Challenge Deforestation levels in Paraguay were very high, and the country faced some of the most significant forest losses compared to global averages. The Atlantic Forest, considered Latin America’s most important biome for biodiversity after the Amazon Forest, is almost gone, even though it was flourishing in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina as recently as the 1970s. Today, only about 7 percent of the original forest remains in Paraguay. Paraguayans have witnessed this change with despair, but the nation has had limited opportunities to arrest or alter this trend. Approach The Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay project, commonly referred to as the Paraguay Biodiversity Project, was designed to serve as Paraguay’s first conservation model to use a landscape management approach based on a biodiversity corridor to support the restoration of the Atlantic Forest. ITAIPU Binational, considered the largest energy generator in the world, worked with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Indigenous Peoples Institute (INDI), farmers, and NGOs to develop this large-scale restoration program aimed at providing the last refuge for many threatened species displaced by conversion of forest into agricultural land. A major challenge was the large size of the proposed corridor, covering one million hectares, and the distance between forest remnants. The implementation model developed in response had two key elements: (i) it included the participation of regional implementing agencies (among them NGOs, women’s groups, indigenous peoples’ associations and farmers’ cooperatives) to increase local ownership, and (ii) it instituted interventions designed by the same constituents. The emphasis was placed on engaging people to work together on restoration actions, rather than on cash transfers or results payments. The Bank-financed project helped build capacities at all levels, including government agencies, grassroots groups and farmers. Goals included improving reforestation with fast growing species for income and wood, restoring stream banks, reducing use of toxic agrochemicals, supporting new regulations and policies for watershed conservation, and constructing infrastructure for protected areas lacking basic services for park rangers and visitors. The participation of indigenous communities and INDI in the range of project activities was critical to reaching the desired project outcomes. Indigenous peoples, though often excluded and lacking basic services, hold some of the largest forest areas in the Atlantic Region, and their interest and engagement in the project was essential to its success. The project planners were committed to overcoming these challenges and to including INDI in the project structure, adjusting project methods to their languages, culture, vision and interests. Results Many outcomes were achieved throughout project implementation. Particularly fruitful developments included the declaration by the Ministry of Environment that the corridor was a national public priority and the formation of a trusted civil society–government network encompassing 55 municipalities, 30 regional implementing groups, and more than 20,000 people working toward restoration of the Atlantic Forest. Other results included the following: · Protected areas, private reserves, and ITAIPU reserves (80,000 hectares owned by the governments of Paraguay and Brazil) implemented sustainable conservation practices. In total, 233,353 hectares in the Mbaracayú–San Rafael Conservation Corridor were converted for this purpose. · Biodiversity conservation efforts under the project supported the protection of the habitat of 296 bird species, including endangered and endemic species such as the Gray-bellied Hawk, Saffron Toucanet, Bare-throated Bellbird, Helmeted Woodpecker, Vinaceous Parrot and Rusty-barred Owl, all of which use the corridor’s habitats. · New infrastructure for parks and the Ministry of Environment of Paraguay was constructed. · Income and food security for small farmers and indigenous communities was supported through implementation of tailored subprojects, such as planting yerba mate, the traditional staple energy drink of Paraguayans, and installing bee hives to produce honey for family consumption and sale. · A total of 130 staff from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture benefited from specialized training on best international practices for managing protected areas, certifying forest production, and monitoring biodiversity, as well as focused studies in environmental economics, agroforestry, apiculture, integrated pest management, watershed conservation, and application of the environmental safeguards policies. · A total of 5,445 teachers from180 schools in the corridor area benefited from an environmental education program that provided them with materials outlining the threats to the Atlantic Forest. These materials inspired these teachers