Reference number: 202452
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Global Position
Duty station: Dakar, Senegal
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

Overview

As programme manager of Regreening Africa, this role will coordinate and manage a large, ambitious, results-oriented, multi-institutional programme, that is in its second phase, across seven countries in the Sahel and Horn of Africa. This is a programme that achieved significant successes in its first phase, including being recognised as a UN Decade Flagship for Ecosystem Restoration and building strong partnership across research and development. The programme has been designed to learn quickly and effectively, to have impact and to create a space for constant learning and reflection across partners and stakeholders. The Programme Manager will be collaborative, innovative, intelligent, energetic, ambitious and comfortable managing and facilitating complex and adaptive projects.

Duties and responsibilities

1.       Oversee the overall
management and operations of the Regreening Africa Programme:

• Providing technical input to the programme in alignment with their area
  of expertise and contribute or lead scientific publications
• Ensuring synergy and effective operational coordination and collaboration
  among all implementing entities in the seven participating countries
  (currently: Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Niger).
• Overseeing the management of the programme’s budget (in close
  collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF finance staff)
• Coordinating and planning for the effective involvement of relevant
  CIFOR-ICRAF scientific and technical staff to ensure meaningful contributions
  are made to enhance programme effectiveness
• Leading the preparation of programmatic reports and annual plans and
  budgets for the donor and providing regular briefs and updates on programme
  progress to the Programme’s steering committee, CIFOR-ICRAF’s Senior Leadership
  Team, and other relevant bodies
• Facilitating semiannual planning and budgeting processes for the overall
  programme
• Preparing for engagement of audit reviews and quality assurance
  procedures
• Timely delivery of all project outputs and activities, maintaining and
  ensuring high standards of quality
• Selection, mentoring and supervision of programme team members required
  for the effective delivery of the programme and acting as line manager for some
  staff or consultants in the Programme Management Unit or assigned to the
  project (communications, admin and others).

2.          Coordination functions can include the following:

• Liaising, negotiating, and developing the capacity of country level
  partners in the selected countries and their relevant regional leadership
  functions
• Coordinating and facilitating effective regional and intra-country team
  functioning, including ensuring that the strengths of all the participating
  partners are fully exploited
• Monitoring programme progress and quality and providing support to
  country teams to devise and undertake relevant corrective measures as needed
• Supporting country teams to prepare annual detailed implementation plans
  and budgets
• Ensuring partners are fully briefed on their responsibilities,
  deliverables, work plans, budgets, partnerships and programme status
• Coordinating the execution of work plans and assist in the translation of
  the philosophy and objectives of the programme into appropriate methods and
  approaches, in order to ensure quality and effective programme delivery
• Coordinating the work of CIFOR-ICRAF technical and administrative staff
  under the programme, including ensuring they are fully briefed on their
  responsibilities, deliverables, and work plans, as well as available budgetary
  resources
• Facilitating Programme Steering Committee meetings
• Supporting partners to strengthen or build institutions and relationships
  to better target interventions and to enhance policy influence
• Supporting the development of appropriate documentation (policy briefs,
  position papers, communication messages, position statement) to engage in
  policy processes; and
• Engage in persistent, goal-oriented advocacy and policy processes.
• Manage relations with the donor organisation through their dedicated
  programme manager.
  

Requirements

• Minimum of Master’s Degree in project management, environmental science,
  restoration, agroforestry, development or agriculture or a similar field.
• A good and demonstrable understanding of the technical sides to the
  programme with strong technical expertise in a relevant field desired.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience engaging in or managing
  international development projects.
• At least 5 years’ experience managing multi-country development
  projects/programmes.
• At least 5 years’ experience in people management, strategic planning,
  risk management, and project management techniques and tools.
• A good track record of exemplary management of complex, multi-stakeholder
  projects and programmes including capacity to negotiate and facilitate
  activities across multiple organizations.
• Experience with participatory approaches, especially related to farmer
  innovation would be an advantage.
  

Education, knowledge and experience

•Minimum of Master’s Degree in project management, environmental science, restoration, agroforestry, development or agriculture or a similar field.
•A good and demonstrable understanding of the technical sides to the programme with strong technical expertise in a relevant field desired.
•At least 10 years of progressive experience engaging in or managing international development projects.
•At least 5 years’ experience managing multi-country development projects/programmes.
•At least 5 years’ experience in people management, strategic planning, risk management, and project management techniques and tools.
•A good track record of exemplary management of complex, multi-stakeholder projects and programmes including capacity to negotiate and facilitate activities across multiple organizations.
•Experience with participatory approaches, especially related to farmer innovation would be an advantage.

Terms and conditions

•This is a Globally Recruited position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in USD currency, commensurate with skills and experience.

•The duty station will be in Dakar, Senegal CIFOR-ICRAF Offices.

Application process

The application deadline is 01 Nov 2024
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.