Programme Officer – Forestry and Natural Resources Management at Christian Aid (CA)

Christian Aid (CA) is a UK-based international NGO, partnering with others to end poverty in Africa. At the heart of this vision is the transformation of the lives of people who live in poverty, empowering them to have a brighter future. Christian Aid works in more than 30 countries and has been operating in Nigeria since 2003. The Nigeria Country programme focuses on Community Health and HIV, Accountable Governance including humanitarian response and Gender.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Officer – Forestry and Natural Resources Management  

Department: International
Location: Monguno, Borno
Type of contract: Fixed Term
Contracted hours: 35
Contract length: 6 months
Reports to: Programme Coordinator

Role Purpose

• The Programme Officer will be responsible for designing and implementing all Forestry and Natural Resource Management (FNRM) project activities in the target communities in Monguno LGA, both directly and indirectly through training / mentoring of project FNRM Assistants and community volunteers linking up with BOSADP, other NGOs and private sector actors at the community level.

Role Context

• The FNRM Officer should provide community project supervision, promotes and values participatory approaches at the community level throughout the projects’ cycle, awareness raising and sensitisation, and all related program activities, Pre and Post forestry related activities (tree nursery, pitting, transplanting and management of tree seedlings) Monitoring (PAM) as well as supporting monitoring and evaluation under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator. During the absence of the Program Coordinator, the Programme Officer will wholly be accountable for the project under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Coordinator Maiduguri.

Key Outcomes:

• Under the direct supervision of the Program Coordinator and in collaboration with the FNRM Officer and community volunteers and other team members of the program and of the base, the Program

Role Profile

Officer FNRM will:

• Facilitate initial community entry activities, mapping, and assessments.
• Manage the community project plans and make recommendations for approval of community project activities
• Organize and initiate training of beneficiaries on construction of drainage ditches, tree nursery and tree planting.
• Facilitate Natural Resources Management related surveys in communities on construction of drainage ditches, tree nursery and tree planting.
• Prepare action plans and provide direct support to beneficiaries through visits, in line with the action plans and as required.
• Initiate / facilitate links and referrals relationships between the beneficiaries and community groups and local sources of support.
• Ensure all documentation, reports, and records from the community are maintained per agreed procedure, and information is provided on community activities as required.
• Co-facilitate step-down trainings with beneficiaries and community groups on various topics under construction of drainage ditches, tree nursery and tree planting as outlined in the implementation plan.
• Support beneficiaries and community groups to conduct assessments / project activities to all especially women in the communities.
• Work on relevant value chain actors and their service providers (Private BDS providers)
• Support activities on community disaster risk reduction, famer field schools, asset transfer and revolving fund management, community-based saving and lending groups opportunities.
• Support training on construction of drainage ditches, tree nursery and tree planting in the communities.
• Ensure data collection on construction of drainage ditches, tree nursery and tree planting under technical guidance of the M&E officer
• Coordinate with community- BOSADP, other NGOs and private sector actors.

Indirect implementation:
Support Project Stakeholders to implement FNRM program activities in the target communities, as listed above, through:

• Co-facilitation of community training on various issues and topics on construction of drainage ditches, tree nursery and tree planting as outlined in the project implementation plan and training modules.
• Work with LGA based project teams to model techniques and processes for community engagement under direct implementation.
• In subsequent stages of community engagement, provide mentoring and oversight for the activities of the FNRM Assistants and community volunteers.
• Maintain documentation and M&E systems at the community level:  under the technical guidance of M&E officer, work with community mobilizers, FNRM Assistants, beneficiaries and community groups to ensure that all documents for beneficiaries’ groups are kept up-to-date, accurate, and secured; and ensure that information is compiled as needed in an accurate and timely basis to assess progress against activities and outcomes for each community.
• Support the CAID Program Coordinator and stakeholders as required in externally representing the program to government agencies, other implementing partners and service providers. Help establish referral systems with other service providers at the local level, to be utilized by community volunteers, FNRM Assistants, beneficiary and community groups to refer beneficiaries for services not provided by this program.
• Support the community volunteers, FNRM Assistants, beneficiary and community groups to explore opportunities for soliciting additional indigenous support to program beneficiaries from local resources through community and in-kind contributions
• Co-facilitate training activities for external agencies and private sector actors as required, and in line with the programme implementation plan.
• Work with the Finance, Admin, Logistics, Security, Procurement Officers, project partners, and community volunteers, and FNRM Assistants to ensure that all financial activities conducted in each community are properly documented in line with CAID policies and donor procedures.
• Other ad hoc tasks as requested by Programme Coordinator.

