Colombia: Senior Volunteer Climate change adaptation and ecosystem – based management, Colombia [VOL4AID_COL_ECO_SR]
Organization: ActionAid
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 10 Apr 2017
ActionAid Hellas, as a certified sending organization within the EU Aid Volunteers framework, is searching for one senior volunteer in Climate change adaption and ecosystem in order to deploy him/her to Alianza Colombia. Please, check all the available EU Aid Volunteers vacancies of ActionAid Hellas through our website here http://www.actionaid.gr/upostirixe-mas/ethelontismos/eu-aid-volunteers/
EU Aid Volunteers Initiative gives the opportunity to a significant number of volunteers around Europe to offer their support in a humanitarian aid context. The main idea of the program is to strengthen the capacities of the local communities of the developing world, so as to increase their capacity of resilience and response. For more information about the Initiative, please follow the link http://ec.europa.eu/echo/what/humanitarian-aid/eu-aid-volunteers_en
In the terms of EU Aid Volunteers Initiative, this volunteer in Climate change adaption and ecosystem will be deployed from ActionAid Hellas to Alianza Colombia from 15/09/2017 – 14/09/2018 . The full description of the position is available in the following link https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/echo/eu-aid-volunteers_en/senior-volunteer-climate-change-adaptation-and-ecosystem-based-management-colombia-vol4aidcolecosr_en
Technical Tasks
a. Support Alianza Colombia’s office in Biodiversity integration and Ecosystems-based Adaptation (EbA)
b. Support to the preparation of methodology and implementation of practices related to a proper use of water regarding risks and needs assessment in the areas of work.
c. Raise awareness in the communities about the importance of an efficient use of water from the source to the moment of consumption, in order to promote a change in attitudes in that respect.
d. Support the identification and check-up of existent water coverage and water treatment measures, in order to assess current conditions and propose measures according to the sanitation and purification needs.
e. Prepare a strategy for the composting of faecal sludges in order to reduce the contamination of soild and surface water in case of events such as prolonged drought and torrential rain.
f. Support the identification, mapping and delimitation of protected areas, and the recharge of water sources and connected groundwater which must be protected or rehabilitated, including the evaluation of socioeconomic and environmental conditions, and the use of land of areas surrounding such sources and recharging zones, together with the technical team, communities and institutions.
g. Realisation of activities associated, among others, to the design and implementation of climate-change adaptation measures aiming at the conservation and adaptive management of supplying micro-basins.
h. Support the preparation and implementation of guidelines for the protection or ecologic rehabilitation of every protected area, and recharge identified water sources and groundwater so that they adapt to specific conditions. This includes the identification of mechanisms to foster the participation of landowners in this initiative.
i. Prepare a strategy to integrate events information (prolonged droughts and torrential rains) in the decision-making on land use, productive practices, and planning processes, in order to increase resilience of rural communities to cope with water variability.
j. Technical support to the identification and elaboration of proposals on climate change ecosystem-based adaptation measures so that they are integrated in the policies, strategies and investments related to water supply infrastructure and services for rural communities.
k. Support the review of information and the development of a baseline during the evaluations of current vulnerability and future climatic risks of water supply systems.
l. Design of an adaptive management plan for the river basin, together with the technical staff of Alianza.
m. Together with the local technical staff, participate in the preparation of an strategy for viability and sustainability of the adaptation process and adaptive management plan.
n. Support reports writing at the internal and external level.
o. Support the implementation of other specific activities and report writing of the project.
p. Participate in any other activity related to volunteer’s mission and requested by the country coordinator.
Coordination Tasks
a. Participate in team coordination meetings.
b. The volunteer will work in close collaboration with the technical staff of Alianza Colombia, the different partners, and the EUAV project team.
Communication and Awareness on EU Aid Volunteers Initiative
a. Draft and publish articles describing volunteer’s experience in the field.
b. Gather audio-visual materials to be used in a public awareness activity conducted by the volunteers’ community in Europe.
c. Organise and execute a public awareness activity once back in Europe, in coordination with the partner NGOs of the project.
Required Competences
Studies
University degree in Engineering, preferably Agricultural Engineering or Environmental Sciences
Experience
At least 5 years experience in: use and handling of water sources; design, supervision and planning of projects to build drinkable water networks; WASH and humanitarian action (emergency, protection); development with components of preparation, mitigation, response and disasters risk awareness.
Knowledge and experience in issues of disaster risk reduction.
Experience in gender issues, institutional strengthening, planning, active citizenship, and advocacy will be an asset.
Knowledge on the implementation of minimum standards for gender violence prevention and response in cases of emergency.
Experience in risk management under gender approach will be an asset.
Knowledge of participatory tools and methodologies for planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
Proven experience in participatory processes facilitation at different levels and with different audiences (community and local institutions).
Experience in similar works in Latin America will be an asset.
Languages
Spanish C1
English B2
Skills
Design of strategies, programs and projects.
Capacities to use the logical framework approach as a tool for projects design and monitoring.
Mastery and experience in gender equality and its application to vulnerable and marginalised population.
Excellent skills for institutional relations, teamworking, organisation and planning
Capacity to adapt and work in varied situations and with different situations and people/groups.
Ability to designs and attain clear goals, aligned with agreed strategies, and to prioritise activities and assignments, according to institutional definitions.
Good people skills, communication and conflict solving abilities.
Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, AUTOCAD, GIS, e-mail and internet)
Excellent written and oral communication and capacity to easily write reports and documents.
Teamworking abilities
Other Competences
Knowledge and interest in issues such as humanitarian action, gender, human rights, peacebuilding, etc.
Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships
Volunteering mind-set
Managing oneself in a pressured and changing environment
Demonstrating leadership
Achieving results
Understanding the humanitarian context of the EU Aid Volunteers initiative and applying humanitarian principles
Operating safely and securely at all times
Managing projects in humanitarian contexts
Communication and advocacy
Technical competences resulting from specialised knowledge related to humanitarian action
The volunteer will be evaluated on his/her reliability, working initiative, autonomy, efficacy, efficiency, group work and punctuality.
How to apply:
Please, follow this link in order to find the vacancy announcement https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/echo/eu-aid-volunteers_en/senior-volunteer-climate-change-adaptation-and-ecosystem-based-management-colombia-vol4aidcolecosr_en
On the bottom of the vacancy’s announcement page, there is an “Apply now” link. Before clicking and filling in the on-line application form, please download the CV Europass and the self-assessment questionnaire, which can be found right above the «Apply now» link. You will then have to complete those documents and upload them to your application, together with a motivation letter. Please do not forget to complete all the fields of the application form and click on the «submit» button.