and their students to participate in planting trees and promoting environmental awareness campaigns. Bank Group Contribution The World Bank, through the Global Environment Facility, provided a grant in the amount of US$4.5 million to finance the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay project. Additional funds were provided by ITAIPU Binational in the amount of US$9.74 million, by the Paraguayan government in the amount of US$3.5 million, and by local beneficiaries in the amount of US$830,000. Partners This project set up a unique and unprecedented partnership to foster ecological restoration in Eastern Paraguay’s biodiversity corridor in the Atlantic Forest. With the agreement of the Paraguayan Ministry of the Environment, the Bank and GEF selected ITAIPU, a hydropower plant, as the executing agency for this grant. ITAIPU is a Guarani word meaning “the sounding stone,” and it suggests the sound of the Parana River in the project site. ITAIPU’s previous experience working on the reforestation of the reservoir shore informed its work on the much larger corridor territory. Deforestation intersects with complex sectoral agendas, so ITAIPU was supported in strategic implementation decisions by a multisectoral team, comprised by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and INDI. The project also established innovative partnerships for technical assistance and support for restoration initiatives with medium and larger producers in Eastern Paraguay. These producers included, for example, the cooperatives Yguazu, Agro-silo Ybyporá, and Chololo SRL in an innovative partnership to support sustainable heart of palm production within forestlands. Altogether, the local network extended to more than 50 organizations, including local NGOs, farmers’ associations, indigenous groups, cooperatives, and others. The network became the critical link for implementing more than 1,100 subprojects to enhance ecological restoration of the Atlantic Forest, increase food security and conserve water. ITAIPU contributions, combined with financing from the government of Paraguay and in kind contributions from beneficiaries increased local ownership. The collaboration of many different sectors working together to protect their gran casa, or great house, inspired many government agencies, communities, and stakeholders across the country with the possibility of rebuilding the connectivity of the forest and the home habitat of many threatened species and of increasing the area’s resiliency to climate change. Beneficiaries The increased connectivity of remnants of the Atlantic Forest had four primary types of beneficiaries: (i) farmers (large- and medium-sized as well as 2,500 small campesinos), (ii) 2,283 indigenous families, representing approximately 10,636 indigenous people; (iii) government agencies; and (iv) local and international NGOs. Indigenous peoples were the project’s largest beneficiary group, with about 40 percent of the funds allocated to implement subprojects in these communities. The indigenous communities as well as organizations working with indigenous peoples (IP) in the region partnered with the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in implementing the project. The local IP implementing groups included Asociación Cultural Popular Canindeu, Asociación Yvy Marane’y, Asociación Madre Tierra, Comunidad Ache Puerto Barra, and Asociación Nande Ru Simeon Delgado, among others. The beneficiaries in the government include staff at central ministries and local governments, including the Secretariat of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Indigenous People Institute, National Forestry Agency, Public Ministry, Ministry of Education, and 55 municipalities. Twenty NGOs, including long-standing organizations dedicated to conservation and sustainable production at local and national levels, were also beneficiaries. The project enabled them to advance their sustainability and conservation objectives and to function as service providers. Moving Forward Itaipu Binational has incorporated a landscape and conservation corridor approach to its reforestation program and expanded its watershed protection programs. ITAIPU continues to support the Paraguay Biodiversity Project and the indigenous communities and producers that participated in the project through the provision of additional technical assistance to ensure the sustainability of investments. To this end, a Reimbursable Advisory Services agreement was signed with the World Bank, valued at US$850,000, to continue ITAIPU’s work in consolidating and restoring the Atlantic Forest Corridor. Additional funds from the Program on Forests and other trust funds have also been leveraged to further the sustainability efforts initiated with this GEF grant. Furthermore, the results achieved under this project played a role in UNESCO’s decision to include this corridor as part of a ITAIPU Biosphere Reserve, as it recently declared in Paris.
