JOB DESCRIPTION
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Coordinator
Effective from: November 2015
Duration of contract: Until 31st March 2019
Reporting to: Head of Programmes
Responsible for:
· DRC Community Forest Consortium Coordinator
· Community Forest Technical Expert
· DRC project Officer
Close working relationship with: staff and consultants in the Programmes Team,
Finance Manager, Media and Communications Manager.
The Rainforest Foundation UK
The mission of the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is to support indigenous
peoples and traditional populations of the world's rainforest to:
· Secure and control the natural resources necessary for their long-term wellbeing
and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment,
violate their culture or compromise their future.
· Develop means to protect their individual and collective rights and to obtain,
shape and control basic services from the state.
RFUK considers that an essential first step to protect and manage the tropical
forests and to reduce poverty in tropical forest countries is to realise the rights of
the traditional and indigenous communities who live in those forests. With secure
rights to land and livelihoods, forest peoples can effectively manage forest
resources and direct and manage their own development. Founded in 1989, RFUK
has in the past 20 years built a solid body of work based on this rights-based
approach to development and protection of the rainforest. Although our work is
focused on the Congo Basin, where RFUK has worked since 1996, we also work in
the Peruvian Amazon.
RFUK tackles the underlying causes of deforestation linked to the problems of
disenfranchisement of indigenous forest peoples globally and locally. From the field
to the international policy arena, RFUK reinforces the active participation of forest
peoples in the decisions that affect them. We work with over 15 partner
organisations in tropical forest countries and our programme work is split into the
following thematic areas:
· Threats to forests from the extractive industries, infrastructure development
and agro-industrial expansion;
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Conservation effectiveness and monitoring of initiatives to reduce
deforestation from deforestation and degradation (REDD);
Community-based forest management,
land-use planning and tenure
reform;
Community mapping and forest monitoring;
Indigenous peoples’ rights.
RFUK currently has 18 staff, with a number of volunteers or interns at any given
time. It is governed by a Board of seven Trustees. The London-based Foundation is
part of a network of sister organizations, which also include the Rainforest
Foundation US and the Rainforest Foundation Norway.
The Programmes Team
The Programmes Team at the Rainforest Foundation UK is one of three teams in the
organisation and is the main team responsible for the implementation of our
projects under the eight themes cited above.
RFUK programme in DRC
RFUK is implementing several projects in DRC which form a coherent approach
contributing to overall programmes strategy:
The Mapping and Forest Governance programme
The Mapping and Forest Governance Programme is a large four-and-a-half-yearyear programme funded by the UK Government’s Department for International
Development. The Programme is designed to contribute to poverty reduction,
sustainable management and improved governance of tropical rainforests in the
Congo Basin. It began in July 2012 and is implemented through national partner
organisations with which the Rainforest Foundation UK has been working for a
number of years.
Supporting implementation of community forests
RFUK is expecting to launch a large project in 2016 to develop an integrated
approach, in coordination with other international NGOs, donors, and DRC civil
society, that aims to improve livelihoods and reduce deforestation in the DRC by
establishing successful community based forest management.
‘Community-based real-time forest monitoring’
RFUK has secured funding from the UK Department of International Development
(DFID) to trial community-based real-time monitoring of forest activities in Ghana,
Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With local partners, it will
test the opportunities to integrate such systems into governmental forest
enforcement mechanisms, as a means of containing illegal logging and contributing
to the implementation of VPAs.
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The project will start 1st October 2015 and will be managed by a Project
Coordinator, in coordination with the DRC Coordinator.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
General:
The DRC Coordinator will ensure the implementation of the RFUK Programme in
DRC, including close support to local DRC partner organisations. She/he will also
ensure that the Programme is developed in coherence with the overall RFUK
programmes strategy. She/he will work closely with the Head of Programmes and
other Programmes staff.
Specific responsibilities and tasks:
The DRC Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks, under the
supervision of the Head of Programmes:
1. DRC Programme management
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Ensure the RFUK Programme is implemented and managed in the DRC according
to strategy, logframes, budgets and timetable, in coordination with other
programmes staff;
Liaise with national DRC authorities, national and international institutions in
DRC, DRC NGO partners and other relevant DRC actors (such as Universities,
local media etc.);
Monitor relevant international policy developments as they relate to DRC forest
policy, including indigenous people rights and development co-operation
(reforms of national legislation, projects of other international NGOs and
institutions etc.);
Participate in the implementation of the advocacy strategy for programmes,
especially in DRC, overseen by the Research and Policy Coordinator;
Conduct regular follow-up and supervision of Programme implementation in
frequent visits to the country (up to 16 weeks per year), including to
programme field locations (including very remote areas) as required;
Manage budgets for the DRC Programme, in coordination with other
programmes staff;
Prepare narrative and financial reports, such as for external donors and internal
purposes, for the DRC components of the Programme under the supervision of
the Head of Programmes;
Ensure implementation of DRC Programme evaluations and audits, including
developing appropriate TORs, advising on suitable external consultants and
participating in evaluation visits.
