JOB DESCRIPTION. Programme Coordinator rights and legal capacity building

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION Programme Coordinator rights and legal capacity building Effective from: July 2012 Reporting to: Head of Programmes Duration of Contract: Until September 2014 (including 6 month probationary period and with possibilities for extension) Close working relationship with: Head of Programmes; Central African Republic Coordinator; Policy, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator; Forests and Climate Change Advisor and Programme Administrator, and additional staff and consultants in the Programmes Team as required. 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 focussed 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. Working with over 35 partner organisations, our work is split into four main themes: Forests and Climate Change Land and Resource Rights 1

2 Indigenous peoples and forest communities rights Organizational capacity strengthening for local partners RFUK currently has staff size of 13, growing to around 20, 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 organizations, which also include the Rainforest Foundation US and the Rainforest Foundation Norway. The Programmes Team The Programmes Team at the Rainforest Foundation UK is one of three teams in the organisation and is the main team responsible for the implementation of our projects under the four themes cited above. The team of ten is lead by the Head of Programmes, to whom the Postholder will report directly, whilst working in collaboration with other members of the team. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Rights and legal capacity building General: The postholder will work on two main areas within the above four themes: Legal capacity building and indigenous peoples rights. In addition, where necessary, they will provide legal advice to other members of the Programmes team. Legal capacity building. The postholder will manage a DfID-funded project to build the capacity of legal graduates in the Central African Republic, and community based paralegals, to support civil society organisations and local forest communities to defend their basic civil and political rights, and rights to lands and resources through a number of means. Indigenous peoples rights. The postholder will provide support to ongoing work to support the initial stages of the implementation of ILO Convention No. 169 in the Central African Republic, and the Indigenous Populations Rights Law in the Republic of Congo, as well as working on other aspects of indigenous peoples rights where necessary. In addition, the postholder will provide legal advice where required, in collaborative work with other members of the programmes team working on land tenure issues, community rights, and climate change. Specific responsibilities and tasks: The Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks, under the direct supervision of the Head of Programmes: 1. Legal capacity building Manage a DfID funded project ensuring project implementation in line with agreed budgets and workplans, regular reporting to the donor, good financial management of the project, and compliance with any other requirements of project management 2

3 Ensure good communication with the donor and manage the relationship with the agency employed by the donor to manage its portfolio of projects Provide extensive support and guidance both legal and in matters of project and organisational management to national and local partner organisations and their staff who are primarily responsible for implementation at the national level in the Central African Republic and Gabon. This should be done through regular communication with the partners, regular reviews of activities, processes and documents produced or undertaken by them, and strategic support, following the Rainforest Foundation UK s established approach of extensive support to local organisations Ensure adequate inputs into documentation and strategies prepared by local partner organisations, providing comments and support on an ongoing basis Undertake at least 2 monitoring trips per year to review project progress with local partners and undertaken any other fieldwork required to ensure the implementation of the project Develop good relations with relevant Government Ministries and donors in project countries, and ensure these are considered in project strategy Maintain a good understanding of national laws of relevance to the project, and a good overview of national legal developments in the project s focus countries, ensuring that project strategy is aligned with them Ensure good coordination with other members of the Programmes Team and ensure regular communication and information sharing in this respect Work closely with the Programmes Administrator to ensure adequate financial and administrative management of the project, maintaining overall responsibility for this Develop fundraising proposals, in conjunction with local partners, for the continuation of this work beyond the project Indigenous peoples rights Provide ongoing legal advice to Government agencies and local partners, including indigenous peoples, on the implementation of indigenous peoples rights frameworks and laws, with particular emphasis on the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo Provide support to local partners and indigenous peoples in reporting through official international mechanisms such as the ILO s reporting mechanism Develop fundraising proposals for full scale work on ILO Convention No. 169 in the Central African Republic and the Indigenous Populations Law in the Republic of Congo Conduct training on indigenous peoples rights and their implementation where necessary Develop adequate relationships to ensure coordination and collaboration with relevant Government ministries, donors, and UN agencies working in the area of indigenous peoples rights General Provide legal advice to other team members, if required Participate in strategic planning process of the RFUK Programmes Team and of the organisation as a whole Supervise the work of consultants, researchers and volunteers as appropriate Ensure good collaboration with other relevant team members Represent the RFUK at external meetings, where required 3

4 Contribute to the production of external communications on our work Undertake other tasks as required by the Programme Manager, Head of programmes or the Director PERSON SPECIFICATION Detail Essential Desirable Knowledge and Experience A higher level degree in law, international relations, human rights, international development or related subject At least 3 years experience of project management (in a charity or an international development context). Experience in managing large (above 200,000) project budgets Excellent knowledge of international standards and mechanisms for indigenous peoples rights in particular on FPIC, consultation and land rights Experience in translating complex messages in a simple way, and of training on rights Fluency in French and English High level of competence in using software packages, including main Microsoft Office applications, Excel spreadsheets. Experience in using databases. Financial/budget management/accounting experience in a charity/development project context Knowledge of the Congo Basin legal and political context Experience of managing donor relations related to project management Knowledge of rights and land tenure legal frameworks in project focus countries Experience of writing fundraising proposals Experience of working in a small team. Experience of working to tight deadlines Experience of organising meetings Detail Essential Desirable Personal Skills and Attributes Demonstrable personal commitment to defending human rights, in particular of forest communities and indigenous peoples Careful and conscientious with 4

5 demonstrable attention to detail. Good organisational and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. Excellent interpersonal skills Ability to manage multiple deadlines Summary Terms and Conditions Hours, remuneration and place of work The post is offered on a permanent basis, with a 6-month probationary period. The post is a full time post, based on a 35 hour working week. The starting salary is 30,351 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 car-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. 5