Openings at International Union for Conservation of Nature

JOB DESCRIPTION
In that context, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:
Strategic leadership and portfolio development:

• Lead the identification and development of project opportunities in close collaboration regional, global and thematic experts, under the overall guidance of the Regional Director and the Director Multilateral Finance Unit. This includes acting as the IUCN main counterpart to the GEF, GCF and stakeholders in the design of these projects;
• Lead the work to identify niche markets in Regional Programme and Centres for multilateral environment funds (GEF, GCF, Others) funded projects and activities in close collaboration with regional, global and thematic experts.;
• Collaborate with other Portfolio Managers across the Secretariat and other staff involved in the management the GEF and GCF programmes to identify strategic opportunities and ways of enhancing effectiveness and quality of the programme;
• Lead the coordination of projects preparation with relevant experts and stakeholders;
• Technical quality oversight of proposals including meeting respective Funds requirements, including their paradigm shift, transformative effects and incremental cost reasoning;
• Lead fundraising for project preparation and co-financing when required;
• Oversee the submission and approval of projects under his/her responsibility, including addressing all project reviews by the Fund’s Secretariat.

Portfolio management, oversight and technical supervision:

• Lead negotiations on all implementing arrangements with partners and executing agencies, ensuring those are established in due time for timely implementation;
• Oversee project launches, including the establishment of steering committees and project management units in coordination with Country Offices where relevant;
• Approve work plans submitted by the project executing agency(ies). This can include interaction with senior officials from the public and the private sector;
• Represent IUCN in Steering Committees as appropriate;
• Coordinate IUCN teams (including thematic, corporate and regional expertise) in charge of supervising projects;
• Report to regional and global IUCN governing bodies related to the portfolio (ie: regional steering committees chaired by the Regional Director);
• Responsible for the preparation of disbursements requests to the Funds and their submission in a timely manner, liaising with IUCN and projects finance teams
• Coordinate with the environment and social management system (ESMS) expert/s to guarantee that ESIA and ESMPs are done and implemented;
• Keep Regional Director and Multilateral Finance Unit Director informed in a timely manner about any risks detected.
• Advise project’s executing agency/ies on the application of relevant policies (procurement, financial management, stakeholders’ involvement;
• Ensure, in collaboration with finance, there is enough financial resources and reserves (from the fees) to provide oversight to each project and initiative, innovate and mitigate risks;
• Mobilize expertise within and outside IUCN depending on project needs for supervision and oversight;
• Responsible for all monitoring, supervision and reporting related to the project cycle;
• Responsible to deliver agreed target results at project and portfolio level;
• Provide strategic input to support the accreditation requirements under these Funds.

Communication, outreach and knowledge management

• Lead and steer the development of partnerships on innovative approaches under the remit of the regional portfolio;
• At the request of the Regional / Multilateral Finance Unit Director Represent IUCN alone and/or along other IUCN experts in the context of the Funds’ partnerships, including in thematic meetings organized by these two funds;
• Engage with relevant experts and stakeholders within the IUCN, and the Funds’ communities of practices, including the Funds’ secretariat, donors, recipients and agencies;
• Oversee the development of communication materials which can highlight results of the project and the portfolio;
• Ensure projects and initiatives contribute to IUCN knowledge management strategy.
• Work collaboratively with other relevant colleagues at regional and corporate level

People Management

• When relevant, and under the guidance of the Regional Director and the Director Multilateral Finance Unit, hire and manage directly staff under his/her responsibility;
• Lead training and mentoring relevant to staff on best practices for engaging and managing a portfolio of projects funded by the GEF, the GCF or others that would fall under his/her responsibility;
• Lead by example by ensuring IUCN’s core values are applied consistently at all times.
• Responsible to maintain a conducing work environment free of harassment;

REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree or higher in a field relevant to environment and development, including natural resources management, environment science, environmental economics, or equivalent
• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English. Other IUCN languages (French, Spanish) represent an asset
• 10 years of experience in the design and implementation of large, complex natural resource management projects funded by multilateral funds including the GEF or the GCF, especially those focusing on forest conservation, sustainable management and restoration, water and marine resources management, land and ecosystems management
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in the Region
• Knowledge and experience in the various finance instruments (grant and non-grant) in order to perform analysis and provide advices on the most appropriate instrument to

