Farm Africa Community Development Facilitator Jobs in Ethiopia

Farm Africa Community Development Facilitator

Jobs in Ethiopia

Job Id: 225676

Category: Environment and Natural Resource

Location: Bale (Goba, Gololcha and Harena Buluk), Oromia

Career Level: Mid Level ( 2+ - 5 years experience)

Salary:

Job Description

About Farm Africa

Effective agriculture has the power to change lives. It underpins prosperity, food security and stability the world over. Farm Africa focuses on transforming agriculture and managing natural resources sustainably.

We champion a holistic approach that boosts yields, protects the environment and connects smallholder farmers to thriving markets.

We work with different types of farmers in a range of regions. Their local situations vary, but the problems they face are all too familiar: lack of training and technology, inadequate inputs, no finance, vulnerability to climate change and poor links to markets.

We have an ambitious strategy to expand our work over the next five years. We’ll increase our impact. Lift more communities out of poverty. Work with more corporate partners who share our vision. Open up more agricultural markets. Provide more expertise.

We’ll make change happen.

Background

Farm Africa and SOS Sahel Ethiopia have been implementing the Bale Eco-region REDD+ Project since 2013. The first phase of the project is successfully finished, and now entering into a second phase (2017-2019).

The first phase of the project has demonstrated a model for institution building for integrated PFM-REDD+ implementation that has been adopted by the national REDD+ programme of the Government of Ethiopia.

The current project, the Bale Eco-region REDD+ Project Phase II - funded by The Royal Norwegian Embassy – builds on the progresses and achievements made in Phase I, and will be a crucial stage in ensuring the sustainability of Bale REDD+ project initiative through a gradual integration or nesting of it into the jurisdictional Oromia Forested Landscape Program (OFLP).

Phase II is also designed with the objective of making Bale REDD+ project to continue becoming the knowledge hub for REDD+ best practices in the country.

Phase II applies a process of reviewing and learning potential and risks of including sustainable timber production into PFM-REDD+ implementation so as to make it a self-sustaining forest management scheme; further developing forest product enterprises and access to markets to manage the high expectations of local community for carbon finance; continue building the capacity of CBOs and other stakeholders including law enforcement agencies, and strengthen the national REDD+ actors network to make it an effective platform for knowledge and experience sharing and policy debates and others.

The project implementation requires collaboration with multiple REDD+ stakeholders in the country, principally MEFCC, Oromia Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority *OEFCCA), Oromia REDD+ Coordination Unit (ORCU), The WBG, and the national REDD+ secretariat.

More specifically, the Bale REDD+ phase II project plans to strengthen the managerial and organizational capacities of 64 PFM/REDD+ CBOs that have been organized within eleven Woredas: Madawalabu, Delo mena, Haran Buluk, Berbere, Goba, Gololcha, Agarafa, Nensebo kokosa, Dodola and Adaba.

Purpose of the Role

The Community Development Facilitator (CDF) will be based in a specific project Woreda and work under the direction and guidance of the Bale Field Team, mainly the Community Development Officer and Team Leader.

The CDF is responsible for the overall implementation of project activities at community level. Specifically, the CDF forms the link between the project field team and the communities and local government representatives.

Major responsibility of the CDF include: community/institutional capacity building activities, forest resource assessment and facilitating carbon benefit sharing.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Implement project activities at community level

Work with the project team based at Robe and government counterparts to achieve the project outputs/outcomes at his/her specific Woreda

Support CDOs in identifying training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver training, business plan development and other services to REDD+ CBOs and unions

Ensure adequate consultation and participation of Woreda and village/community level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women

With support of the CDOs, provide expertise and advice for community institutions on gender mainstreaming in REDD+ scheme

Support the REDD+ CBOs to pilot sustainable timber harvesting, with support and

guidance of the CDO and the Sustainable Timber Harvesting Specialist

Facilitate community meetings to, among others, discuss carbon benefit sharing modalities within CBOs

Conduct other duties as may be assigned by the CDO/team leader

2. Support and facilitate community/institutional capacity building activities

Facilitate periodical capacity assessment of CBOs by collecting data using the Organizational and Managerial Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT)

Ensure implementation of these capacity building plans (including, among others, technical support) in close collaboration with the Community Development Officer and Woreda Level Cooperative Promotion Office.

3. Forest resource assessment and carbon benefit sharing

Facilitate community discussion on sustainable timber harvest and actively engage in participatory forest assessments

In collaboration with the community and other technical staff, prepare reports based on the results of these participatory forest assessments

Responsible for quality control of these reports, following specific guidelines and templates

In collaboration with the Sustainable Timber Harvesting Specialist and the CDOs, facilitate the design and implementation of CBO specific forest management plans in agreement with community and local government parties

Facilitate community discussions on carbon benefit sharing, ensuring, among others, the on development of selection criteria

4. Play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Project team

Act as an active member of the project team by identifying and exploring opportunities to improve project implementation and guarantee it’s sustainability

Contribute to the implementation of Farm Africa’s strategy

Participate in broader Farm Africa meetings with other project staff members, as requested by line manager.

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as required.

All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Our Value

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

Expert. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

Grounded. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

Impactful. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.

Bold. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.

Project:

Bale Eco-region REDD+ Project phase II

Reports to:

Deputy Project Team Leader

Reporting to Postholder:

None

Duration:

Fifteen months with a possibility of extension

Number required:

Three (one per each woreda)

Job Requirements

Person Specification

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

BSC degree in environmental science, forestry, natural resources management or any other relevant discipline

Good understanding of climate change, REDD+ and natural resources management

Knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness

Experience

Essential

Three year work experience in implementing projects at community level with NGOs

Experience in the area of community based institution organizational capacity building

Experience in participatory forest management

Desirable

Experience in working with the OCAT

Experience with participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools

Skills and abilities

Essential

Very good English language skills (written and spoken)

Motor cycle driving skill

Knowledge of local language

Computer literacy, excellent record keeping and report writing

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Good team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach

Budget and financial management, training need assessment and training fac

Willingness to reside in rural/marginal areas, ability to work with minimum supervision

Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa

Good community level facilitation and coordination skills


How to Apply

Those who meet the above requirements should submit their short CV (maximum of 3 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing ethrecruitment@farmafrica.org with the subject Community Development Facilitator for REDD+ (II) by October 21, 2019.

Documents cannot be returned and due to large number of applications, only short listed candidates will be contacted. Applications are especially welcomed from female applicants.

Farm Africa Community Development Facilitator
Jobs in Ethiopia