JOB DESCRIPTION. Real-time monitoring (RTM) Project Coordinator

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION Real-time monitoring (RTM) Project Coordinator Start date: January 2016 Duration of contract: Until 31 st March 2018 Reporting to: Research and Policy Coordinator Close working relationship with: Country Programmes Coordinators, GIS Coordinator, Finance Manager. The Rainforest Foundation UK The mission of the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is to support indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the world's rainforest to: Secure and control the natural resources necessary for their long-term wellbeing and managing these resources in ways which do not harm their environment, violate their culture or compromise their future. Develop means to protect their individual and collective rights and to obtain, shape and control basic services from the state. RFUK considers that an essential first step to protect and manage the tropical forests and to reduce poverty in tropical forest countries is to realise the rights of the traditional and indigenous communities who live in those forests. With secure rights to land and livelihoods, forest peoples can effectively manage forest resources and direct and manage their own development. Founded in 1989, RFUK has in the past 20 years built a solid body of work based on this rights-based approach to development and protection of the rainforest. Although our work is focused on the Congo Basin, where RFUK has worked since 1996, we also work in the Peruvian Amazon. RFUK tackles the underlying causes of deforestation and the linked problem of disenfranchisement of indigenous forest peoples globally and locally. From the field to the international policy arena, RFUK reinforces the influence of forest peoples over decisions that affect them. We work with over 15 partner organisations in tropical forest countries and our programmes work is split into the following thematic areas: Threats to forests from the extractive industries, infrastructure development and agro-industrial expansion; Conservation effectiveness and monitoring of initiatives to reduce deforestation from deforestation and degradation (REDD); Community-based forest management, land-use planning and tenure reform; Community mapping and forest monitoring; Indigenous peoples rights.

2 RFUK currently has 18 staff, with a number of volunteers or interns at any given time. It is governed by a Board of seven Trustees. The London-based Foundation is part of a network of sister organisations, which also include the Rainforest Foundation US and the Rainforest Foundation Norway. Community-based real-time forest monitoring Illegal logging is on the rise in many parts of West and Central Africa, not only causing environmental damage but impacting the lives of millions of forestdependent people. The potential role of forest dwellers in monitoring forests has been largely overlooked in favour of an externally-driven model that relies heavily on third party monitors, typically based abroad or in capital cities. This can lead to prohibitively costly and inefficient programmes that have contributed little to tackling illegality through the supply chain from source to EU markets. In April 2015, the Rainforest Foundation UK successfully developed and launched a ground-breaking new system which enables communities anywhere in the world to capture and transmit accurately geo-referenced reports of forest illegalities to a central database in real-time, even from areas where there is no mobile phone or internet connectivity (see Such a technology holds the potential to transform the way that forests are governed and monitored, improving data flows, increasing transparency, improving efficiency and enabling much easier analysis of the quality of enforcement of observed infractions. RFUK has secured funding from the UK Department of International Development (DFID) to trial community-based real-time monitoring of forest activities in Ghana, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With local partners, it will test the opportunities to integrate such systems into governmental forest enforcement mechanisms, as a means of containing illegal logging and contributing to the implementation of VPAs. The project will start 1 st October

3 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES General: The RTM Project Coordinator will ensure the implementation of the DFID-funded Community-based real-time forest monitoring in three countries to support FLEGT processes project, providing close support to local partner organisations in DRC, Cameroon and Ghana. S/he will work with different members of the RFUK Programmes team including the Research and Policy Coordinator, the Mapping Coordinator, the GIS Coordinator, Country Programme Coordinators and the Head of Programmes. Specific responsibilities and tasks: The RTM Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks, under the supervision of the Research and Policy Coordinator: 1. Project management Ensuring that the project is implemented and managed in DRC, Cameroon and Ghana according to the Programmes and project strategy, logframe, budget and timetable; Supporting the design, implementation and monitoring of the RTM system in each of the countries, including how it should be organised, data verification and enforcement mechanisms and possible incentives and risks; Liaising with national authorities, national and international institutions, NGO partners and other relevant actors (such as Universities, local media etc.), as appropriate; Monitoring relevant national and international policy and technical developments, particularly concerning forest monitoring; Conducting regular visits to the countries (up to 20 weeks per year) to follow up on project implementation and provide support to partners, including to remote forest areas as required; Managing the project budget; Preparing narrative and financial reports of the project, including to DFID and for internal monitoring purposes, under the supervision of the Research and Policy Coordinator; Ensuring implementation of Programme evaluations and audits (in coordination with the Programmes Administrator and Finance Coordinator), including developing appropriate TORs, advising on suitable external consultants and participating in evaluation visits, as required. 2. Support to local partners and capacity building Maintaining permanent liaison with and providing continuous support to NGO partners in DRC, Cameroon and Ghana to implement and monitor the project; Delivering capacity strengthening and support through mentoring and training to staff of local partner organisations; Identifying and developing other potential local partners in the three countries, as may be appropriate for further project and programme development. 3

