Project Technical Officer Sustainable Forest Livelihoods for Communities in Guyana and Suriname

Background

Through funding from the European Union (EU) WWFGuianas has reached an agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD) to execute a Sustainable Forest Livelihoods Project (SFL) for Communities in Guyana and Suriname. The project will strengthen local communities capacities for sustainable community development and integrated natural resource management and enhance knowledge and capacity for the sustainable use and supply of naturebased goods and services. The project will also emphasize the improvement of sustainable value chains and support forest and naturebased enterprises.

For its operations in Suriname the SFL will recruit one Project Technical Officer (PTO). The PTO will be responsible for executing the SFL project activities in Para and BovenSuriname. The PTO will travel frequently to Para and BovenSuriname and is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the SFLs activities in his/her working area.

The PTO is expected to support the SFL Programme Coordinator who is the primary point of contact with the donor.  

The main responsibilities of the PTO will be to:

• Support in project implementation which includes consultations field assignments and formal engagement of partners to ensure efficient project in keeping with the vision and outcomes of the project.
• Collaborate to build and maintain positive relations with project partners consultants beneficiaries and other key project stakeholders.
• Support in all aspects of donor reporting to ensure that reporting meets all quality assurance checks set out by WWF and by the donor. This includes the implementation of environmental and social safeguards and proactive management of risk to ensure project delivery in accordance with the annual detailed workplan and the project results framework that is approved by the AFD.
• Support the update and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system to measure project performance to meet established KPIs.
• Integrate into the WWFGuianas Technical Team as a team player and contributor to the programme s annual outcomes.
• Support the design and and coordinates and implements regional project engagements that occur in the country of residence in close collaboration with the WWFGuianas Country Director.
• Maintain shared vision for the project and contribute meaningfully and fully to the project outcomes.
• The Project Technical Officer is expected to always have a close strong and dynamic working relationship with the SFL team leadership and team members to ensure roles and responsibilities are clear and the project can be implemented smoothly in Suriname and Guyana.

Major Duties

• The PTO will effectively execute project activities under the guidance of the SFL Programme Coordinator and collaboratively with project partners and beneficiaries.
• Organize manage and execute logistic arrangements preparing detailed activity budgets and reports as required.
• Participate in and directly support all project management such as planning procurement and reporting activities in line with donor requirements.
• Effectively engage indigenous and rural forest and natural resourcedependent communities in the projects target areas to achieve intended project outcomes.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders through continuous communication engagements and information sharing that strengthens trust and support among all parties involved.
• Collect and synthesize data to support informed decisionmaking.

Qualifications :

• BSc or post graduate diploma in Agricultural Economics Natural Resource Management Sustainable Development or other related fields along with 35 years of experience engaging with government civil society and the private sector.
• Experience working with multiple sectors and especially with local communities will be a distinct asset.
• Knowledge and experience should be in areas such as natural resources grant management economics sustainable economies and value chains or green enterprises and economic incentives for low carbon/green development.
• A demonstrated good understanding of the geography of the country and the dynamics of community engagement including demonstrated firm understanding and knowledge of social and economic activities within the respective areas for project implementation.
• Strong skills in organization project planning financing management and monitoring of projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch with a proficiency in Sranantongo.
• Capacity and experience to execute fieldbased project activities independently coordinate and manage consultation and community engagement possess strong capacity and interest to work within a team and is capable of critical thinking to provide advice to and take guidance from leadership.
• Proactive a selfstarter with the capacity to work independently.

• Evidence of agile and conceptual thinking combined with an optimistic approach within a realistic framework.
• Excellent project activity coordination and implementation and report writing skills.
• Strong logistical management skills.
• Understanding of politics at national local and regional level and capability to support and help shape public policy.
• Capability to facilitate workshops and multistakeholder dialogues.
• Good advocacy and public relations skills. Capability to support implementation/dissemination of advocacy and communications products such as policy briefs opeds PR materials and web stories without guidance or prompting.
• Demonstrated experience to accomplish tasks as part of a team for effective project including logistics reporting and managing project activities and support project budgets delivery on time and within budget.
• The capacity to represent negotiate consult and reach agreement with project partners and other stakeholders will be a distinct asset.

• The capacity to represent projects as well as network and engage with government civil society and the private sector is desired.
• The successful applicant must demonstrate strong life commitment to the WWF core values of Courage Integrity Respect and Collaboration. Please see the annex for our Values Statement.

Additional Information :

Appointment and Remuneration

The Project Technical Officer will be based at the WWFGuianas Office in Paramaribo Suriname and will work in Para and BovenSuriname. He/she will work under the direct supervision of the SFL Programme Coordinator.

The Project Technical Officer will be employed for one year with the possibility of a contract renewal after the successful performance evaluation of year one and is entitled to a remuneration as stipulated by WWFUS. He/she will also be entitled to life and health insurance paid time off and medical leave of absence.

Working Relationships

Internal: The Project Officer will work under the supervision of the SFL Programme Coordinator. The Project Technical Officer is a key person within the WWFGuianas technical team and will work closely with other members of the team. The Project Technical Officer will collaborate with technical and operation team members across Suriname and Guyana.                                                                                                                    

External: Local communities government agencies and public authorities private sector and their associations media CSOs.

ANNEX

Our Values

We bear witness to the accelerating decline of nature and our climate with grave consequences for life on Earth including our own. 

Because people are part of nature and our fate is intertwined WWFs mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. As a sciencebased nonpartisan civil society organization we work to conserve and restore biodiversity the web that supports all life on Earth; to reduce humanitys environmental footprint; and to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources to support current and future generations.

We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people partners and communities with whom we work. Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF we are unified by one mission one brand and one common set of values: 

COURAGE: We demonstrate courage through our actions we work for change where it is needed and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet which is our home.

INTEGRITY: We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity accountability and transparency and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure we learn and evolve.

RESPECT: We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.

COLLABORATION: We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Contract