Natural Resources Management Officers at Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI)

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Natural Resources Management Officer  Locations: Damaturu and Geidam LGA - Yobe Slots: 2 Openings

Main Duties / Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager, and in collaboration with the Project Managers, and other collaborators of the projects and Head of the Base, he/she will:

• Collect, compile, analyse and interpret environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation related data, thorough research of the evidence-based issues in the country and production of relevant reports including National Human Development Report;
• Preparation of analytical document and background information on environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation for the policy debates within the overarching COOPI Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy framework;
• Support policy dialogue on environment, NRM and biodiversity related issues with the government, development partners, civil society, the private sector; contributions to development of policies as relevant;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks through identification of best practices, lessons learned, and other related communication materials.
• Contribute to COOPI in the process of programming and pipeline formulation related to environment and NRM issues:
• Coordinate and organize stakeholder meetings/events/workshops to discuss priority issues within environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation with key stakeholders;
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and communications in the areas of environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation.
• Advises program team in the preparation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, studies and strategies, and in the formulation of sector and/or sub-sector plans and programmes.
• Advises on developing inclusive and sustainable food systems, involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and government.
• Leads the formulation and delivery of capacity development strategies and activities in the areas of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Technical and operational support to program implementation
• Conduct regular program field visits and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of COOPI and WFP policies, strategies, processes and best practices on NRM related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results.
• Conduct regular program field visits and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of COOPI and WFP policies, strategies, processes and best practices on NRM related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results.
• Treat beneficiaries with dignity and apply COOPI’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the field, including sensitizing Field Monitors and vendors/agents on such principles.
• Program management, monitoring and delivery of results.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for NRM activities.
• Support and lead strategies that promote effective best management practices in micro and small enterprise in natural resources value chains such as Fisheries, Agriculture, Forestry and renewable energy.
• Periodically prepare discussion or occasional papers on environmental themes and issues that are of pressing nature, including key environmental impacts and drivers most businesses are likely to face in the short, medium and long run.
• Support the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan including capacity development activities with technical training partner and youth business owners.
• Lead and facilitate trainings for project partners, staff and IGAs on general environmental sustainability and environmental responsibility.
• Develop environmental training materials (script, digital, audiovisual, etc.) as necessary.
• Assist partner organizations and SMEs to develop and implement environmental action plans (EAPs) to mitigate current and future environmental impact of their green businesses.
• Support research of best management practices and target value chains as needed.
• Support reporting and documenting environmental performance within the project’s monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Highlight impacts of policies and regulatory measures of governments on the environment, particularly as related to natural resource management.
• Partnerships building and knowledge management.
• Coordinate project support for the government and stakeholders for the ongoing works related to environment, NRM and biodiversity conservation:
• Design roadmaps and annual work plans of activities related to environment and NRM;
• Develop ToRs of, and supervise relevant consultants and provide quality assurance;
• Formulation, implementation support and evaluation of operations (projects and programmes) in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, as well as strategic and policy work, with a focus on sustainable natural resources management and concerned institutions, including land, water, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, biological diversity and other environmental services and related livelihoods activities, in addition to addressing climate change and resilience matters.
• Provides substantial contributions to food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing strategies, plans and operations for their investment implications, technical and environmental feasibility and compliance with national policies and priorities.
• Leads the identification of constraints and opportunities for enhancing the management of natural resource systems with emphasis on sustainability of environmental, social and economic impact, strengthening natural resource management institutions and organizations, including the participation of stakeholders and users, relationships to natural resource based livelihoods, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation as well as resilience and disaster risk reduction and management.
• Leads the design of natural resource management related activities and components of investment operations, including systems of implementation support and monitoring and evaluation of the natural resource management and environmental impacts of agricultural and rural development projects.
• Advises on the environmental sustainability and natural resource management improvements to existing farming, livelihoods and resource use systems, and helps defining the natural resource management technical parameters for financial and economic analysis.
• Leads or advises on the design process for investment projects working at the nexus between agriculture and environment, to achieve both increased agriculture production and significant environmental benefits.

Key Results Provision of technical advice and capacity development for:

• Implementation support and evaluation of investment operations, in accordance with the COOPI and WFP CSP Strategic Framework.
• Performing other duties as requested by the supervisor.
• The design of investment operations, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to mobilize resources for food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing; and

Profile of the Candidate (Education, Training, Competences, Skills) Minimum Requirements:

• Ability to engage with participants and help them to translate their acquired knowledge into action.
• Strong interpersonal skills, consistency in follow-up, ability to work with diverse teams, capability and initiative to provide timely technical advice and independent ability to facilitate coordinated planning and subsequent follow-up on implementation and reporting;
• Identifies early warning indicators and reacts on them;
• Demonstrated ability to deal with multidisciplinary/multicultural team;
• Proven capacity to coordinate and communicate with Government officials and cooperating partners.
• Advanced University Degree in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Ecology, Biological Sciences or a related field in environment and NRM, biodiversity conservation
• Experience in development, policy and research work in the area of environment and NRM, biodiversity conservation, and related issues. Prior project management experiences are an asset;
• Knowledge on and experience with various learning styles including adult education.

Essential:

• Excellent communication, writing and analytical skills.
• Experience designing and leading capacity building and training for national teams.
• Excellent communication, coordination and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work in a team, and establish effective working relationships with person of different national and culture background.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner.
• Previous work experience with INGOs and UN Organization is desirable
• Be professional, motivated, flexible and culturally sensitive
• Be excellent in communication skills and proficient in report writing
• Be resident and familiar with the terrain in the Northeast Nigeria.
• Experience designing and leading capacity building and training for national teams.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office programming (Access, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, and Word).

Preferred:

• Willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Previous experience with similar position
• Knowledge of the local language (Hausa and Kanuri).

This ToR shall be inclusive of any other task specifically assigned by the Project Manager and direct supervisor for what concerns the implementation of the program activities.

 

How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply  

Damaturu, Yobe State