Land-Use Governance Expert

European Forest Institute is seeking a Land-Use Governance Expert to reinforce the EU REDD Facility and its portfolio in Africa based in Barcelona, Spain

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 29 member countries and around 120 member organisations. EFI’s Headquarters is located in Joensuu, Finland. EFI has several offices across Europe, and the FLEGT and REDD Unit is located in Barcelona, Spain with a project office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

EFI hosts the EU REDD Facility, which supports partner countries, the European Commission, EU Delegations and European countries in addressing drivers of tropical deforestation through improved land-use governance and sustainable supply chains approaches. Further information about the EU REDD Facility is available at www.euredd.efi.int.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Land-Use Governance Expert will provide technical as well as strategic advice and inputs to the activities implemented through the EU REDD Facility in Africa, including in the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Côte d´Ivoire. The Land-use Governance Expert will be responsible for:

• Managing and supervising land-use governance and sustainable supply chain projects developed by the EU REDD Facility, addressing drivers of deforestation in support of global climate commitments.
• Providing technical support to stakeholders on matters related to forest conversion legality, stakeholder engagement, sustainable land-use planning and finance, and supply chain transparency, drawing on lessons from the EU REDD Facility´s and the EU FLEGT Facility´s work in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• Increasing the understanding and raising awareness on innovative solutions and approaches to improve land-use governance and promote sustainable commodity production through national processes, such as REDD+ and FLEGT, or public-private partnerships, and with a broad array of stakeholders, including partner countries stakeholders, the European Union and its Member States, donors, multilateral partners, private sector actors and others.
• Documenting, analysing and sharing innovations and experiences from partner countries in improving land-use governance and promoting supply chain transparency, informing national, EU and global audiences through technical documents, policy briefs and presentations.

Qualifications

• MSc or higher university degree in agronomy, economics, natural resource management, law, public policy, or a related and suitable field.
• Minimum five years of relevant working experience, including in managing cooperation projects and funds in sub-Saharan Africa, either through permanent residence in the region or frequent travelling.
• Excellent understanding of land-use governance processes and sustainable commodity supply chain approaches, and their implementation challenges, in sub-Saharan Africa. Good understanding of REDD+ and FLEGT is an asset.
• Good understanding of socio-political and cultural context of natural resources management and land-use governance in sub-Saharan African countries.
• Being connected to forest and land-use sector stakeholders, including private sector actors, involved in national processes related to climate, forest and land-use, and sustainable commodity production in Africa, is an asset.
• Capacity for initiative and track record of creative, structured and strategic thinking and pragmatic problem-solving.
• Ability to work on complex and politically sensitive issues with governments, private sector, international actors, NGOs and civil society.
• Excellent communication, networking and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability of working in multi-disciplinary teams in multi-cultural environments.
• Proficiency in English and French is required.

Duty station and travel

The Expert will be based at EFI’s office in Barcelona, Spain with frequent travel to partner countries in Africa.

Employment conditions

EFI offers competitive benefits and salary package. The duration of employment will be two years, including a 6-month probationary period, with a possibility for extension.

Interested candidates are requested to send (in English) a CV including copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas with a motivation letter by 21st June 2020, using our online application form.

For more information about the position, please contact Christophe Van Orshoven, REDD Team Leader, FLEGT and REDD Unit, email: christophe.vanorshoven@efi.int.

EFI is an equal opportunity employer. All applications will be treated confidentially.

Please note that only candidates that have been shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.