Main purpose of job:

The Congo Basin region is the second largest tropical forest basin in the world and is of continental and global significance. Covering an area of roughly 3.7 million km2, it’s the second-largest river basin in the world after the Amazon, and one of the last remaining major terrestrial carbon stores on the planet. These forests make up almost 70% of Africa’s forests overall, including 91% of Africa’s moist forests, and are home to an extraordinary level of biodiversity that represents immeasurable potential for regional socio-economic development.

The Congo Basin Forest Action (CBFA) Programme has been designed to address the primary driver of deforestation across the Congo Basin – small-scale agricultural practices by local communities. It will do this by working directly with these groups to support transitions to more sustainable activities, ultimately reducing deforestation rates.

This will be achieved through a broad range of complementary activities. On the ground, these will include establishing and supporting effective community forests, improving agricultural efficiencies, and encouraging sustainable agroforestry. These activities will be reinforced through helping local communities to secure and operationalise land tenure rights, whilst building local and regional capacities and knowledge, with a focus on autonomising activities and capabilities to promote success beyond the programme period. To achieve this, CBFA will have co-design and co-ownership at its core. This means ensuring beneficiaries form a key part of the design of activities.

CBFA will consist of two complementary programme components that will work synergistically to catalyse improved forest management solutions that lead to reduced deforestation and improved outcomes for local communities through an overarching intervention approach:

Component 1A: Forests for Local Communities – interventions co-designed and co-owned by beneficiaries for lasting legacies.
Component 1B: CBFA Partners Facility – flexible support for best practice and innovation, in support of component 1 objectives.
Component 2: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning – ensuring effective and agile programming.

The job will oversee delivery of CBFA within the DRC and the RoC.  The role will need to have strong technical expertise in the forestry sector and on local sustainable development. The job holder will provide FCDO with on-the-ground project oversight, capacity building, national and regional co-ordination and engagement activities. You will act as the CBFA’s lead UK Government contact in the region, acting to ensure the programme is implemented effectively and remains aligned to UK government interests and objectives. You will provide country specific and regional oversight to the FCDO programme team and in turn external contractors working to effectively monitor, implement and evaluate the programme. You will also coordinate and lead on a range of administrative, logistical and project management activities.

This role will build an extensive network of stakeholders to support the delivery of the whole UK Government forest agenda. This network will include other donors, national and local governments, implementing partners, and beneficiaries, notably civil society and local communities. You will use this network to support the UK Government forest partnership with DRC and ROC and support implementation of the whole agenda.

The role will also work closely with other individuals delivering other UK Government programming and policy across the region to ensure alignment and complementarity. Where possible, the role holder will build relationships with other donors to also ensure complimentary and increased efficiencies, including with CAFI.

Roles and responsibilities:

This role will be responsible for delivering these responsibilities across the DRC and Republic of Congo.

CBFA Programme Delivery – 40%

• Work effectively with the FCDO programme team in the UK and the regional, external contractors and regional colleagues to drive implementation of CBFA.
• Have strategic oversight of co-design activities delivered by component 1A consortium, alongside working with the component 1B fund manager to appraise and oversee proposals.
• Monitor and assess risks and opportunities associated with the programme, reporting clearly to the programme team.
• Identify errors or problems, take action as necessary to resolve and/or notify others in the team.
• Write clear reports and briefings as required.
• Travel to oversee the programme delivery at least quarterly in each country.
• Support and occasionally lead on the orientation of visiting UK officials or contractors associated with CBFA, providing local knowledge and understanding.

Forest Stakeholder Engagement – 30%

• Build a network and communicate with a wide range of professionals at a local, national, regional and international scale to drive forward the whole of the UK Government forest agenda.
• Travel to the Republic of Congo monthly to support the building of trusted partnerships with the Government and civil society.
• Work with UK Government teams regionally and in the UK to create and deliver publicity for the UK Government forest agenda.
• Provide an effective and professional service when liaising with colleagues, partners, stakeholders and the public using tact and diplomacy to encourage effective working.
• Respond to enquiries from key stakeholders to provide information in line with agreed protocols and procedures.
• Support the planning of meetings, high level events and conferences.
• Support projects by developing and identifying communication resources required, ensuring all materials and resources are current and appropriate.

Strategic and contextual analysis for the UK Government forest agenda – 20%

• Build a strategic awareness and continue to analyse the economic, environmental and policy context to inform effective delivery of the programme.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of the UK and wider Congo Basin partners priorities and approach and how the UK Government can support these across the region.
• Identify and facilitate opportunities to with programme partners and key stakeholders to further the long-term impact of UK Government forest agenda .
• Identify connections, opportunities and risks to align UK Government forest activities/impact and the delivery of wider national and regional objectives climate change and poverty reduction.
• Support the sustainable impact of the UK Government forest objectives and its longer-term legacy through policy and technical expertise development.

Support to Post – 10%

• Assist BE Kinshasa on climate, forests, and nature-related activities as required. This could include support in preparing briefings, presentations, and events.
• Carry out representational duties on behalf of Posts, including attending and/or participating in events and receptions.
• Ensure Posts are continuously updated on the CBFA Programme and wider UK Government forest agenda, aligning any workstreams with Posts’ priorities where appropriate.
• Quality assurer key translated emails and documents as required by the team (French- English). These will include technical detail on forests, climate and green growth.
• Attend meetings with the team and support with French-English interpretation and minutes.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. These responsibilities may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

• The post holder must be fluent in written and spoken English and French, have excellent organisational prioritisation and coordination skills to meet complex logistical and operational deadlines. They will lead work on behalf of FCDO and the Embassies in the region to ensure communication, policy and strategic opportunities provided by the programme’s activities are identified and delivered.
• The post holder will have strong communication skills, be able to work in a team and independently. They must also be able to engage effectively and develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders at local, national and international levels.
• Experience of working with civil society, local communities, and national governments within respective nations of responsibility.
• Experience of working on forests-related development issues across the region.