2. Support to DRC partners and capacity building
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Maintain permanent liaison with and provide continuous support to DRC NGO
partners to implement and monitor the Programme;
Support partners in analysing the national policy and institutional context as
relevant to Programme strategy and implementation;
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Deliver capacity strengthening and support through mentoring and training to
staff of local partner organisations in the DRC, in conjunction with DRC team
members, as appropriate;
Identify and develop other potential local partners in the DRC.
3. Information and communication
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Prepare publications to standard text for programme and policy materials and
publications, as appropriate, including leaflets, briefings, reports and internet
material, in liaison with other Programme and non-programme staff;
Under the guidance of the Research and Policy Coordinator and/or the Media
and Communications Manager and/or the Executive Director, develop and
conduct relevant media outreach;
Contribute to the development of RFUK’s organisational knowledge base, such
as by providing contacts for the central database etc.
4. Managing a team
· Manage and coordinate a team of likely three people in the UK, including
ensuring proper work planning, undertaking six-monthly appraisals,
providing strategic guidance to the team, providing adequate support to
team members as and when required, including organising relevant training
(with the Programmes Administrative and Finance Coordinator);
· Ensure that team members are following the Rainforest Foundation’s
established methods of supporting national partner organisations;
· Supervise the work of consultants, researchers and volunteers as
appropriate;
· Ensure that all staff are fully aware of and comply with relevant RFUK
internal policies, including travel safety and security arrangements, overseas
fieldwork guidelines, financial procedures, anti-bribery policy etc.
5. Other
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Represent the organisation in relevant local, national and international fora,
on relevant policy issues, as appropriate, and under the guidance of the
Head of Programmes and Policy and Research Coordinator;
Assist in the identification and preparation of new opportunities for
programme development, including the preparation of funding proposals
relevant for the development of RFUK Programmes strategy;
Contribute to the development and implementation of the Programmes
strategy;
Participate in RFUK’s strategic development, including attending internal
meetings, strategy away days etc;
Perform other tasks as may from time to time be requested by the Head of
Programmes and Executive Director.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Detail
Knowledge
and
Experience
Essential
· Master Degree in law,
anthropology or international
development or a related
subject.
· At least 5 years’ experience of
project management in a charity
or in an international
development context.
· Experience in managing large
scale and complex projects.
· Work experience in the Congo
Basin region.
· Demonstrable ability to deal
effectively and diplomatically
with major donors and
Government officials.
· Ability to lead strategic thinking
and strategic programmes
development.
· Extensive experience of working
with local partners in developing
countries and developing civil
society capacity and voice.
· Excellent knowledge of forest
and land tenure legislation and
implementation challenges,
indigenous peoples’ rights, and
the civil society and political
context in the Congo Basin.
· Good management skills, and
experience in managing staff or
consultants directly.
· Fluent in both English and
French, written and spoken.
· Budget management in a
charity/development project
context.
· High level of competence in
using software packages,
including main Microsoft Office
applications.
Desirable
· Experience of working to
influence major key
players in the area of
community and land
rights.
· Experience of working in
DRC.
· Experience of working to
tight deadlines.
· Excellent negotiating
skills and experience of
participating in high level
meetings with decisionmakers.
Detail
Personal Skills
and Attributes
Essential
· Demonstrable personal
commitment to defending
human rights, in particular of
forest communities and
indigenous peoples.
Desirable
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Proven ability to lead a team.
Excellent interpersonal and
communication skills – written
and oral.
Demonstrable ability to build
coalitions and networks for
collaboration.
Desire and capacity to work on
complex issues in a complex
environment.
Careful and conscientious with
demonstrable attention to detail.
Excellent organisational and
time management skills with the
ability to work under pressure
and to multiple deadlines.
Willingness and ability to travel
up to 16 weeks per year in the
DRC including in remote forest
areas and potentially in other
Congo Basin region countries, as
well as other occasional travel,
such as to European
destinations.
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Summary Terms and Conditions
Hours, remuneration and place of work
The post is offered on 3.5 year contract (ideally starting from 2nd November 2015),
with a 6-month probationary period.
The post is a full time post, based on a 35 hour working week.
The starting salary is £37,646 per annum, including London weighting.
Monthly salary is paid by Bank Automated Credit transfer, on the 25th of every
month.
Holidays, sick pay and other benefits are provided in accordance with statutory
requirements. At present, 30 days paid leave per year are offered.
Non-contributory pension (4% of salary, commencing on satisfactory completion of
6 month probationary period).
The place of work is 233a Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2JT. This is a nonsmoking environment. There is no parking provided for the post-holder, although
bicycles are allowed in the building.
Equal Opportunities
RF UK is an equal opportunities employer, and makes no discrimination on the
grounds of gender, race, age, physical abilities, religious or sexual persuasion.
233a Kentish Town Road unfortunately is not as accessible to those with physical
disabilities as the organisation would like, but every effort will be made to provide
an accessible and pleasant working environment for all staff, trustees, volunteers
and visitors.
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