to the position;
• Ensuring FERN’s reputation as a professional organisation is maintained at all times.

B: PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Essential

• Proven ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with partner organisations in the Global South and specifically in the Congo Basin;
• Proven ability to be establish and maintain good relationships with civil servants and politicians at Member State and EU level;
• Experience of facilitating networks, developing joint positions and facilitating meetings involving a broad range of views, interest groups, and cultural approaches;
• A good understanding of the interface between environmental and social justice with a focus on forests;
• Excellent spoken and written French and English, including the ability to produce quality written documents in these languages;
• Project management and fundraising experience;
• The ability to work individually and within a team;
• The ability to manage a heavy workload and identify priorities;
• Willingness to travel frequently to other continents and FERN’s office in the UK.

Desirable

• A good understanding of the functioning of EU institutions;
• Knowledge of problems concerning participation and consultation processes, the recognition of customary rights, specifically in Africa;
• Experience in monitoring social and environmental safeguards as well as governance indicators;
• A good understanding of the political economy of FLEGT VPA and REDD.

If you'd like to further discuss the job, contact Saskia Ozinga at saskia@fern.org.

C: INDICATIVE SALARY

• From €39,840 to €49,440 annual gross salary, plus lunch vouchers (6€ per working day), contribution to travel costs from home to office, legal holidays money (double-pécule de vacances) equivalent to, approx. one month net salary.

D: HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be made in English and comprise a short covering letter explaining why you are interested in this job, including what attracts you to FERN and what you could bring to FERN and to this job specifically. Please also send a CV detailing all relevant work experience. 

Applications without a properly prepared covering letter will not be considered. Only selected candidates will be contacted.

Deadline for applications: 23rd March 2014
First interview day: 1st April 2014
Send applications to: julie@fern.org