Opportunities

CONTEXT

The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), constituted by National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in 22 countries, is one of the four Sub-regional Organizations (SROs) under the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). CORAF/WECARD’s mission is a sustainable improvements in agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and markets in West and Central Africa (WCA) by meeting the key demands of the sub-regional research system as expressed by target groups. CORAF/WECARD’s second Operational Plan (OP2) is fully coherent with the latest orientations of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the agricultural policies of the Regional Economic Communities of West and Central Africa (ECOWAS, UEMOA, ECCAS and CEMAC). It continues to follow the Framework of African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP) principles and has also taken into consideration the Science Agenda For Agriculture in Africa (S3A) as the principal vehicle and framework for operationalizing the AR4D component of the “Sustaining the CAADP Momentum” with the aim of basing this on country CAADP National Agricultural Investment Programmes.

The CORAF/WECARD Strategic Plan identifies Environment as a cross-cutting issue that has to be taken into consideration throughout the implementation of CORAF/WECARD’s programmes and projects, to achieve its objectives. It pledges that all agricultural research activities of CORAF/WECARD will focus on ensuring poverty reduction, food security, provide health benefits, and maintenance of the natural resource base. Against this background, CORAF/WECARD developed an Environmental Management Framework (EMF) in 2008, to be observed by all CORAF/WECARD programmes and/or activities implemented by CORAF/WECARD and/or its partners. The safeguards within this framework aim at preventing and mitigating undue harm to people and their environment in the development process.

VACANCY

Within this context, CORAF/WECARD is seeking to recruit an Environmental Safeguards Officer (ESO) whom, under the guidance of the Director of Programmes and in collaboration with relevant Directions/Units of the CORAF/WECARD Executive Secretariat, will assist the Institution to promote and strengthen the inclusion of Environmental Safeguards and broader environmental development issues in the agriculture research and development programmes and projects in the WCA sub-regions.

The following main requirements are essential in the effective execution of the duties and responsibilities of the proposed position:

•       Ability to promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of CORAF/WECARD, and demonstrate integrity by adhering to the organization’s core values and ethical standards;

•       Ability to provide advisory and technical support to the implementation and monitoring of the CORAF/WECARD Strategic Plan and second Operational Plan (2014 – 2018), leading to the effective integration of environmental safeguards concerns in all projects/programmes;

•       Ability to work with, coordinate and inspire multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams in a multi-partner environment, and to engage in both local and high level policy dialogue with clients;

•       Capability to facilitate knowledge building and results-based management within the context of CORAF/WECARD agenda and new aid environment;

•       Ability to represent CORAF/WECARD in consultations with governments, multilateral and bilateral partners, public and private firms and the civil society, as well as direct project beneficiaries.

•       Ability to clearly articulate environmental issues to CORAF/WECARD senior management, high-level government officials and development partners succinctly and diplomatically;

•       Capacity to provide quality peer review, ensure quality assurance in project/program safeguards documents and to mentoring junior staff while providing on-time quality support to colleagues, both in CORAF/WECARD and in the projects/programs recipient countries, and contribute in a timely and intellectual manner to the broader collegiate work environment;

•       Willingness to help maintaining a constructive working environment and excellent relationships with colleagues as well as both internal and external clients;

•       Capacity and willingness to travel extensively, on a short notice, within the sub-region and internationally;

•       Capacity to be versatile and hit the ground running while mentoring junior staff.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

More specifically, the Environmental Safeguards Officer (ESO) will be responsible for the following duties, amongst others:

1.      Ensure systematic environmental safeguards compliance in all projects coordinated under the auspices of CORAF/WECARD

2.      Facilitate the effective and sustainable integration of environmental safeguards as well as broader environmental development dimensions in CORAF/WECARD’s priority Programmes.

3.      Provide up-to-date strategic and technical advice to strengthen the capacity of CORAF/WECARD Executive Secretariat and member National Agricultural Research System to design, implement and monitor agricultural research and development programmes and projects with strong environmental safeguards dimensions.

