Forest Expert at WeForest Ethiopia

WeForest (www.weforest.org) is a fast growing international non-profit organization with headquarters in Belgium. We      develop reforestation projects to combat global warming and extreme poverty. Our mission is to conserve and restore the ecological integrity of forests and landscapes by engaging communities to implement and deliver lasting solutions for climate, nature and people.

In Ethiopia, WeForest is engaged in large-scale Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) programs in Northern Ethiopia (Amhara and Tigray regions). Through our intervention, we contribute to the country’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy and Growth Transformation Plan. Partnerships with research institutes and universities are promoted across our interventions.

Ethiopia Program    

WeForest (WF) is active in Ethiopia since 2016. The main aim of the projects are to improve ecosystem wellbeing and to benefit local community to enable more productive and resilient. In general, the overall program comprises with three main components: (i) ecological restoration and conservation of degraded forests and soils, (ii) livelihood improvement of local community, and (iii) capacity building, research, knowledge dissemination and scaling up best practices. Furthermore, the project focuses on gender equity and establishing strong linkages among governmental, non-governmental and private stakeholders. Since 2016, WeForest Ethiopia, with its partners restored over 15,000 ha degraded lands and engaged over 8,000 households in sustainable income generating businesses.

Our activities are growing and WeForest is now looking for a talented and energetic forest expert to support our new project in Northern Shewa (Wofwasha forest:  biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement project).

Role

WeForest is looking for an experienced forest expert to develop, implement and monitor forest restoration and livelihood project in Amhara Region, Wofwasha national forest priority area. Working closely with the project manager and WF head office team. The forest expert will support all the restoration activities of the project in Wofwasha which includes, bassline survey, nursery establishment and management, community mobilization, planting sites selection, mapping, planting, post-planting management and monitoring and evaluation. The project aiming to restore over 10,000 ha covering both natural forest and degraded communal lands and support the livelihoods of over 16,000 families in the surrounding of Wofwasha forest reserve. The candidate should work with WeForest team through engagement with smallholder farmers, private business sectors, local government and NGO’s to develop, implement and mainstream long-term, sustainable and scalable forest landscape restoration technologies in the area.

Responsibilities include:

Management

• Manage all tree nurseries under WF functions;
• Follow up daily schedule of tree nursery workers and request payment accordingly;
• Day to day management of all FLR sites in Wofwsha in collaboration with local stakeholders and project manager;
• Develop detail activity planning and perform accordingly;
• Supervise site facilitators and guide them based on prepared work plan;
• Assisting with project logistics related to fieldwork and other activities as necessary;
• Assisting with communication of research results to partners and communities

Technical

• Support the management plan development of Wofwasha forest in collaboration with project manager;
• Support the socio-economic and ecological resource assessments and monitoring in project area(s);
• Develop best FLR practices in the project areas and scale-up to other projects and beyond (e.g. ANR, Farmer managed natural regeneration, soil and water conservation practices, Agroforestry etc);
• Liaise with office of Agriculture and Environment and Forest Authority in planning and implementation of all FLR project activities in different Wofwasha project villages;
• Assisting with communication of research results and best practices to partners and communities;
• Coordinate and facilitate adoption of Forest Management Plan and development of local forest bylaws;
• Organise training for local experts, development agents and farmers at regional and district levels;
• Support M&E activities of the Wofwasha FLR program. Support the project logframe and budget review whenever required;
• Quarterly, biannual and annual Report writing and deliver to the project manager.

Reporting to: Project Manager, Wofwasha project, North Shewa, Ethiopia

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration of Contract: Three years, with potential to extend subject to performance and funding availability.

Probation Period: 3 months

Location: Debre Birhan, Ethiopia, with significant travel in rural area

Working hours: Full-time, working Monday through Saturday morning, up to a maximum of 44 hours per week. Hours will vary depending on project needs and flexibility is essential.

Candidate Profile

Essential:

• An M.Sc., or equivalent experience in Forestry, Forest Ecology and Conservation, Soil and Water Conservation, Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Forest and Environment Policy or from related disciplines
• Fluent in English (both speaking and writing)
• Minimum 5 years’ relevant experience in Forest management in Amhara region
• Demonstrable experience of implementing FLR projects, working with stakeholders, farmers, communities and business sectors
• Demonstrable experience in GIS, Land use planning, Assisted Natural Regeneration, Tree planting, silvicultural practices, agroforestry, training, reporting and communication skills
• Flexible in terms of traveling and living conditions
• Excellent team player
• Ability to use and understand basic natural resources monitoring software

Desirable:

• Track record in FLR project implementation
• Track record in community mobilization experience and working with multi-stakeholders
• Track record in report writing