JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
2 Biodiversity Specialists (f/m)
Background
Enabel is the Belgian development agency. It implements Belgium’s governmental cooperation. The agency also works for other national and international donors. With its partners in Belgium and abroad, Enabel offers solutions to address pressing global challenges – Climate Change, Urbanisation, Human Mobility, Peace and Security, Economic and Social Inequality – and to promote Global Citizenship. With 2,000 staff, Enabel manages about 170 projects in twenty countries, in Belgium, Africa and the Middle East.
In December 2021, the Swedish Embassy (SIDA) signed a funding agreement with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) /Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) for the implementation of the project of “Reducing vulnerability to climate change through enhanced community-based biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Province of Rwanda (COMBIO)” which is focusing on creating biodiversity interconnections of the various ecosystems and landscapes of the whole Eastern Province.
This Project will be aligned and complementary to the TREPA project (funded by the Green Climate Fund, https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp167 ).
COMBIO will be structured around and aimed at achieving the following outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Restored, enhanced, and protected biodiversity for increased climate resilience in productive and protective landscapes.
- Outcome 2: Improved livelihood of community through biodiversity-based enterprises and developed value chains.
- Outcome 3: Strengthened and coordinated community-based knowledge and National monitoring systems for biodiversity conservation.
Enabel, as implementing partner in collaboration with Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will support the following specific outputs:
Increased biodiversity in protected natural reserves and community natural Sancta, notably in i) supporting the selection of areas suitable for biodiversity sancta and the establishment and training of local community’s groups and the design of community management plans; ii) supporting local communities to integrate diversified and biodiversity supportive species in each sanctum; ii) contributing to develop nature discovery circuits in the sancta and training local guides for vulgarization
Community preferred /acceptable and profitable Biodiversity- based enterprises developed, notably by i) feasibility analysis of targeted value chain/enterprises, ii) building organizational capacity of targeted cooperatives, iii) developing their business management and financial capacity as well their linkages with potential markets, iv) support the establishment of product processing and storage equipment and facilities and v) train key operators on processing and maintenance technology and good practices.
To support these tasks, Enabel is recruiting 2 Biodiversity Specialists (f/m).
Duty station: Eastern Province
Duration of the contract: 12 months contract according to the Rwandan labour law, with possible extension depending on the project consortium needs and availability of funds.
Expected starting date: November 2022
Salary package according to our salary grids (class 5: Intervention Officer): From 1.852.952RWF gross salary depending on the number of years of relevant experience.
Function:
Under the direct supervision of Enabel’s Intervention Manager for DeSIRA, TREPA and COMBIO projects, and in collaboration with the SPIU Staff of RFA and technical team of IUCN, with the technical support of the International Biodiversity expert, the Specialist will assist the project in the identification, assessment and establishment of community biodiversity sanctuaries.
In general, (s)he will:
- Participate in the preparation of the work plans and timetables of the activities;
- Contribute to the necessary data collection required for the monitoring and evaluation system;
- In line with methodology defined by the project, under the supervision of the International Biodiversity expert and in collaboration with local authorities and communities, identify and assess (baseline assessment) sites eligible for the establishment of the biodiversity sanctuaries across the Eastern Province; and potential nature-based value chains that can be promoted.
- Prepare, organize and conduct awareness/training sessions, dedicated to local communities, on required topics related to biodiversity sancta and nature-based value chain opportunities, plans, activities, good management practices, etc.
- Support the organization of targeted sanctuary’s communities into well recognized and formalized cooperatives, and support the establishment and signature of MoUs between each cooperative and local authorities, defining the commitment and responsibilities of each party involved in the setting and management of the sanctuaries;
- Support sanctuary’s communities in the development of their participative biodiversity sancta establishment including biodiverse species selection (with emphasis on indigenous species), community nurseries and tree reproductive materials sourcing and multiplication, planting and management plans, with special attention to gender inclusion and description of activities supported by detailed maps and asset situation plans.
- Support sanctuary’s communities in the development of internal rules defining principles and management modalities (decision making, activity coordination, saving group and financial management procedures, inclusion/exclusion of members, penalties, rewards, etc.) to be followed by community group members;
- Train, support and supervise sanctuary’s communities in the implementation of restoration and management activities (native trees/shrub planting and maintenance, nursery and/or fruit orchard establishment and management, green paths and fences establishment, guarding, etc.);
- Contribute in any sensitization/awareness campaigns and in the training of local ecotourism guides as well as other nature-based value chains actors (like traditional healers association, honey bee producers and processors, etc….)
- Take part to and support the technical evaluation of the activities and the production of technical documents on analyses, lessons learned and recommendations on the interventions;
Profile:
qualification and experience
- Rwanda Citizen
- A Master’s degree in the fields of Biodiversity conservation, Ecosystems Management, Botanical sciences, Forestry/agroforestry, Environmental Management, or any other closely related field.
- At least 5 years of proven experience in community projects/program implementation, with at least 3 years of practical experience in the fields of biodiversity conservation, community ecotourism, forestry/agroforestry, and/or Natural Resource Systems Management and among which at least 2 years should be in Rwanda
Technical skills
- Excellent command in Kinyarwanda and of English, knowledge of French would be an additional asset.
- Strong interpersonal skills to mobilize communities and local actors training skills. Any experience with propagation of native tree species, landscapes design and establishment of botanical gardens will be considered as an asset.
- Good understanding of and experience with nature -based enterprises and value chains
- Good knowledge / understanding of international conventions on biodiversity principles and goals
- Good understanding and ability to implement a Theory of Change (ToC) Process in biodiversity restoration
attitude
- Proactive, innovative, and creative, with strong organizational and field activity coordination skills.
- Capacity to work in a multicultural context
- Ability to work independently to produce expected results
- Mature, good communicator and team player
- High level of rigor, integrity and willing to learn
- Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
Applicants are also required to commit to the vision, mission and values of Enabel (https://www.enabel.be/content/enabel-vision-mission-values) .
Following this recruitment procedure, a shortlist of successful applicants may be constituted which may be sourced in the next three years for similar job openings.
How to apply
Interested applicants fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria are invited to submit their application documents through Job in Rwanda “Appy” button below by “filling out the application form carefully”. including detailed Curriculum Vitae (max 5 pages), a motivation letter, and a copy of the University degree(s). Past and current service certificates also need to be attached to the application (unproven experience will not be considered during the shortlisting). Submit the full file not later than Tuesday 11th October 2022.
Enabel is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in its workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability status or any other factor other than competence.
Enabel never requests money to be part of any of the recruitment process.
Only successful applicants will be contacted.
Done at Kigali, 29th September 2022
Resident Representative, Enabel Rwanda
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