Home ›

Advisor, REDD+ SES

PrintPrint
Organization Hiring: 
Conservation International

Location

Arlington, VA
United States

 

Advisor, REDD+ SES
Location: United States- Arlington, VA Headquarters
Job Code: 232
# of openings: 1
Description
The REDD+ SES (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation plus Social and Environmental Standard) initiative is seeking an Advisor to support the use of the REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards (REDD+ SES) at country level, particularly in countries in the Latin America region. 
 
The REDD+ SES consist of principles, criteria and indicators that define high social and environmental performance of a government-led program to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) implemented at national or state/province level. REDD+ SES provides an internationally agreed framework that is used to support design, implementation and assessment of a REDD+ program through a country-led, multi-stakeholder process supported by a joint government and civil society facilitation team. Five countries started using REDD+ SES in 2010-2011 and six more have expressed interest in joining the initiative in 2012, including Ecuador, Acre (Brazil), Amazonas (Brazil), San Martin (Peru), Mexico and Guatemala in the Latin America region. The REDD+ SES Advisor will join the REDD+ SES international secretariat formed by the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), CARE International and ProForest Initiative. The secretariat supports the overall development of the REDD+ SES initiative within the evolving context of safeguards for REDD+ activities, raises awareness about the initiative, provides capacity building and support for the country-led use of the REDD+ SES, organizes exchange and learning events between actors in countries using the REDD+ SES, and organizes meetings of the International Standards Committee that oversees the REDD+ SES initiative.  
 
The REDD+ SES Advisor will be employed by Conservation International, the convenor of the CCBA, and based at the organization’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia (Washington DC area), USA. The successful candidate will have 3+ years relevant work experience,  bachelors degree or higher in a relevant field, a good understanding of REDD+ and of the social and biodiversity dimensions of REDD or of forest/natural resource/land use management and demonstrated experience of facilitating and supporting participatory processes and workshops involving government and a broad range of diverse civil society and other stakeholders, including indigenous peoples organisations and local community associations, in a Latin American country, with experience building consensus and developing trust and buy-in through sensitive management of the process, as well as possess excellent language skills in English and Spanish. 
 
RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
The primary duties of the REDD+ SES Advisor are:
  • Provide technical support and capacity building for in-country government/civil society facilitation teams in the Latin American countries participating in the REDD+ SES initiative to help them to use the REDD+ SES effectively through a multi-stakeholder approach;
  • Participate in meetings and make presentations to raise awareness and understanding about the REDD+ SES initiative, particularly in countries in the Latin America region interested in participating in the REDD+ SES initiative, at the REDD+ SES exchange and learning workshops and in other relevant fora;
  • Assist the CCBA Director and other members of the REDD+ SES international secretariat with research, analysis and preparation of materials to support the development of the REDD+ SES initiative and the development of capacity among in-country partners for the multi-stakeholder approach and effective use of the REDD+ SES. 
 
 
Working Conditions:
  • Located in Conservation Internatinal offices in Arlington, Virginia.
  • Frequent international travel required (around 30%)
 
 
QUALIFICTIONS:
 
Required:
  • 3+ years experience working on a related initiative.
  • Bachelors degree or higher in relevant field.
  • Good understanding of REDD+ and of the social and biodiversity dimensions of REDD or of forest/natural resource/land use management.
  • Demonstrated experience of facilitating and supporting participatory processes and workshops involving government and a broad range of diverse civil society and other stakeholders, including indigenous peoples organisations and local community associations, in a Latin American country, with experience building consensus and developing trust and buy-in through sensitive management of the process.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to develop documents and presentations that enable understanding by a variety of audiences of complex processes and content, seeking out and synthesizing a range of relevant input and developing effective conclusions and messages.
  • Experience organising or facilitating exchange of experience and learning between stakeholder groups, for example between different countries or regions within a country;
  • A track record of delivering results while juggling competing priorities under intense time pressures
  • Ability to work well in a team setting across cultures and to encourage collaboration among diverse partners and internally within an institution.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills in Spanish
 
Preferred:
  • Good written and verbal communication skills in languages widely used for forest carbon activities in addition to English and Spanish such as French, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesian etc.
  • A good knowledge of social and environmental standards and safeguards for REDD+ activities, including experience participating in the REDD+ SES initiative or a similar multi-stakeholder process at country-level