4.      Contribute to environmental impacts assessment and analysis of data and reporting on the impacts of CORAF/WECARD-led interventions on small-scale farmers with a special focus on elderly, women, especially girls, and youth farmers (i.e. issues of safe handling of pesticides, sustainable management of Natural Habitats, including Forestry resources, and peaceful handling of Physical Cultural Resources.

5.      Provide technological, institutional and operational policy support in strengthening CORAF/WECARD’s Environmental Safeguards policy and action plan and facilitate its effective and tangible integration in the CORAF/WECARD new Operational Plan 2014-2018;

6.      Provide on-time environmental assessment, analysis and advice to inform transition planning (especially during project identification and preparation), appraisals and reviews across CORAF/WECARD’s priority Programs.

7.      Proactively orient applied research work to fill knowledge gaps in and obtain feedback on environmental safeguards and development issues related to agriculture and food security;

8.      Develop in partnership with stakeholders, toolkits, guidelines and advice on environmental safeguards related to agricultural research and development;

9.      Facilitate cross-regional exchange of knowledge and documentation sharing of field-tested environmental safeguards/development approaches with potential for up-scaling;

10.  Identify and build strategic partnerships, including collaboration with knowledge networks, communities of practice, member NARS and relevant development partners, including the private sector, for purposes of knowledge generation and sharing, joint advocacy and resource mobilisation;

11.  Represent CORAF/WECARD at national and/or international fora in relation to environmental safeguards/development as related to agriculture, food-security; and

12.  Perform other environmentally related duties as may be requested by the Executive Director and the circumstances.

COMPETENCIES

The following demonstrated competencies are necessary:

Professionalism

•       Knowledge of CORAF/WECARD and its operations, philosophy and approaches, with an understanding of national, regional, international agricultural research priorities relative to CORAF/WECARD programmes and initiatives.

•       Capacity to manage institutional and organisational development and change processes and familiarity with both the practice and theory of change management in a dynamic and fast-moving development environment.

•       Strong background and proven experience on environmental safeguards, particularly those driven by the World Bank operational safeguards policies as well as national and CORAF/WECARD regulations/policies, including the ability to identify, analyse, and participate in their implementation.

•       Experience in health, safety and security mainstreaming, as regards to pests and pesticides management, with an ability to identify strategic approaches to policy and operational concerns vis-à-vis CORAF/WECARD priorities, and take the lead in their adequate implementation.

•       Experience in Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) including knowledge on related themes, concepts and approaches.

•       Ability to support and lead negotiations with high-level government officials and development partners, and flexibility and adaptability to influence issues that arise during implementation of the second Operational Plan.

•       Experience in results-based management and skills in a range of data collection methods and evaluation designs, related in particular to gender and vulnerable groups awareness raising on sustainable environmental management using appropriate gender-sensitive participatory methodologies.

•       Relevant experience in integrating gender and environmental development issues in different stages of the project/programme cycle—design, implementation, supervisions, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and participatory methodologies.

•       Familiarity, in general terms, with gender/youth and vulnerable groups perspectives in the area of sustainable environmental safeguards/natural resources management and the ability to ensure that these are mainstreamed during implementation of CORAF/WECARD’s Strategy.

Technical/functional competencies

•        P l a n n e r a n d O r g a n i s e r / D e c i s i o n - M a k e r : You will have excellent judgment capacity with an ability to think strategically in assessing and responding to new challenges and opportunities in agricultural research and development. You will be able to identify and set clear priorities within a boundless and often challenging agenda and develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, with an ability to adjust priorities as required, allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work, foresee risks, and allow for contingencies when planning. You should be conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and delivering results

•       T e a m W o r k e r / B u i l d e r : You will have excellent organizational skills that will help you to develop a close and effective working relationship with peers and clients at all levels. You will have the ability to place team agenda before personal agenda to achieve organizational goals through collaboration with colleagues, valuing others’ ideas and expertise, and a desire to learn from others. You will support and act in accordance with final group decisions even when such decisions may not entirely reflect your own position. You will show willingness to share credit for team accomplishments and to accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings. You will have the ability both to lead and to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams in a multi-partner environment.

