Project Manager -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The Environment and Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF) is co-implementing the “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forested Landscapes in Southwestern Ethiopia” project, led by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and funded by Sida/ the Embassy of Sweden. ECFF is a local, non-political, non-religious and not-for profit civil society organization licensed and registered in Ethiopia since 2005. The vision of ECFF is a healthy and prosperous society that values, conserves and sustainably uses nature.

The project aims to contribute to the sustainable management and conservation of forested landscapes in the Southwest Ethiopia for their climate, biodiversity, ecosystem services and economic benefits through gender transformative and socially inclusive approach. The project is implemented in different woredas of located in Bunno Beddele, Ilu Abbabor and Jimma zones of Oromia, and Dawuro, Kafa and Konta zones of the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ (SWEP) regional states. It has four main outcomes:

• Improved conservation of biodiversity in the forested landscape;
• Improved management of forest resources for multiple functions;
• Improved gender equality and livelihoods of communities living in and around the forested landscapes; and
• Strengthened institutional, human and system capacity and multi-stakeholder coordination.

ECFF’s main role is implementation of the first two outcomes, while also contributing to the other outcomes implemented by other consortium members. ECFF is hiring dedicated and experienced Project Coordinator/Manager.

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION: the Project Manager will lead all project implementation activities, including technical, financial and administrative issues, and will report to Program Director. S/He will supervise site project coordinator, forest and biodiversity specialist, gender expert, woreda forestry experts and project accountants. The position requires strong skills in other stakeholders’ engagement, and team and partnership building that positively contributes to the overall implementation of the project that integrates agriculture, conservation, forested landscapes management and livelihoods.

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project coordination and management

• Project management, coordination, monitoring & evaluation, reporting and partnership
• Day to day follow-up of the project in Southwestern Ethiopia forested landscape, particularly in Oromia and SWEP regional states
• Acting as the focal person of the project at ECFF, for ECFF staff and external actors;
• Communicate regularly with the lead partner, other implementers and stakeholders such as the government sector offices, bureaus and ministries;
• Regularly review the activity plan, monitor project and activity progress, compile periodical reports (internal, donor and government) and present them to concerned stakeholders and contractual partners;
• Develop detailed implementation and procurement plan of the for project;
• Planning assignments of external consultants, preparing ToR and following up of their tasks to be done;
• Preparing detailed training plans on biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management, together with field based project staff as well as other concerned senior ECFF staff and implementing partners;
• Presenting the training plans to stakeholders and developing training schedules and manuals;
• Assuring that the project is implemented in line with donor as well as government requirements;
• Review/ perform biannual risk analysis for the project and develop adaptive strategies
• Conduct monitoring and follow up visit for proper implementation of the project at zonal, district, community levels;
• Ensure that resources assigned are properly and efficiently utilized;
• Support in developing project proposals and concept notes that contribute to scaling up and program growth of ECFF in the eco-region;
• Willing to handle other responsibilities and tasks apart from the aforementioned ones as per request.

Finance and Administration tasks

• Oversee planning, budgeting and implementation of the project;
• Supervise and make sure project’s financial reports are delivered on time to ECFF head office  (expenses summary, Balance Sheet and Cash flow statements, bank statements, and budget analyses);
• Review the multiyear project budget in collaboration with the project team and ECFF Finance;
• Day to day follow-up on all financial transactions of the project;
• Contribute in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation process of the project;
• In coherence with ECFF Admin and Finance, review the relevant HR policies and procedures in accordance with rules and regulation of the regional governments;
• Evaluate weekly staff progress report and monitor achievements and improvements.

 Technical leadership

• Support the management plan development of the forest block of the project supported community PFM groups, in collaboration with the relevant regional authorities;
• Support planning and mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in local and community level development plan, in collaboration with relevant regional authorities and community organizations;
• Develop and lead 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 local offices of Agriculture and forestry in planning and implementation of all FLR project activities in the project area;
• Lead forest based livelihood development programs in consultation with project consortium organizations, communities, local stakeholders and private sectors at different levels;
• Oversee value-chain development for non-timber forest products (coffee, beekeeping, spices, bamboo and the like);
• Communicate lessons, results and best practices to partners and communities;
• Guide adoption of Forest Management Plan and development of local forest bylaws;
• Facilitate organization of trainings for experts, development agents and farmers at regional and district levels.

 Programme development

• Develop new forest conservation and restoration projects in the eco-region, in collaboration with other ECFF head office team;
• Develop, review project logframe and overall strategies of ECFF forest and biodiversity program

DUTY STATION: ECFF Head Office, based in Addis Ababa with field travel to program/project sites

DURATION & HOURS:  Full Time, and contract for one year, with a possibility of extension

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• An M.Sc., or equivalent in Forestry, Natural resources economics, Environmental science, Forest ecology and conservation, Rural development, Forest and environment policy or from related disciplines;
• Fluent in English, Afaan Oromo and Amharic. Knowledge of additional local language is a plus;
• Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience in management, project planning, and project development programs, preferably in the south west eco-region;
• Experience of working with NGOs and private-sector agencies.
• Demonstrable experience of implementing PFM, forest conservation and restoration projects, and livelihood value chains in collaboration with local stakeholders, farmers, communities and business sectors;
• Excellent management, coordination, training, reporting and communication skills
• Track record in project development, management and implementation
• Track record with gender-sensitive participatory, governance and inclusion approaches
• Track record in grant applications and writing scientific articles
• Track record in project physical and financial planning, project budget and activities monitoring, report writing, team building, coaching and supervision of project staff;

 SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Proficiency in local language, Amharic and English languages;
• Community consultation and PRA skills;
• Report writing skills in English, especially result-based reporting;
• Fast learner and willingness to deliver results on time;
• Ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines;
• Excellent team player, good team spirit & skill sets to connect with the community, partners and other project staff;
• Ability to develop and manage complex budgets
• Experience in developing new projects, developing log frames, work plans and delivering projects against milestones and targets
• Ability to use and understand GIS and other basic natural resources monitoring software
• Flexible in terms of traveling and living conditions.