Protecting the Atlantic Forest: Creating a Biodiversity Corridor in Eastern Paraguay
-
Colombia: Deputy Director for Programs
Organization: International Rescue Committee
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 01 Apr 2019BACKGROUND:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
IRC COLOMBIA
A combined two decades of economic mismanagement, a drop in oil prices, and the deterioration of democratic institutions has resulted in a humanitarian crisis inside Venezuela. Insecurity has manifested following protests in April 2017 against the president and his government, particularly for failing to address the growing inflation rate which lead to large-scale food insecurity. The demonstrations were initially peaceful but grew in severity of violence as time passed. Venezuela’s economic devastation worsened in the last half of 2017. This caused a massive migration of Venezuelans into neighboring Colombia in search of affordable food, medicine and work. The number of Venezuelans living in Colombia has increased to more than one million people.
In response, the IRC has launched emergency programming in Colombia, focusing on an integrated response involving child protection, women’s protection and empowerment activities, primary and reproductive healthcare, and cash transfer programming. The IRC is in the process of delivering these and future activities directly in Colombia, and in partnership with local civil society organizations in Venezuela. In Colombia, IRC currently has operations in Cucuta, and Medellin, and is soon to expand to Bogota and Barranquilla.
Length of Assignment: 2 years
PLEASE SUBMIT AN ENGLISH CV.
JOB OVERVIEW/SUMMARY:
The position of Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is a member of the Senior Management Team and is integral to the successful implementation of IRC’s programs in Colombia. Working under the direction of the Country Director (CD), the DDP is responsible for overall program direction and implementation within the program framework, government policies and strategies, and in compliance with donor regulations, specifically in the areas of a) grant management b) program development, quality and implementation c) day-to-day representation with donor agencies and local and international stakeholders, and d) Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.
The DDP will spearhead the development and execution of the Country Strategic Plan and also be responsible for supervising the Health, Child Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development and Grants Coordinator. This position will work closely and collaboratively with the different departments within the country program, the IRC technical advisors and the IRC Emergency Unit.
The DDP will be based in Bogota, Colombia, with frequent travel to Cucuta, Medellin, Barranquilla, and any other national sites in Colombia where IRC designs and develops programming.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Strategy, Design and Fundraising
- Lead the operationalization of the current IRC Colombia response strategy and actively engage in strategic planning processes for the longer term.
- Ensure, with Coordinators, and HQ-based Technical Unit staff, that project design reflects IRC program quality standards and industry best practices.
- Lead efforts for sustainable program growth, proactively identifying opportunities for new programming initiatives and emphasizing multi-year funding to support them.
- Provide leadership support to the program and grants teams to develop competitive, evidence-based and cost-effective funding applications.
- Provide guidance, strategies and tools to ensure that program choices are based on needs assessment findings (primary & secondary data) and analysis, input from communities, a thorough understanding of context, technical best practices, and operational viability.
- Formulate integrated program initiatives so that technical sectors complement each other and promote mainstreaming of protection principles and gender-responsive approaches.
Program Management – Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Provide overall leadership and management of IRC Colombia program portfolio, ensuring strategically coherent program direction, well-managed growth, and compliance with IRC and donor regulations.
- Continually seek out ways to build the capacities of the program team members, individually and collectively.
- Ensure that detailed, realistic and feasible project implementation plans are developed, and modified as needed, in collaboration with the Program Coordinators and Operations team.
- Coordinate with other members of the Senior Management Team on appropriate management, compliance and performance standards, as well as effective systems for budget management, knowledge management and risk management.
- Support programming staff to collect, document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices, incorporating these into new project designs.
- With program staff, develop effective and appropriate M&E plans, including methodologies and tools to strengthen the quality of data collection, analysis and reporting.
- Review M&E and accountability data with program staff to identify and address areas for operational improvement.
Grants Management
- Provide strategic direction in terms of development of a funding strategy, widening and strengthening donor base, ensuring quality grants management, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, ensuring quality information management related to programs/ grants, and supporting directly in all aspects of the proposal development and reporting processes.
- Supervise all internal, external and reporting with programs and finance, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and IRC and partner requirements; conduct thorough reviews and/or revisions of all external reports compiled by the Grants Coordinator.
- Ensure that Program Coordinators and Grants Senior Manager conduct routine monitoring visits to implementation sites to ensure donor compliance and quality program implementation.