•       L e a d e r / P e r f o r m e r : You will have excellent management skills and be able to deploy them in a multicultural setting and inspire teams to work together to achieve CORAF/WECARD environmental safeguards/environmental development objectives. You will have the ability to delegate, facilitate, and mentor Program Managers, and

support programme development and organizational, institutional and governance changes.

•       C o m m u n i c a t o r w i t h s t r o n g i n t e r p e r s o n a l s k i l l s : You will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions. You will have the ability to present coherent and convincing analysis in discussions with CORAF/WECARD senior management, high level government officials and development partners. You will have excellent listening skills and competence in accurately interpreting messages from others and responding appropriately, with an ability to tailor language, tone, style and format to match audience; and demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping colleagues and partners informed.

•       F a c i l i t a t o r o f c h a n g e : You will be responsive and proactive to meeting CORAF/WECARD broader environmental development/environmental safeguards challenges with a fairly balanced approach to both environmental safeguards and environmental awareness raising particularly mainstreaming its understanding and usage by client and beneficiaries in close collaboration with both national and international development agencies.

•       M o d e l o f i n t e g r i t y , t r u s t w o r t h y a n d c o n f i d e n c e : You will champion CORAF/WECARD core values – Subsidiarity in delegating responsibility to the lowest appropriate level, Delivery of the required results and impacts through effective and efficient use of resources, Accountability to stakeholders for the use of resources and delivery of results, and Participation of all stakeholders in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities, results and objectives.

Accountability

•       Ability to take ownership of all responsibilities and honour commitments. Deliver outputs within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. You should be able to support subordinates, provide oversight and take responsibility for delegated assignments. You should be able to take responsibility for own limitations and those of the Programmes Division, where applicable.

Technological awareness

•       Keep abreast of new technologies as far as they relate to improving the work environment. Understand applicability limitation of technology to the work of the organisation and actively seek to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Show willingness to learn new technologies to help improve work performance.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and experience:

•       At least a Masters degree or its equivalent in one of the following disciplines: Environmental Science, Environmental Development, Environmental impact Assessment, Natural Resources Management or related fields;

•       At least five years of relevant professional experience working on Environmental/Environmental Development, Environmental safeguards, Health, Safety and security environment, as they relate to beneficiary communities empowerment in the following areas: poverty and livelihoods analysis, pro-poor targeting, community development and, youth, indigenous peoples and disadvantaged groups empowerment;

•       Applied research knowledge of current environmental development/ environmental safeguards related issues, challenges and opportunities in agricultural research and rural development.

•       A good knowledge of Gender and Vulnerable groups mainstreaming in environmental development/environmental Safeguards would be a plus.

Languages

•       The ability to write and communicate effectively in either French or English with a working knowledge of the other.

Other skills

Innovative and creative in management and management style, undertake and complete initiatives, and establish good partnership networks; ability to work independently in a range of environments and situations; propensity for working in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural and multi-country teams; good grasp of environmental issues related to Disadvantaged and Indigenous Peoples; strong diplomacy, persuasion and negotiation skills, and ability to get your point across to senior government and development partner officials, and to be proactive; well-organised with good planning and problem-solving abilities; skills in writing and editing scientific literature and/or ‘general’ material; computer literate and fully familiar with the Microsoft Office® Suite of software; ability to remember people’s names and position, etc.

WORKING WITH CORAF/WECARD

•       CORAF/WECARD is not just looking to fill a vacancy. Whenever it recruits, it is looking for individuals, who share its values, who are adaptable and resourceful, and who will complement the team and efficiently contribute to the development of the Organisation.

•       Salary and remuneration will depend on the skills, proven professional experience and track records of the successful applicant, and will be internationally competitive.

•       CORAF/WECARD invests heavily in creating a culture of quality, professionalism, mutual support and team work. It creates opportunities for continuing formal and informal professional development and training.

NATIONALITY

•       The candidate must be a national of one of the 22 CORAF/WECARD member-countries.

LOCATION

•       The Environmental Safeguards Officer (ESO) will be based at the CORAF/WECARD Secretariat in Dakar, Senegal.

DURATION

A contract with an initial period of twenty four months (2 years) will be proposed and to be evaluated after one year. The contract may be renewed based on satisfactory performance.