Environment and Climate Change Advisor

PURPOSE

Vi Agroforestry’s vision is ‘a sustainable environment that enables women and men living in poverty to improve their lives’; with a mission of ‘Fighting poverty and climate change – together.’ This is through agroforestry and strengthening farmer organisations to empower small holder farmers to reduce poverty, hunger and deforestation, while contributing to increased biodiversity.

The purpose of this position is to contribute to realisation of this vision and mission through shaping the narrative, influence and providing leadership on Agroforestry, ECCR and biodiversity matters locally, regionally and globally.

 This is through following specific objectives;

1. Follow the development of Agroforestry, ECCR (Environment, Climate Change and Resilience), food security and biodiversity among partners and in the countries where Vi Agroforestry has operations. Follow the global development of Agroforestry, ECCR, food security and biodiversity to update knowledge within the organisation including in shaping programming and providing technical support where needed.

2. Policy engagement at in the region and in countries where Vi Agroforestry operates. Develop policy briefs and opinion pieces that contribute to advocacy actions.
3. Support in strategic technical capacity building on Agroforestry, ECCR, food security and biodiversity among Vi Agroforestry staff and partner organisations.

 Vi Agroforestry is now recruiting an Environment and Climate Change Advisor to be based at the regional office of East Africa.

Main responsibilities

·      Provide overall advisory and coordination of the Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture Land Management for climate change adaptation, resilience, productivity, green growth and ongoing carbon projects.

·     Provide technical advice and guidance on environmental safeguards tools. 

·      Support and advise on climate change policy and advocacy in the East Africa Region.

·      Work with and provide advisory services, technical support and expertise to the Vi Agroforestry staff on the best ways of ensuring successful implementation of the Sustainable Agriculture based on agroforestry for Climate Change mitigation and adaptation component in the programme, projects and the organisations.

Technical Capacity Advice and Training 

• Offer guidance and support to the development and operations of Vi Agroforestry strategies, policies and position documents on matters related to environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation (Participate in formulation of policies on environment, operating standards and climate change issues).
• Offer technical advice and capacity building to regional programme, project staff and stakeholders on issues related to sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, environment and climate change interventions, policies and advocacy.
• Coordinate research and education programmes on issues related to sustainable agriculture, agroforestry and climate change together with the technical advisors.
• Empower staff on Sustainable Agriculture using Sustainable Agriculture Land Management (SALM) and Agroforestry practices that help farmers adapt and mitigate climate change.

Quality Assurance and Controls on climate change projects

• Follow up on ongoing carbon projects,
• Coordinate and offer quality assurance of the ongoing carbon compensation projects
• Participate in programmes and projects to ensure the integration of climate change issues, including Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Vi Agroforestry.
• Support monitoring and evaluation adaptive capacity to climate change during programme and projects development and implementation.
• Provide timely and cost-effective financial budgets for implementation.
• Establish, collaborate, maintain and develop networks/partnerships relating to food security, ECCR, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity at national and regional levels.

About you

As the Environment and climate advisor your task will be divided between the Regional office and the country offices. It is of great importance that you are responsive and able to adapt your approaches and priorities. You need to have excellent organizational, scheduling and planning skills and the ability to meet deadlines.

 Role

The Environment and Climate Change Adviser works under supervision of the Regional Director. She/he will work in close collaboration with the Heads of environment and climate change and country managers in the different countries to ensure that climate change adaptation and mitigation activities are effectively integrated within the development interventions of the strategies, programme, projects and organisation.

Required qualifications

Merits

·   A minimum of master’s degree in any one of the following fields: Environmental Studies, Agroforestry, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Agroforestry, Climate Change.

·     Any other relevant degrees in related thematic areas.

·     Professional experience of at least 5 years in the fields of agroforestry; food security; biodiversity; climate change adaptation and mitigation in smallholder agriculture in Eastern Africa or related fields.

·     Experience working for an NGO/INGO or similar. 

·     Strong conceptual and theoretical understanding of the rights-based approach and civil society development

·     Strong oral and written communication skills in English

Application

Apply at the latest 2021-01-04. Apply by uploading your CVand cover letter to impactpool.

Please note that you need to have a Kenyan work permit to be considered for this position. Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.

The employment is a two-year fixed-term contract at the national level, with the possibility of prolongation. You are expected to be available from 1^st March 2021

Vi Agroforestry works actively with diversity and inclusion in the organisation. We welcome applicants regardless of sex, gender identity or expression, race, colour, ethnicity, religious belief, political opinion, national extraction, social origin, HIV/AIDS status, age, disability, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, and/or trade union membership or activities.

For more Information

Please contact

The Regional Director: Gudrun Boström Gudrun.bostrom@Viagroforestry.org

If you have any technical difficulties uploading the application, please contact Impactpool. 

Misconduct

If you want to alert We Effect on suspected discriminiation, corruption or other serious misconduct during the recuritment process, do not hesitate to use our Whistleblowing System.