4 3. Information and communication Preparing to publications standard text for programme and policy materials and publications, as appropriate, including leaflets, briefings, reports and internet material, in liaison with other Programme and non-programme staff; Under the guidance of the Research and Policy Coordinator and/or the Media and Communications Manager and/or the Executive Director, developing and conducting relevant media outreach; Contributing to the development of the RFUK s organisational knowledge base, such as by providing contacts for the central database etc. 4. Other Supervising the work of consultants, researchers, interns and volunteers as appropriate; Representing the organisation in relevant local, national and international fora, on relevant policy issues, as appropriate, and under the guidance of the Policy and Research Coordinator; Assisting in the identification and preparation of new opportunities for programme development, including the preparation of funding proposals relevant for the development of the RFUK Programmes strategy; Contributing to the development and implementation of the Programme strategy, especially in the area of community forest monitoring; Participating in RFUK s strategic development, including attending internal meetings, strategy away days etc.; Performing other tasks as may from time to time be requested by the Research and Policy Coordinator, the Head of Programmes and the Executive Director. 4

5 PERSON SPECIFICATION Detail Essential Desirable Knowledge and Master Degree in law, anthropology or international Working experience in Africa. Experience development or a related subject. Experience in managing consultants, interns and At least 3 to 5 years experience volunteers. of project management in a charity or in an international Experience of working to tight deadlines. development context. Experience of Experience in managing large scale and complex projects. participating to high level meetings. Experience in working in developing countries. Experience in working with local NGOs. Fluent in both English and French, written and spoken. Financial/budget management in a charity/development project context. High level of competence in using software packages, including main Microsoft Office applications. Detail Essential Desirable Personal Skills and Attributes Empathy with and commitment to the Rainforest Foundation s Vision and Mission. Good communication skills. Capacities to analyse Committed to human rights, social justice and environmental protection. legal context and opportunities. Desire and capacities to work on complex issues in a complex environment. Capacities to work with local NGOs and to deliver key support in all the relevant areas. Willingness to travel up to 20 weeks per year in the DRC, Cameroon and Ghana including in remote forest areas and potentially elsewhere. Capacity to dialogue with senior staff of national and international institutions. Excellent writing skills in both French and English. Excellent organisational and 5

6 time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. Ability to work in a team, or alone under the direction of the Programme Manager. Willingness and ability to learn on the job, keen to undertake training and development. 6

7 Summary Terms and Conditions Hours, remuneration and place of work The post is offered on 2 year and 3 month contract (ideally starting from 4 th January 2016), with a 6-month probationary period. The post is a full time post, based on a 35 hour working week. The starting salary is 33,421 per annum, including London weighting. Monthly salary is paid by Bank Automated Credit transfer, on the 25th of every month. Holidays, sick pay and other benefits are provided in accordance with statutory requirements. At present, 30 days paid leave per year are offered. Non-contributory pension (4% of salary, commencing on satisfactory completion of 6-month probationary period). The place of work is 233a Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2JT. This is a nonsmoking environment. There is no parking provided for the post-holder, although bicycles are allowed in the building. Equal Opportunities RF UK is an equal opportunities employer, and makes no discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, age, physical abilities, religious or sexual persuasion. 233a Kentish Town Road unfortunately is not as accessible to those with physical disabilities as the organisation would like, but every effort will be made to provide an accessible and pleasant working environment for all staff, trustees, volunteers and visitors. 7