Technical Officer- Central African Forest Initiative

Central Africa is home to the second largest tropical rainforest in the world. Forest loss is accelerating despite ongoing efforts, as government action alone has not been sufficient to establish an effective balance between the interests of the forest and of economic development.

On this basis, a coalition of willing donors – Norway, European Union, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, and South Korea – together with Central African partner countries – Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Gabon – have entered in 2015 into a collaborative partnership to establish in partnership with the United Nations, the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). The objective of this initiative is to recognize and preserve the value of the forests in the region to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty, and contribute to sustainable development. This objective will be attained through the implementation of country-led, national scale REDD+ and Low Emissions Development (LED) investment frameworks that include policy reforms and measures to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable development.

The CAFI Trust Fund is the principal means to implement the Central African Forest Initiative. It is administered by the MPTF-Office (http://mptf.undp.org/factsheet/fund/AFI00). As per the updated Fund Terms of Reference and the direct cost Secretariat project document, the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) is hosting the CAFI Secretariat providing the secretariat administrative services under the oversight of the CAFI Executive Board and other participating UN organizations (UNDP, UNCDF, FAO, UN-Habitat, UNFPA, and UNEP).

On November 2, 2021, a 2nd Letter of Intent was signed between CAFI and the Government of DRC. CAFI. The programming of a new portfolio for the second phase of the partnership started. Meanwhile nearly 200 million US$ of investments are already implemented under the first Letter of Intent since 2016. In this context, CAFI is supporting the DRC government by providing advice to the planning and monitoring of CAFI investments and international technical assistance to strengthen national capacities.

The management of the CAFI Trust Fund is carried out at three levels:

• The Executive Board (EB), supported by the Secretariat, is responsible for overall coordination with CAFI Partner Countries and decisions regarding the allocation of resources from the CAFI Fund;
• UNDP MPTFO is responsible for administering the CAFI Fund; and
• UN agencies, the World Bank, bilateral cooperation agencies and international non-governmental organizations serve as Implementing Organizations to assist CAFI Partner Countries to implement NIFs that have been endorsed by the CAFI Board.

Reporting to the Chief of Programming, the Technical Advisor (Programming) is primarily responsible for the development and quality assurance of CAFI-funded programs. He/she will supervise the CAFI experts in charge of programming and monitoring and evaluation of the portfolio in the DRC, as well as work closely with and strengthen the capacities of the staff in charge of programming and M&E in the national coordination structures.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Contribute to the development of the new CAFI programmatic portfolio, to secure available funding and demonstrate the need for additional funding

• Identify and assess needs and priority areas for investment.
• Identify, propose and implement results-based operational approaches,
• Draft guidance notes and terms of reference for calls for expressions of interest/proposals, ensuring achievement of the deliverables and milestones defined in the letter of intent signed with CAFI.
• Establish criteria for evaluating EOIs and program proposals
• Establish criteria, guidelines and operational systems to increase the accountability of executing agencies for achieving results and delegating implementation to operators, including national operators.
• Coordinate the technical review of bids so that i) bidders have recommendations for improving their bids, ii) the Technical Committee can make a robust and informed assessment of bids and make informed decisions on program approval.

2. Contribute to the overall quality assurance and oversight of the CAFI portfolio (incl. the existing FONAREDD portfolio funded by CAFI), by developing results-based management systems

• Promote a spatialized management and monitoring system, and the use of technology for efficient operational modalities and systematize results monitoring
• Ensure that agencies comply with the CAFI and National REDD Investment Plan results frameworks.
• Participate in the steering committees of the portfolio’s projects, ensure the production of quality PTBAs and monitor their implementation.
• Ensure that the agencies respect the Cancun guarantees.
• Oversee the technical content of the items on the Technical Committee agenda.
• Identify and alert CAFI and the Technical Committee to delays in program implementation, as well as risks of not meeting LOI milestones, proposing appropriate corrective actions and mitigation measures to reduce them.
• Oversee the regular conduct of independent evaluations of projects (TORs, recruitment of experts, quality control of deliverables, follow-up on recommendations, etc.).
• Oversee the monitoring of projects and support the consolidation of the Fund’s annual activity and performance reports. Consolidation of program and global reports to be submitted to the MPTF as well as semi-annual program reports.
• Provide technical content for the LOI implementation milestone monitoring matrix.

3. Knowledge management and sharing

• Ensure capacity to produce in-depth technical analysis and advice to stakeholders, mobilizing the necessary expertise (supporting consultants, roster, etc)
• Analyze and synthesize lessons learned and stimulate the adoption of best practices and knowledge, including the development of guidelines and other knowledge material.
• Stimulate knowledge management on results-based implementation approaches based on existing and operational experiences in DRC, as well as lessons learned from the portfolio.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products on relevant technical issues.
• Peer review, comment on and seek to improve the technical quality of programs/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and others.
• Respond to questions about project progress, impacts, and lessons learned.

Competencies

Core: Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously:

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility:

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination:

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner:

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

2030 Agenda: Planet – Nature, Climate and Energy:

• Climate and Forests: Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.

Finance – Development finance expertise:

• Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc.

2030 Agenda: Peace – Nature, Climate and Energy:

• Energy efficiency concepts, renewable energy, access to energy; technologies and practical application.

Business Development – UNDP representation:

• Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.

Partnership management – Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding:

• Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

Partnership management – Resource mobilization:

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness – Effectiveness:

• Project Quality Assurance.

2030 Agenda: Engagement – Effectiveness:

• RBM standards and practices for programming.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in development, environment, land use, agronomy, or equivalent fields/ Relevant.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience at the international level in the development and management of large-scale programs/projects on land use, natural resource management, agriculture, environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sectoral, if possible national, land use issues: spatial planning dynamics, land access and use, forest management, agricultural practices, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation of large-scale programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the management and programming modalities of United Nations organizations, the World Bank and bilateral cooperation.
• Knowledge of Central Africa in general is essential and of the DRC in particular is an asset.
• Good ability to use current software (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Internet).

Language:

• Fluency in French and English is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

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