Manager Africa, GEF Project Agency at Conservation International

Job description

Position Summary

The Manager Africa, provides overall support to the CI-GEF Project Agency for the development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of GEF projects in Africa, implemented through the CI-GEF Project Agency. The focus will be on Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) projects. Currently these are being developed for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, Madagascar and Rwanda, but additional CBIT projects are expected. The Manager will furthermore support other CI-GEF Project Agency projects in Africa as required. This position will work with in-country partners including government agencies, CI field programs, partner NGOs, consultants or other entities and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• CI-GEF Project Development
• In Close Collaboration With CI-GEF Project Agency Staff
• Support the review of project concept ideas and Project Identification Forms (PIFs).
• Support capacity and risk assessments of executing agencies.
• Provide guidance to the executing agencies during the Project Preparation Grants (PPG), including: organizing PPG kick-off meetings; providing relevant documents; reviewing
• contracts, procurement packages, workplans, budgets, and progress reports.
• Support the review of Project Documents (ProDocs), including review of Environmental and Social Safeguard plans, budgets, and others as needed.
• CI-GEF Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
• In Close Collaboration With CI-GEF Project Agency Staff
• Review annual workplans and budgets.
• Review quarterly progress reports and budgets.
• Review yearly Project Implementation Reports (PIRs).
• Review procurement packages and contracts.
• Monitor co-financing.
• Support project finalization processes.
• Perform field visits when required.
• Capacity Building
• In Close Collaboration With CI-GEF Project Agency Staff
• Conduct/Support capacity building activities for Executing Agency staff and key partners, including training on Environmental and Social Safeguards, GEF project cycle, financial processes and requirements, procurement, budget preparation, contracting and granting.
• Support the preparation of capacity building materials.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Working Conditions

• This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• National/international travel up to 25% of the work time.

Required

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field.
• At least 4 years of experience working with project/program design, implementation, evaluation & monitoring in the areas of environment, conservation and/or development.
• Demonstrated experience with the implementation of projects in Africa.
• Demonstrated experience with the implementation of projects and programs funded by public donors.
• Some knowledge of the GEF and its functioning.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and synthetically across fields and topics.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Experience in cross-cultural consultation, training, capacity building and collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team environments and cultivate productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality products subject to strict deadlines.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills; including public speaking.
• Excellent team player
• Excellent computer skills, including but not limited to MS Office (Word, Excel, and Power Point).

Preferred

• Experience designing and implementing GEF projects.
• Adaptive management skills.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Working knowledge of French.