Africa Human Rights and Safeguards Manager at Nature Conservancy

What We Can Achieve Together

• The Africa Human Rights and Safeguards Manager will be responsible for strengthening a human rights-based approach in our conservation projects, strategies and partnerships with Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) in the Africa Region. In close collaboration with country and regional strategies, they will advise, and support country programs on IPLC rights and related issues, including country and regional portfolio development; social safeguards; and monitoring, evaluation and learning processes. In close collaboration with Director Human Rights in Conservation (global Equitable Conservation Team) they will be responsible for implementing human rights and environmental and social safeguards principles as proposed in the TNC Human Rights Policy and the TNC Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

• The Manager brings technical expertise and lived experience in Indigenous and community rights and equity across numerous priority focal areas connected to human rights and conservation in the region, including community participation and leadership, equality and non-discrimination, land tenure and access, security, gender and intergenerational equity, livelihoods, financial inclusion, human-wildlife conflict and market development. The Manager understands the promise and pitfalls of carbon sequestration and benefit-sharing, as well as protected are management, and they are able to navigate and articulate the tensions inherent in these global strategies to address climate change and reverse biodiversity loss in sub-Saharan Africa. They understand robust and culturally responsive monitoring and evaluation, and are comfortable with both qualitative and quantitative metrics. They know all pertinent UN rights frameworks, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and have a deep knowledge of Indigenous and community organization and claims-making in Africa. They advise country program teams on specific issues and are able to respond in a timely manner to questions and needs that arise.
• The Manager will lead the development of an integrated approach and management plan for the consistent application of TNC’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) and will work with Africa Gender Advisor to assess and mainstream processes projects, programs and strategies. They will serve as the Safeguards Advisor to project teams, and at times, lead the development and management of Terms of References (ToRs) and contracts for safeguards and/or gender consultants for large complex projects.
• The Manager builds on the deep experience of country programs and supports the Conservancy as a key partner in this space, building internal capacity and strengthening external partnerships in support of this work. Working closely with TNC IPLC teams in relevant country programs, across the Africa Region, and globally, they bring together guidance, best practices, case studies, templates, curricula and networking opportunities to support the adoption of key strategies and learning and sharing, to meet our commitments to respecting human rights in all our work. Working with Indigenous and community organizations, human rights organizations, donors, governments, academia, corporations and other non-profit organizations, they will help shift the paradigm of conservation through placing Indigenous and community rights and leadership at the center of our work at the regional level.
• The Manager will report directly to the Global Director of Human Rights in Conservation with dotted-line reporting to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Director Africa. They will collaborate with Safeguards colleagues across TNC in the development and application of tools, resources and frameworks. This position shall be based where TNC has a registered office in Africa; Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania or Zambia.

Responsibilities & Scope
Safeguards Implementation and Oversight:

• Manage the development of Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs) and Systems (ESMSs) for projects, supporting oversight of project-level ESMSs.
• Establish a project/strategy screening process to identify environmental and social risks, management structures for impact assessments (ESIA), and mitigation measure plans (ESMP) based on TNC policies, available guidance, and once finalized, the forthcoming organizational ESSF.
• Lead the screening assessment and risk categorization of project proposal environmental and social risks and impacts, based on TNC-wide policies/guidance and the AP Region ESMF.
• Provide project/strategy-level screening, recommendations, and oversight to environmental and social management materials developed by project teams.Lead the development and delivery of trainings, educational materials, and capacity building for TNC staff and partners or contractors on preventing human rights violations, promoting IPLC rights, and safeguards implementation.
• Guide teams in budgeting for safeguards and managing contracts with safeguards consultants.

Strategic Planning And Advisory

• Develop and implement long-term strategies to support rights-based approaches to conservation, aligning with the TNC Africa Region's goals and priority country programs.
• Provide timely advice and strategic decision-making in response to urgent situations, utilizing analysis, experience, and sound judgment.
• Consult with country programs on rights and equity-related needs in community-based conservation, including participation, leadership, equality, land tenure, and security.
• Collaborate with colleagues in cultivating partnerships with Indigenous and community organizations, human rights groups, governments, corporations, donors, academia, and non-profits, ensuring alignment with regional strategic plans.

Project Design And Management
Collaborate with Safeguards and Conservation colleagues to:

• Identify Indigenous and community rights risks and opportunities in conservation projects, with a focus on gender equity.
• Create and implement strategies to mitigate human rights risks and enhance opportunities in conservation projects, including advising on staff training.
• Establish monitoring protocols for rights and equity indicators, adapting to changing risks and opportunities.
• Develop inclusive Free Prior and Informed Consent processes, including data collection and analysis.
• Design and deliver training curricula for staff to promote Indigenous and community rights and prevent human rights violations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Travel domestically and internationally as required and work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Work in environments that involve minimal exposure to disagreeable elements and require minor physical exertion.

What You'll Bring
Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree and at least 7 years of experience in Indigenous and community rights practice or equivalent combination of education and experience, including at least 2 years working on environmental issues.
• In-depth Regional Experience and Extensive knowledge in engaging with Indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners; Areas of Expertise: Demonstrated experience in these critical areas:
  • Community engagement and leadership.
  • Human rights, equality, and non-discrimination principles.
  • Land tenure, access security, and gender equity.
  • Livelihoods and financial inclusion, Familiarity with major UN, regional, and national conventions relevant to IPLC engagement in Africa.
  • Addressing human-wildlife conflict, market development, and environmental issues such as carbon sequestration and protected area management.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience forming partnerships with various entities, including Indigenous groups, human rights organizations, governments, and academic institutions.
• Experience negotiating.

Desired Qualifications

• An advanced degree and over 10 years of experience in Indigenous and community rights practice or equivalent combination of education and experience, including at least 5 years working on environmental issues and or working on human rights in conservation.
• Experience in instruction design, movement building, collective action or related.
• Strategic planning and applied implementation experience.
• Proven ability to advise diverse stakeholders and build capacity, including designing and delivering educational materials and programs.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills and direct experience in stakeholder engagement.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English, French or Portuguese languages.
• Fluency in English
• Politically savvy and experienced in national-level policy discussions.