- Coordinate with the Program Coordinators and Grants and Finance teams to ensure sound budget management, expense control and timely contractual documentation.
- Support the Grants Senior Manager to lead Grant Opening and Grant Closing Meetings with all relevant department and units and to ensure they take place on time. Also ensure that programming staff are well trained to properly manage project budgets.
- Ensure that the program coordinators review BvAs on a regular basis; provide leadership and management support to ensure effective monthly grant review meetings.
- Mitigate any potential risk by collaborating with the Finance Department to ensure that programming staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles.
External Representation and Advocacy
- Develop a sound understanding of the IRC’s programs to be able to professionally represent the IRC to implementing partners, the government and donors;
- Assist the Country Director developing strong relationships with donors, assisting with visits and in the development of appropriate advocacy actions;
- Forge and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations through regular communication, cooperation and, where appropriate, joint decision-making.
- Act as the focal point for program-related communication between IRC country programs in the region and worldwide offices.
- Identify funding opportunities and track them in collaboration with the technical teams.
- Oversee programmatic inputs to advocacy efforts both in-country and globally.
Staff Management and Development
- Provide guidance and supervision to the technical coordinators, M&E Manager, the grants senior manager, information officers; to discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback on performance of direct reports, including timely implementation of performance management system.
- Create a supervisory environment focused on the achievement of team and individual results that emphasizes the importance of learning, productivity, accountability and openness
- Adhere to IRC’s performance management system, providing regular, timely and thoughtful coaching, feedback, performance assessment, and professional development for all direct reports, while making sure that they do the same for their direct reports.
- Build capacities of programming staff in key project management principles, tools and approaches and ensure that these new skills are utilized on the job.
- Manage recruitment, hiring and development of high-performing national staff to assume greater levels of responsibility.
- Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
As a leader you will be placed in a position of trust. To maintain that trust, you are expected to always:
- Lead by example and be a positive role model to others.
- Promote awareness of the IRC’s standards and make sure those you supervise are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to comply with them.
- Monitor conduct of those you supervise and take responsibility for activities that occur under your supervision.
- Be responsive to anyone who raises an ethics or compliance concern and make sure matters are resolved in a fair and appropriate manner.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Country Director, Colombia and Venezuela
- Other Colombia-based staff, including operations, finance, and grants
- Technical Advisors (based globally) and any roster staff required to support program staff inside Venezuela
- Awards Management Unit to support all compliance and reporting for partners, as well as proposals
- Global Supply Chain to procure goods and support partners to procure
- Communications and Advocacy units to support any key messages at external meetings
- Global Security to support any risk analysis and mitigation
- Emergency Unit
REQUIREMENTS
Master’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences or a similar field;
Minimum eight years of management experience working in a humanitarian or development setting with a minimum of five years of INGO program management experience.
Experience in managing protection, ERD and/or health, and experience working in partnership with local organizations, is strongly desired.
Proven ability to develop winning proposals to public and private-sector donors;
Familiarity and experience with US and European, donors;
Previous experience managing programs financed by US government agencies, DFID, EU, foundations and private donors a must, with previous experience in competitive environments a plus.
Proven ability to manage projects to completion on time, within budget, and with the anticipated results.
Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
Demonstrated successful leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching. Strong leadership, motivational and team-building skills;
Proven fluency in English and Spanish a must
How to apply:
https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=rescue&id=3988
-
Colombia: Oficial Grants
Organization: Save the Children
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 10 Mar 2019
TITULO DEL PUESTO: Oficial GrantsEQUIPO/PROGRAMA: Desarrollo de programas y Calidad
UBICACION: Bogotá
GRADO: 4 – oficiales
Tipo de Contrato: Término Definido a 31 de dic…
-
Brazil: Corporate Alliances Acquisition Associate, GS-6, Brasília, Brazil post# 109567
Organization: UN Children’s Fund
Country: Brazil
Closing date: 07 Mar 2019UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, make a difference
The Corporate Partnerships team has ambitious fundraising targets and outcomes to be reached based on market potential and building on successful results of 2018. Our aim and vision are to develop, manage and enhance the fundraising potential of working with businesses in Brazil and a core part of achieving this vision is the Corporate Alliances (CA) acquisition team (new business).