Role Requirements

Relationships:

• External Build strong relationships with partners, networks, donors, stakeholders and community beneficiaries.
• Internal Build a strong relationship with program departments, FSL / WASH Staff, MEAL officers, program managers, M&E units and all in-country and global staff.

Decision Making:

• Make decisions to manage community gate keepers effectively, from identification of volunteers and FNRM Assistants to the day-to-day management of community FNRM programme teams.
• Day-to-day decision to ensure community projects are running effectively and supporting the projects informed by Christian Aid’s strategy and strategic focus areas.
• Make contributions around project proposals, ensuring they are prepared and comply with community expectations.

Analytical Skills:

• Works on complex issues.  Problems and issues, risks and benefits may have implications across several project components.
• Required to develop new ways of doing things to better meet program goals requiring creative or analytical ability.

Developing self and others:

• Has direct responsibility for developing, coaching and motivating a community team.

Person specification

Applied skills / knowledge and expertise:

Essential:

• Essential Criteria
• Level of Education  – Degree, in any relevant field with at least 3 years’ experience
• Must have substantial experience in implementing community-level development projects, using participatory engagement and grassroots mobilization techniques.
• Experience working on value chain actors and their service providers (Private BDS providers)
• Sound experience working on disaster risk reduction, farmer field schools, asset transfer and revolving fund management, community-based saving and lending groups
• Excellent training and facilitation skills with a wide variety of groups having diverse experiences, backgrounds, skills, and education levels.
• Experience in handling grants to local groups, ensuring appropriate basic documentation and accountability at the community / field level.
• Excellent verbal communication and listening skills.
• Language Requirements: Spoken English-Excellent; Written English-Good (ability to type and prepare reports and other documents as needed.)
• Must be able to speak at least one local language predominant in that state.

Desirable:

• Involvement in relevant value chain projects, and / or those involving vulnerable people, especially those with asset / cash transfer components and / or interventions.
• Experience in engaging directly with vulnerable people, facilitating women activities and / or facilitating vulnerable people’s participation in meetings, discussions, etc.
• Involvement in projects and / or initiatives that address issues of power, diversity, exclusion, participation, and gender.
• Ability to multi-task, engage in long-term planning, meet deadlines, and handles last-minute demands; exercise patience, and adapt to changing circumstances.

IT competency required:

• Basic

Competency Profile

LEVEL 2: You are expected to be able to:

Build Partnerships

• Take on different work when necessary to achieve a team or organisational goal.
• Actively consult with others to ensure you understand their needs or goals.
• Listen to and take on board fresh perspectives and views even if you initially disagree with them.
• Maintain on-going relationships with individuals and contacts through networks, based on mutual rapport and respect.

Communicate Effectively:

• Make complex things simple for the benefit of others.
• Actively listen and question to check your understanding and draw out others when they are not expressing themselves clearly or seem to be holding back.
• Be sensitive to what others may be feeling, based on what they say, how they say it and their non-verbal behaviour, adapting your style and approach to fit.
• Address difficult issues when they arise, being honest and open.

Steward resources:

• Implement ways to reduce the inefficient use of resources or pass the ideas on to someone who can make them happen.
• Estimate the resources needed to achieve your own work plans or objectives and to deliver them in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
• Set and communicate realistic timelines for achieving tasks, working out how best to adapt as priorities change or unforeseen circumstances arise.

Deliver Results:

• Prioritise, plan and monitor own work to meet own and team deliverables to agreed performance or quality standards.
• Acknowledge others’ priorities whilst being prepared to say “no” if there are genuine reasons why their needs cannot be met.
• Use logical processes and relevant tools and techniques to report on information or analyse options.
• Make timely and considered recommendations or decisions based on analysis of available data, information and evidence.

Realise Potential:

• Evaluate your own work and actively address gaps in knowledge and skills, without prompting.
• Recognise how you react to feedback and manage reactions positively, acting on specific feedback from others.
• Share your knowledge where it will help others to be more effective.
• Provide instruction, constructive feedback and guidance to others to help them learn.

Strive for Improvement:

• Constructively challenge existing practice.
• Seek better ways of doing things, considering the possible implications.
• Make positive suggestions on a way forward when faced with challenges even if these falls outside own scope of work.
• Look inside and outside Christian Aid for new ideas and evaluate them for own work

Salary Pro-rated
N8,114,408 per month

Application Closing Date
8th March, 2020.

Interview Date
17th March 2020