Track record in delivering large scale portfolio

• Demonstrated technical understanding and expertise across range of themes and issues relevant to global programmes including environmental economics, sustainable forest management, restoration, land management, water resources management, climate change, natural resource governance, and biodiversity conservation
• Demonstrated ability to interact with and mobilize private sector partners in IUCN related activities
• Demonstrated experience in results-based management, including fiduciary matters and environmental and social safeguards
• Experience in budget and people management in an international and multicultural set-up
• -Strong network of relevant professional relationships, including those with donors and technical partners
• Knowledge of and work with IUCN and partners

Closing date:  30 June 2023

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JOB DESCRIPTION
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reporting to Country Representative, Kenya, the Technical Advisor, Integrated Water Resources Management will work with relevant project with the TWENDE team, county government staffs, service providers, local communities, Water Resources Authority (WRA), DAI partners/staff and IUCN staff from the regional and Kenya country offices as an IUCN technical lead for water management and development interventions both planning and technical delivery.
• The Technical Advisor, Integrated Water Resources Management will be responsible for technical and operational delivery of key objectives of the IUCN component of the STAWI project.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Under the direction of the Country Representative, Kenya and ESARO Water Programme Officer, the specific responsibilities of the Technical Advisor, Integrated Water Resources Management are to:

Project Management;

• Facilitate the preparation of detailed work plans, budgets and schedules for project activities implementation in collaboration with partners and stakeholders;
• Assist in processes related to inception, contracting and start-up of activities including establishment of indicators, benchmarks, work plans and inception workshops;
• Coordinate and monitor the administration of project budgets and work plans according to approved external contracts and internal agreements, work plans, internal procedures and policies, and donor requirements;
• Lead the organization’s field level workshops and similar events.

Technical Direction and Capacity building;

• Support the development of evidence-based water allocation plans through synthesis of data to develop water balances for target counties.
• Assess the potential for nature-based solutions that will increase water supply for drinking and productive uses
• Design specific watershed restoration interventions
• Generate potential financing options for watershed protection measures.
• Support the capacity building for WRA and Counties to implement the water allocation plans and the sub-catchment management plans (SCMPs).
• Develop policy-relevant materials to communicate the relevant information arising from STAWI to stakeholders.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Communications and Knowledge Management;

• In coordination with M&E Officer, develop and apply the projects monitoring instruments and systems.
• Contribute development and timely submission of all required IUCN reports
• Undertake regular visits to project sites, evaluate programmatic outputs, and impacts both quantitatively and in terms of quality implementation.
• Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned and develop communication materials for dissemination to target audiences.

Fundraising and Project Development;

• Support the identification of new funding opportunities to scale-out project activities in the water sector
• Support networking with key development partners, national institutions and NGOs to support project implementation.
• Keep abreast of development needs and Programme opportunities in the landscape including those in line with IUCN’s sectoral priorities and programmatic principles.

Representation;

• Network and liaise with all the partners and potential partners, developing and maintaining partnerships and strong relationships across all sectors (including the private sector).
• Maintain good working relationships with MDAs, non-state actors, private sector, community leadership and visiting donor teams
• Represent IUCN on issues at strategic, political and technical meetings, seminars and other events and processes as may be required from time to time.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Programme Managers

REQUIREMENTS
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education;

• Masters in a relevant field preferably, Water Resources Management, Environmental Studies, Hydrology, Natural resources management.
• Knowledge on issues related to sustainable agriculture, climate change, will be an added advantage.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of the water sector in Kenya and related topics such as biodiversity conservation, forest landscape restoration, natural resources management, climate change/REDD+, governance, or in sustainable development.
• Practical knowledge in the implementation of field projects, with linkages to national policy processes and programmes.
• Knowledge in fundraising and resource mobilization.
• Understanding of Multi-Stakeholder Processes, Creation and Facilitation Dialogues, Partnerships and Synergies;

Work Experience;

• At least 7 years of technical experience in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM);
• Demonstrated experience in adaptive management, as applied to climate change adaptation projects and ecosystems management;
• Work experience in the Kenya water sector is preferable;
• Demonstrable experience in working in ASALs of Kenya;
• Demonstrable experience in political, advisory and facilitation skills;
• Demonstrable experience in engaging with governmental institutions at county and national levels especially in the water, natural resources and environment sector;
• Experience in working with or engaging with the private sector is an asset;
• Excellent technical leadership and understanding of surface water, catchment planning, ground water, water legislation and regulations;
• Maintaining active networks on IWRM and related topics with donors, government and other stakeholders at national/county level;
• Demonstrated affinity with the social, political, gender aspects of catchment-level IWRM;
• Experience in working for an international organization is an added advantage
• Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools

Language Requirements;

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili (both written and verbal).

Closing date:  29 June 2023