The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:  Senior Programme Officer – BIODEV2030

Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Country Representative

About US:

Created in 1948, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has evolved into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. Our Members include expert and influential government,    non-government and Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations from over 160 countries, and our Commissions draw upon more than 15,000 experts worldwide. IUCN is the only institution that brings governments and civil society together with one purpose: to advance sustainable development and create a just world that values and conserves nature. The Union’s diversity, depth and reach give its decisions a powerful mandate and its actions profound impact.

Job Summary:   The Senior Programme Officer, BIODEV2030 will work closely with the Regional Programme Coordinator, Senior Management Team and relevant IUCN ESARO staff. They will work externally with public authorities at national and local level, business leaders, professional and sectoral associations, CSOs and CSO networks, academics, financial players The Senior Programme Officer, BIODEV2030 will be the project’s focal point in his/her country. He/she will work under the supervision of the Country Representative, Uganda and collaborate closely with regional colleagues (coordination of regional programmes, strategic partnerships, etc.). He/she will coordinate and work with the project officers in the 15 other countries and with the global team, based in Gland (Switzerland), coordinating the project with the donor.

Overall responsibilities:

Ensure that the strategy for this second phase of the BIODEV2030 project is adapted to the national context, mobilize the relevant national players and resources and implement the project in Uganda, in close collaboration with the National CBD Focal Point.

In particular:

• Create and/or maintain quality relations with the Ministries concerned and with all stakeholders (territorial authorities, academics, private sector, CSOs including IUCN members, donors and other financial players, institutional partners and project teams working on similar subjects, etc.) necessary for successful multi-stakeholder dialogue;
• Ensuring the smooth running of the multi-stakeholder platforms, in support of the Ministries;
• Developing briefing notes on sectoral public policy instruments to provide input for the authorities’ discussions on changes in practices in the target sectors;
• Take responsibility for the steering, administrative management and reporting of the project in compliance with IUCN and donor rules;
• Ensure coordination with the global team, other IUCN programmes, colleagues and partners working on BIODEV2030 in other countries, to maximize synergies and share good practice;
• Contribute to the advocacy for the adoption of productive practices in favour of biodiversity in country xx and to the implementation of adequate communication with the communication teams.

The assignment will involve travelling around the country as necessary to meet the various stakeholders at national and local level and to run workshops.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the BIODEV2030 phase 2 strategy is adapted to the national context, mobilize the relevant national players and resources and implement the project, in close collaboration and with the support of the Country Representative, and in coordination with the regional and global project teams;
• During the launch phase, facilitate the emergence of a consensus between stakeholders on the strategy and priorities for phase 2 (sectoral public policies to be studied, choice of pilot territory, etc.) based in particular on the diagnoses and results obtained during phase 1 and working closely with the National CBD Focal Point;
• Identify the contacts and establish relations with the government of Uganda (Ministry of the Environment, but also sectoral ministries and the Ministry of the Economy and Finance), the territorial authorities and all the stakeholders (such as, in particular but not exclusively, local businesses, sectoral associations, trade unions, members of the IUCN and CSOs, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, academics) that are relevant and necessary to the implementation of the project;
• Facilitate and ensure the smooth running of the national and regional multi-stakeholder platforms, ensuring that the exchanges are participatory, inclusive and based on science, and that the stakeholders take ownership of them;
• To develop briefing notes on sectoral public policy instruments in the priority sectors in order to provide input for discussions on changing practices in the target sectors;
• Act as BIODEV2030’s ambassador to institutional and financial partners (such as the FAO, IFAD, the European Union, the World Bank, bilateral public development banks, UNDP, etc., as well as the French Embassy and AFD) that manage or finance projects that present opportunities for synergy, as well as to all financial players (such as development banks and commercial banks) to promote the adoption of best practices for biodiversity;
• Contribute to advocacy for the adoption of biodiversity-friendly production practices in the country by developing and supporting the implementation of appropriate communication with the communication teams;
• Contribute to position IUCN as a key partner for Governments and other strategic stakeholders in the region, in facilitating the domestication of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into the national framework and its implementation.
• Ensure the planning, preparation and implementation of BIODEV2030 activities in the country:
• Working closely with the regional project coordinator and the global team based in Switzerland, prepare and update the project work plan, ensure technical and budgetary planning and organize the necessary initiatives;
• Develop the terms of reference for the workshops and the various services required to implement the activities;
• Ensure compliance with procurement procedures and other IUCN and donor guidelines;
• Monitor and report on activities, ensuring compliance with the donor’s contractual requirements in terms of deadlines, including the submission of interim technical and financial reports.
• Contribute to the dissemination of learning and good practice, to support the building of a regional community of practice around multi-stakeholder commitments for biodiversity:
• Participate in webinars and workshops proposed by the project coordination team (Expertise France, IUCN, WWF-France) to exchange on the project method, share acquired knowledge and feedback, in order to feed the community of practice;
• Liaise with IUCN global, regional and local programme teams and, depending on the subject, with Expertise France and WWF partners, to share information and feedback throughout the project and as often as necessary;
• Support the project’s overall communication strategy by helping to identify local initiatives and champions likely to contribute to BIODEV2030’s advocacy for the adoption of biodiversity-friendly production practices at major events (COP16, IUCN Congress);
• Ensure that IUCN’s work to promote the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and its integration into the national framework is effectively shared and widely disseminated.

Other Duties;

• Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by, and mutually agreed with, the line manager.
• Facilitate field visits for internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a post-graduate degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, or other related fields, MBA a plus
• Eight years of work experience in working with public, CSOs and private sector stakeholders on conservation and/or sustainability including significant project management experience
• Further experience in public and private sector engagement on policy
• Good overview of the biodiversity legal and institutional framework in Uganda
• Demonstrated experience in building alliances, initiatives or platforms for change that leverage the capacity of partners
• Evidence of agile proactive thinking combined with an optimistic approach within a realistic framework
• Ability to draft policy briefs and summaries based on reports and studies
• Budget management with a good knowledge of the requirements of the main international donors
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Strong team player and good ability to use internal and external networks
• An understanding of the importance of working alongside indigenous peoples and local communities to deliver the best conservation outcomes
• Knowledge of policies and approaches aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples and local communities
• Fluency in English, a workable knowledge of French would be a plus;

Behavioral Skills;

• Adheres to IUCN’s values: transparency, public participation, full respect for human rights, rule of law, promoting gender equality and empowerment of women, commitment to excellence, environmental responsibility, integrity and ethical behavior
• Proactive approach to meeting deadlines and delivering results with limited supervision

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, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.

How to Apply:

All applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the “Apply” button at the link below.

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Deadline: 31^st December 2023

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