L’Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature recrute un Administrateur de programme, Zimbabwe
BACKGROUND:
Southern Africa is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, which affects water availability, the integrity of ecosystems, food and livelihood security and human health. This vulnerability stems from a number of factors. First, Southern African countries are highly exposed to climate risks including increased rainfall variability, floods, droughts, extreme temperatures and, in the case of coastal countries, cyclones. The devastating 2019 cyclones Idai and Kenneth, which killed more than 1,000 people and led to agricultural losses of at least USD 141 million in Mozambique alone, are only one recent example. This requires both short-term, emergency response efforts and investments in adaptation for the longer term. Poverty rates remain high, with Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe having 21-62% of the population living below the poverty line, based on World Bank data. About 70% of the region’s population depends on agriculture for food and income, making people’s livelihoods reliant on rainfall. Land degradation, coupled with pollution and poor management of natural resources, have reduced the resilience of ecosystems and the people that depend on them. Social inequalities, notably based on gender, also exacerbate vulnerability across the region, constraining access to information, resources and decision-making power.
Over the last few years, a number of projects and programs have promoted community-based adaptation (CBA) approaches across the region, in an effort to reduce local vulnerability to immediate as well as future climate change impacts. However, implementation of CBA at scale has not occurred. Many of these initiatives have operated as pilots, achieving localized impacts and generating useful learning, but without putting in place the systems and capacities for sustained implementation and institutionalization of the approaches. Another challenge is the disconnect between national-level policy processes and the realities on the ground in communities – even when good policies are in place, implementation is often lacking. Sub-national governments, the essential link between the local and national levels, are under-resourced and over-stretched and lack the capacity to bridge this gap. As decentralization processes advance, their role will only become more important, making it essential that they have the resources and capacities to support climate-resilient development in the communities they govern.
In this regard the IUCN and its programme partners, will implement a BMU-IKI funded project: Community-Based Adaptation: Scaling up Community Action for Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Southern Africa and Beyond (CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+) in Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe between 2023 and 2027. The overall objective of the intervention is to building climate resilience, including: the integration of adaptation (incl. disaster risk reduction) in policies, planning and budgets at different levels; promote actions to build climate resilience and address climate risks in key sectors such as water, agriculture and fisheries; strengthening climate information, early warning and disaster management systems; and ecosystem and biodiversity protection; among others.The expected outcome of the project is increased resilience to climate change, for all genders and social groups, in over 100 communities of different size in Southern Africa. Inclusive, gender-responsive and nature-based planning and implementation of CBA actions will target over 500,000 community members in managing climate-related risks to human security, livelihoods and food security. Through learning networks and knowledge dissemination we will engage another 100+ communities.
The Programme Administrator will provide effective and efficient administrative and program assistance to the project team for the Zimbabwean team, which will be working both at national level and local level in Masvingo Province (particularly in the project sites of Bikita and Chiredzi). S/he will be responsible for smooth operations of related systems within the programme work unit and will work closely with the Admin & Finance team ensuring payments are requested in time, in accordance with allocated budgets. She/he will backstop other Program Assistants and Interns where necessary.
JOB DESCRIPTION
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
- More specifically, the roles and responsibilities of the Programme Administrator are as follows:
- Procurement;
- Arrange for procurement of equipment, supplies and services for offices and project sites and ensures that contractual processes follow the stipulated IUCN Internal Control System procedures.
- Assist with Programme procurement and ensures that contractual processes follow the stipulated IUCN procurement procedures: This includes preparation of consultants’ contracts, obtaining clearance, approval in accordance to Internal Control System (ICS) procedures and tracking of contracts disbursements for consultants/specialists engaged by the Programmes/projects;
- Establish and maintain a proper inventory of project assets register, including numbering, recording, and reporting;
- Programme implementation;
- Support the implementation of project activities and support implementation of activities where needed.
- Monitor expenditure for projects, avoiding both under spending and overspending on budget line items.
- Compile outcomes of meetings and workshops with stakeholders and disseminate communication material.
- Support the mainstreaming of gender equality through all Programme field activities
- Provide logistical support to Programme activities (trainings, meetings, conferences and workshops), making sure that all aspects and details of such events are covered. This includes coordination and/or preparing relevant background documentations for related events.
- Support the Programme team with meeting minutes and follow-up action points from Program Unit meetings, conferences and workshops.
- Assist in the day-to-day implementation of the Programme as needed and requested by the Programme manager.
- Administration support/Financial management;
- Assist the program team on general administrative matters
- Provides logistical support to programme activities (flights, procurement of workshop material, conference booking). This includes coordination and/or preparing relevant background documentations for related events.
- Support the programme team with follow-up action points from Program Unit meetings, conferences and workshops
- Review Programme invoices and financial reports for the aforementioned Programme. Ensure documentation is completed to the highest of standard prior to sending to the Finance department.
- Act as liaison between the Program Unit and the Corporate Services on all financial and administrative matters.
REQUIREMENTS
• REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES
Education and Work Experience;
Bachelor’s Degree related to natural resources management, development studies, gender, environment or project management
A post graduate qualification is an advantage
A minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in a project context, preferably in the non-profit sector
Proficiency in using advanced computer applications
Some experience in capacity building and/or participatory community approaches is desired
Knowledge of gender mainstreaming
Excellent communication and writing skills
Bachelor’s Degree related to natural resources management, development studies, gender, environment or project management
A post graduate qualification is an advantage
A minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in a project context, preferably in the non-profit sector
Proficiency in using advanced computer applications
Some experience in capacity building and/or participatory community approaches is desired
Knowledge of gender mainstreaming
Excellent communication and writing skills
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
Fluency in one other local language in Zimbabwe is a must
Fluency in one other local language in Zimbabwe is a must
Core Competencies;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions.
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions.
Functional competencies;
Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated with the ability to multi-task and prioritize needs
Possess energy, drive, enthusiasm, commitment and passion for high quality work.
Proven interpersonal skills and be to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
Must be dependable, a good team player and able to work independently as well as have the ability to learn quickly and expand scope of functions;
Capacity to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines and produce high quality documents at short notice.
Excellent writing and communication skills
Willingness to travel.
Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated with the ability to multi-task and prioritize needs
Possess energy, drive, enthusiasm, commitment and passion for high quality work.
Proven interpersonal skills and be to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
Must be dependable, a good team player and able to work independently as well as have the ability to learn quickly and expand scope of functions;
Capacity to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines and produce high quality documents at short notice.
Excellent writing and communication skills
Willingness to travel.
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). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.