Project Officer: Policy and Advocacy at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya

Role summary
 
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Amboseli-Chyulu Sub Landscape Coordinator, the incumbent will coordinate  civil society advocacy, undertake policy development, providing analysis, advice, and provide support towards the delivery of the WWF projects under the Building Connectivity, Functionality & Impact Across the Southern Kenya Landscape (SOK), that include: BMZ II, Support to Conservancies, Restoration interventions (FLR), Reducing Illegal Wildlife crime (IWT),  and others related to ecological connectivity within the SoK, with emphasis in Amboseli-Chyullu Sub landscape, by supporting the Policy & Advocacy component as well as the CSOs engagement. The incumbent will work closely with the Project leads in the sub landscape and support overall CSOs engagement work within Southern Kenya Landscape, 
 
Major function

To co-lead the implementation/ management Policy & Advocacy programme component including CSOs advocacy and engagement as well as partnership building towards creation of an enabling environment for the delivery of high impact conservation results within the sub Landscape, and the SoK Landscape as a whole.  

Core Roles and responsibilities:

• Lead the Policy and Advocacy components of all the Projects within the sub landscape and SoK Landscape as required 
• Facilitate policy research and analysis, reviewing alternatives in relation to policy deliverables, to contribute to the policy process and to inform decision making at the SOK landscape level 
• Liaise and maintain regular contact with County government officials, politicians and policy makers on key policy issues within the SOK landscape 
• Manage the regular engagements with the local CSOs, Community and partners involved in the Projects, which include effective coordination and cooperation between project partners;
  • Review and collect essential baseline data, the co-creation of appropriate implementation approaches and the establishment of related monitoring systems.
• Work with WWF and Consortium partners at the County level to develop and/or adjust follow up workplans and budgets;
• Ensure the strong participation and benefitting of women and youth as well as people with disability in all project activities 
• Support the mapping, Capacity assessment and organizational development plans of CSOs working on NRM, and related sectors in SoK landscape 
• Advice, guide and facilitate training needs for the SoK landscape CSOs in line with the capacity building plans
• Oversee the implementation of activities supporting Amboseli-Chyulu sub landscape CSOs advocacy, alliance building, collaboration and networking 
• Facilitate, where appropriate the development of joint actions and initiatives emerging from County Level CSO collaboration and network 
• Oversee the overall delivery of the CSO engagement advocacy and or project activities within the SoK Landscape and ensure contractual compliance
  • Ensure, at the SoK Landscape, the confirmation and documentation of free, prior and informed consent of the target groups, the implementation and monitoring of safeguards according to WWF’s ESS Framework, the mitigation of identified risks and the establishment of a grievance mechanism in close cooperation with the respective WWF-Kenya focal persons 
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager

Key skills/competencies:

• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to network and to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels.
• CSO engagement skills
• Participatory appraisals 
• Ability to develop materials and learning outcomes for participating organisations at
• Sub landscape, Landscape levels where relevant
• Project management skills
• Organizational and communication skills
• Negotiation and contract management skills
• Basic financial management skills
• Strong interpersonal and public relational skills 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively under pressure of strict deadlines  
• Participatory Approaches; and Result Based Management
• Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.

Qualification and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in development studies, Political Science, natural resources management, or related subjects.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in Policy and Advocacy, with emphasis on natural resource management, 
• Demonstrated experience in CSOs capacity strengthening and partnership building in natural resource management, or related fields as well as experience in policy advocacy.