Skills Search: U.S. Forest Service Central African Republic Country Coordinator

Bangui, Central African Republic

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Office of International Programs may require the services of a country coordinator to help administer U.S. government (USG)-funded programs in the Central Africa Republic (CAR).

Background

The USFS, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Department of State, has ongoing or developing partnerships with Congo Basin country governments as well as with regional institutions and organizations in the Congo Basin region, to address sustainable management of forest resources, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through various USG programs aimed at conserving critical Congo Basin forests, USFS is strengthening the institutional and technical capacities of governmental and intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations. In collaboration with these organizations USFS is strengthening community-based models for forest management, conservation and restoration; increasing effectiveness of protected area management and ecotourism; improving capacity to deter illegal timber harvest and trade; and monitoring measuring and reporting changes in forestry and other land use, among other programs.

To implement these programs, USFS currently has country offices and staff in four countries in the region: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo. With likely expansion of program activities to CAR, USFS may hire a country coordinator to manage its CAR operations.

Position Description

In collaboration with the USFS International Programs office in Washington, DC, the USFS CAR Country Coordinator (coordinator) will oversee the design, implementation, reporting and overall management of activities with partners in-country. The coordinator will work with colleagues from the Government of CAR, USFS, the U.S. Embassy and other partner organizations and serve as USFS’s in-country representative. The coordinator will organize the visits/involvement of short- term technical advisors from the USFS who will contribute their expertise to these initiatives over the tenure of the project. The coordinator will be based in Bangui and travel within CAR as needed in support of program development and implementation. The coordinator will also contribute to the development of additional programming in CAR, by carrying out relevant stakeholder outreach and assessments, as well as through written contributions to proposals.

The coordinator will report to the USFS Regional Coordinator for Central Africa and will work closely with USFS colleagues based in the Central Africa region and the U.S. The coordinator will also work with colleagues from partner institutions (e.g., governmental and non-governmental institutions, local communities, academia, development partners, and relevant development partner-supported projects) on a continuous basis.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in forestry, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science, or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience in natural resource management;

  • Familiarity with natural resource policy and governance in CAR, including challenges and successful models with respect to sustainable management;

  • Demonstrated leadership and management skills; capable of executing complex tasks with minimal supervision over an extended timeline;

  • Excellent interpersonal, writing and presentation skills;

  • Project administration and financial management skills, and associated attention to detail;

  • Prior experience managing U.S. government or other international donor-funded activities preferred;

  • Ability to work in a dynamic environment with in-country and U.S. government agencies, international donors, NGOs, community groups, and other stakeholders;

  • Experience working with key government partners in CAR is strongly preferred;

  • Passionate about working with others to achieve sustainable natural resource management and conservation outcomes;

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the coordinator include but are not limited to:

  • Serve as the local point of contact for USFS activities, working with the appropriate CAR, regional and international partner institutions;

  • Collaborate with colleagues from Government of CAR, non-governmental organizations, private sector, academia, and community partner organizations on design and oversight of core project activities;

  • Contributing substantively to the preparation and execution of national and regional training workshops;

  • Coordinate with USFS program managers to prepare work plans, budgets, technical reports and all other relevant aspects of program implementation in a timely manner;

  • Work closely with the regional program managers to coordinate the effective implementation of all USFS activities in CAR;

  • Work closely with in-country partner institutions to support capacity building, identify additional needs and provide feedback to the USFS program managers;

  • Orienting and coordinating the activities of visiting teams of USFS and other international experts, as well as coordinating with program country counterparts and other technical consultant missions;

  • Managing logistics, financial, and administrative tasks for program activities, including but not limited to events, meetings, and regional travel;

  • Coordinating with other related USFS technical assistance programming in the Central Africa region to ensure maximum programming impact and effectiveness; and

  • Represent USFS in national and regional sustainable forest management contexts and in support of inter-agency programs such as USAID/CARPE and SilvaCarbon activities.

 

Oversight and Reporting

The coordinator will report to the USFS Regional Coordinator for Central Africa at the USFS/IP Africa & Middle East office, who will provide regular evaluation and guidance.

Period of Performance: One year, with possibility of extension

Location of Work: Bangui, CAR, with occasional travel in country as needed.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Timeline: Apply by April 1st, 2023

If the US Forest Service were to secure the services of an individual with these technical skills, the successful applicant would be hired through a contractor.

Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to the HR Department at METI to IPJOBS@meticorp.com with USFS CAR Country Coordinator in the subject line. METI is an Equal Opportunity Employer: M/F/V/D www.meticorp.com

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