After review, additional resource is being created to support the Acquisition (new business team) to embrace the new fundraising challenges and to reach the extra income success. The Corporate Alliances Acquisition Associate will support the CA Acquisition (new business) team with a strategic focus on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) alliance models. The role will have the objective to support the leverage of the flexible or non-fixed income fundraising potential to support both, the local and global UNICEF Programme.
For further information, please visit www.unicef.org.br
How can you make a difference?
Under the supervision of the Corporate Fundraising Officer (Acquisition), the Acquisition Associate will undertake supporting tasks for new business such as:
- Assist in specifying the pipeline and building corporate alliances focused on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) models, but not exclusively in those formats.
- Support in the initial preparation of proposals with the new business team.
- Assist on the implementation of the alliances and on reaching planned results.
Join our team to be responsible for:
1) Implementation of corporate alliances focused on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) models and other acquisition campaigns:
- Continuously map new corporate partnership opportunities, initiate contact with the companies’ focal points, and participate in the alliances’ prospecting processes;
- Proceed with the Geneva clearance process on potential and current donor companies on a weekly basis;
- Prepare and internally/externally approve the partnership contract; and keep corporate prospection planning documents update;
- Follow up the delivering of annual reports to the partners and support in the negotiation of renewal focusing on the best results for UNICEF;
- Support the planning and implementation processes of the corporate alliances campaigns by following up the milestones and results of it in collaboration with Market Services team;
- Approach partners during emergency campaigns to explore additional fundraising opportunities;
- Continuously research and test new and innovative ways of work to improve quality in results and to simplify procedures of processing the donations;
- Monthly searching about competitors’ corporate alliances mechanisms and good practices, evaluating replicability;
- Fortnightly, support plan and project pitches and campaigns with Marketing Services support and other related areas, including outsourced agencies.
2) Suppliers relationship:
- Assist and support in developing, drafting and maintaining contract information, monitoring reports and relationships with current and new providers involved in the corporate alliances through UNICEF;
- Assist the development of new providers and follow up biding processes with Operations Sector / RM&P Associate as required;
Ensure that the providers’ payments are due and delivered on time.
3) Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Monitor and support the implementation of the corporate alliances campaigns to target audiences and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of each campaign materials/channels;
- Support and monitor the level of fulfilment and success in donations processing, by analyzing and studying the best way to improve it;
- Conduct the target and results analysis and control. Continuously monitoring campaign goals and marketing metrics related to customer engagement;
Compile lessons learned and support the review of successful and unsuccessful campaigns.
4) Assignments of additional administrative duties and responsibilities:
- Map potential companies from different segments and support on organizing the list of priority companies to be reached and prospected on a monthly basis;
- Research about the prospected companies and support the evaluation of fundraising opportunities;
- Assist the preparation of periodical corporate alliances fundraising reports, monitor and maintain control of records and results;
Develop, organize and maintain up-to-date data, information, record documents and control plans for the monitoring of project implementation; maintains library of corporate alliances reference materials.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Completion of secondary education preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization. A University degree is desirable (Business Administration, International Relations, Economics or Marketing);
- At least six years of professional experience related to corporate fundraising, clients’ engagement, partnership development, or marketing;
- Experience in retail sales is an asset
- Fluency in Portuguese and English. Knowledge of Spanish will be considered as an asset
For every Child, you demonstrate
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The technical competencies required for this post are Relating and networking (I), Persuading and influencing (II), Planning and organizing (I) and Following Instructions and Procedures (II)
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Candidates must be Brazilian citizens or have a valid work permit.
All candidates who wish to apply to this Vacancy Announcement are requested to prepare and submit their application in English.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520028
