CESVI ZIMBABWE BACKGROUND

CESVI has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1998 in three key areas: environment, agriculture and the health sector. CESVI activities in the agricultural sector mainly revolves around supporting rural communities to transform traditional practices from subsistence farming to commercial farming and building resilience.

In Zimbabwe, CESVI is working in forestry protection, addressing human wildlife conflict, in parks and protected areas, as well as in the surrounding buffer zones. Moreover, CESVI has been working in action for reafforestation, prevention of land degradation and restoring degraded land, affected by various, mainly anthropogenic, factors. In this scenario, community engagement becomes crucial for the success of the projects. Besides, CESVI has been working in promotion of livelihood, NTFPs sustainable value chain promotion, differentiation of income sources for rural population.

 Job Title:                          Natural Resource Coordinator

Workstation:                Chiredzi or Bikita, with travel to the other districts of operations and Harare

Start date:                        TBA

Duration:                         Subject to donor confirmation

Key Responsibilities

The Natural Resource Coordinator position has a specific focus on environmentally and economically sustainable value chains, community development and market analysis and linkages, income generating activities. NRC will act as a focal point for CESVI projects on natural resource management, forest conservation, reafforestation, carbon credit mechanisms.

The natural resource coordinator will be responsible for identifying sustainable NTFPs value chains, training communities, promoting and building partnerships within the in- and output market (incl. suppliers of different services on the market, buyers, private companies, etc.) for the promotion of sustainable use of natural resources, income generation and livelihood diversification, ensuring forest conservation other components of the projects, determined by communities and stakeholders consultations, in line with international standards on bio diversity and conservation of natural resources.

Main tasks and responsibilities

The Natural Resource Coordinator will take a leading responsibility within CESVI for the delivery of natural resource management, forest conservation, NTFPs value chain development projects in terms of overall planning, implementation and reporting. S/he will ensure that the project is gender responsive, integrates gender in all action areas, environmentally friendly and meeting international standards on bio-diversity and conservation of natural resources. The main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Provide overall technical and managerial oversight and leadership for the development and monitoring of CESVI activities, in close coordination with project partners
• Oversee the hiring and managing subcontracts and consultants in the development of the forest conservation and NTFPs

• Oversee the delivery of the forest conservation and measures in accordance with the approved log frame and time schedules
• Ensure efficient management of financial resources, including the review and approval of program budgets and monitoring expenditures, according to CESVI policies and regulations as well as donor’s guidelines.
• Oversee field operations, project administration, logistics and procurement
• Supervise program monitoring, evaluation and reporting and ensure quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required by the grant and donors
• Ensure full compliance with all CESVI, donor and other fiduciary regulations
• If and when asked, serve as liaison with the Government of Zimbabwe, CESVI and other donors; and project partners and stakeholders to ensure: effective program implementation, creation of synergies, learning opportunities and build lasting relationships
• Network with relevant organisations including local communities, public-private entities, government agencies and NGOs, in coordination with CESVI Head of Mission
• Support in data collection and analysis, managing monitoring and evaluation tools instrumental for the verification of achievement according to quality standard and against the workplan
• Attend relevant gatherings and represent CESVI in project meetings and activities, if tasked  Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Requirements

Essential

• A University degree in a relevant field (e.g., Environmental Science, natural resource management, forestry, development studies, agriculture, or similar field related to environment, wildlife and forestry conservation and management,)
• At least 5 years of experience in Natural Resources Management (NRM), Community development and Climate change
• Understanding of NTFPs products and markets, including collaboration with private sector, processing of rough products, food processing, preferably promotion of regenerative/climate smart agriculture, low emission processes.
• Excellent and demonstrated concept design, proposal development, report drafting and M&E skills

Desirable

• Good skills and good working application of remote sensing software like GIS
• Experience working on forest protection, bio diversity standards
• Excellent oral and written skills in English, knowledge of 1 other local language
• Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders, such as local NGOs, government officials, donor representatives, and local and international expert teams
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including with communities, National and District level representatives and the private sector

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Transparency: ability to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team,
• Inclusiveness: understands and accepts cultural diversity and provide a tolerant, positive, and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds,
• Professionalism: promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner,
• Accountability: takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes CESVI vision and mission.

Functional competencies

• Ability to work under pressure, as part of a team or independently, and meet deadlines consistently,
• Ability to respond to requests on short notice and simultaneously plan and execute several activities,
• Proven experience of preparing field missions for international and local experts,
• Proven leadership, interpersonal, and cross-cultural skills, gender sensitivity, with the ability to build and motivate diverse teams,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Committed to continuous learning and proactive and mature attitude towards self-development; and  Ability to drive 4×4 vehicles.

THE POSITION IS OPEN TO ZIMBABWEAN NATIONALS ONLY.

Interested suitably qualified and experienced persons should submit, by the 19^th February 2024:

• a CV (maximum 3 pages), inclusive of at least 3 contactable references from organisations worked for  a cover letter (maximum 1 page) in the same file of the CV
• Indicate on the subject: Natural Resource Coordinator
• DO NOT send any certificate or IDs as annexes, as this will be asked at a later stage
• Send application to e-mail address: [email protected]

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted on the status of their application.

 SAFEGUARDING

Cesvi has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a child or a vulnerable adult by any of our staff, related persons or partners.

Cesvi commitment to being a safe organization begins with the staff recruitment process which includes meticulous checks, such as criminal records checks or check disclosure of previous convictions, to ensure children and vulnerable people are safeguarded and abuse is prevented. Safeguarding checks are part of the selection process performance.

Please note: due to the high number of applications received, feedback will be only provided to short-listed candidates. Only short-listed candidates will be updated on the status of their applications.