CONTEXTE

The IUCN Central and west Africa Programme (PACO) operates in twenty-five (25) countries. The PACO region hosts a variety of forest types, diverse agricultural and land use management systems and a large footprint of drylands ecosystems. The PACO Forest Conservation Programme focuses on both closed and open system forests, including agricultural and dryland areas that provide significant ecosystem services and goods to communities and economies in the region.

The Head of Country Programme, Cameroon /Regional Coordinator, Forest Conservation Program has a dual direct reporting line into the IUCN PACO Regional Programme Coordinator on all Regional Coordinator of Forest Conservation and to the Regional Director, PACO on all responsibilities related to the Country Representative role in Cameroon or any other central Africa countries as needed.
The Head of Cameroon Programme & Regional Coordinator, Forest Conservation Programme Coordinator will be responsible for developing and delivering the IUCN Programme in Cameroon and in respect to forest in central and west Africa.
With respect to Cameroon programme, s/he will be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of IUCN’s Programme of Work at a national and sub-national levels, provides strategic oversight and representation role through supporting and building IUCN’s Constituency in the country. S/he will direct the country programme, aligning it with Cameroon national development plans, biodiversity strategies, and the IUCN Intersessional Plan.

With respect to the coordination of the regional forest thematic, s/he will support the development and management of a large portfolio to deliver high level programmatic results such as to drive and inspire regional forest conservation and Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) agenda and demonstrate the contribution of IUCN to regional and global environmental and sustainable development ambitions.
S/he is expected to provide vision, inspiration and leadership on forest sustainable management regionally and globally, including but not limited the Congo Basin landscape conservation.

S/he will serve as both a senior member that delivers the technical program of IUCN in Central and West Africa and the IUCN global forest & grassland team that helps set strategic direction and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on forests conservation.

S/he is expected to cooperate with the other thematic and countries programmes teams to contribute to and deliver the PACO’s Programme of Work, and with all other teams in the other IUCN regions and at the headquarter as well as relevant corporate teams including the Finance and Human resources teams to deliver a coherent and aligned thematic programme of activities.

S/he will be responsible of the overall management of the Cameroon and Regional Forest Thematic Programmes and ensure their coherence and consistency with the IUCN’s “One Programme” approach, build on and align with IUCN’s Forest conservation framework, and add value to regionally and nationally defined priorities.

The Head of Cameroon Programme & Regional Forest Conservation Coordinator is responsible for the recruitment, management and supervision of all staff to carry out their assigned duties, and to development of the team and the individual staff to reach their potential through mentorship and support.
S/he is also responsible for upholding IUCN policies, maintaining a current awareness of relevant policies related to forest at the national, regional and international level, contributing towards IUCN’s policy positions on relevant subjects.

S/he will also ensure that the project portfolio is instrumental in making the case for relevant policies and translating public policy into public funding and conservation outcomes in central and west Africa region.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Lead role in the development and implementation of Cameroon and Regional Forest Conservation Programmes
• Take a lead role in the development of the Cameroon and the Regional Forest Conservation through providing vision and guidance in developing a well-defined strategic focus in the short, medium and long term, ensuring:
o effective and institutionally aligned programming and projects development and implementation.
o systematic monitoring and evaluation of on-going programmatic activities, and.
o coherent and consistent communication of lessons learnt to key decision-makers within Cameroon and the central and west Africa.

• Ensure an agile Cameroon and forest conservation related Programme Planning and Monitoring.

• Provide technical advice, guidance and support on forest conservation and restoration along with forest-based livelihoods to other regional thematic programmes and/or Country Offices and act as the focal point for the forest conservation and FLR related activities particularly with Members, Commissions, partners and other IUCN component programmes as required.

• Coordinate the development, analysis and dissemination of forest conservation policy relevant to the Region and other networks in the most effective way;

• As a leading member of IUCN’s “Forest & Grassland Team”, represent and articulate regional perspectives in the identification of global priorities and ensure full PACO participation in the development of new, jointly programmed, global forest initiatives.

• Capitalize and disseminate lessons learnt from programmes and projects implemented in Cameroon and through the regional forest conservation programme at the regional as well as those learnt from partners and colleagues, programme management and oversight.

Lead role in technical and financial management of Cameroon and Regional Forest Conservation programmes

• Ensure the sound technical and financial management of the Cameroon and the Regional Forest Conservation Programmes.

• Oversee the development and implementation of annual budgets and work plans and provide a timely progress report of the programmes financial and technical activities in accordance with IUCN’s practices.

• Ensure the overall quality assurance of the Cameroon and Regional Conservation Forest portfolio.

• Ensure implementation of and compliance with IUCN and donor policies, standards and procedures.

• Provide guidance and support to the development and implementation of IUCN cross thematic initiatives.

Partnership and Programme Development

• Develop and maintain appropriate collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations working in Camerron and supporting forest conservation and FLR and ensure meaningful engagement of local IUCN members in the development and implementation of the portfolio.

• Lead fundraising for the Cameroon and the regional Forest Conservation Programme through development of proposals, maintaining good relationships with donor and funding agencies to ensure the financial viability of the Programmes.

• Work closely with IUCN Commissions and Members to develop and maintain an appropriate project portfolio and funding for implementation of the Cameroon and the Regional Forest conservation Programme.

• Participate in joint planning, assessment and communication activities of the Cameroon and Regional Forest Conservation Programmes and facilitate the development of joint programmes with members and partners.

• Contribute to the establishment of a framework for collaboration with stakeholders in Cameroon and the Forest Conservation and contribute to positioning IUCN in Cameroon and the Congo Basin through initiatives and program development

• Ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in Cameroon and in relevant regional and international fora and negotiations on programme of work related to Cameroon, forest and FLR issues and Congo Basin landscape conservation as well.

• Facilitate discussions and dialogue on relevant forest conservation emerging issues to position IUCN in the region as a reference in forest conservation and FLR

Team and staff management and supervision

• Supervise staff and lead capacity development on nature conservation relevant policies, approaches and tools

• Work with colleagues in and beyond Cameroon and Regional Forest conservation Programme to ensure that the groups functions as an integrated team, that there is coherence and consistency in the policy statements, and a high quality of technical and policy advice is given to field programmes and projects.

Other responsibilities

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

COMPETENCIES

Enthusiastic commitment and inspirational leadership, characterized by:

• A commitment to nature conservation and sustainable use.

• Ability to provide inspiration and strategic direction.

Senior management experience, characterized by:

• Demonstrated experience and achievements in organizational, financial and personnel management, and in decision-making.

• Proven experience in maintaining and nurturing expert networks with demonstrated ability to handle politically and culturally sensitive issues.

• Maintain a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.

Professional competencies, characterized by:

• Good understanding of world affairs and up to date knowledge of nature conservation, including but not limited to forest issues, as well as experience with the workings of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and governmental and non-governmental institutions.

• Proven excellent networking and representation skills.

• Ability and commitment to act in accordance with the core values of integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism as spelled out in IUCN’s Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics.