Background

•   West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change 0NA BiCq is a five year programme funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to build institutional capacity at the local, national and regional level to strengthen the enabling environment throughout West Africa to combat wildlife trafficking; improve coastal resilience; and reduce deforestation, degradation, and biodiversity loss in key forests. The overall goal of WA BiCC is to improve conservation and climate-resilient, low emission growth across West Africa.
•   To achieve this WA BiCC works in partnership with three core regional partners: ECOWAS, the Mano River Union (MRU) and the Abidjan Convention.
•   Tetra Tech ARD, the lead implementer of this programme, is currently accepting applications from qualified candidates for the position of Polley Reform & Sustainable Development Specialist (PRSDS) to join the programme. The Specialist will work as an integral member of the WA BiCC team and will be based in the Accra office reporting directly to the Chief of Party (COP).

Key Responsibilities:

•   Strengthen, adapt or develop policies, strategies, legal, regulatory and/or other governance arrangements in support of advancing the W A BiCC outcomes across the 3 technical components (i.e. I.Combating Wildlife Trafficking (CWT), 2. Increasing coastal resilience to climate change and 3. Reducing deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss.) and the mandates of the core regional partners
•   Work with the Biodiversity Specialist, and based on the priority countries and the gaps/needs identified in the CWT Threats Assessment, review current policy, legislative and judicial frameworks and enforcement activities, including any existing National Action Plans for combatting illegal trade in wildlife (or similar). Identify priority activities and action steps
•   Work with the Landscape and Forestry Specialist and the core regional partners and their Member States to review and; as needed adapt or develop, policies or other governance arrangements in support of sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, forest landscape restoration, community forestry, REDD+ and other relevant approaches that will reduce forest and biodiversity loss and degradation
•   With and through the Advisors and the WA BiCC technical and organisational team, the Specialist will provide policy guidance and organise regional initiatives. including the preparation of ministerial meetings in the region to review environmental and sustainable development priorities and adopt updated strategic environmental policies
•   Serve as the WA BiCC focal point for cooperation with international organisations and with other relevant bodies, including financing instiwtions in West Africa, to avoid duplication of work and to leverage and enhance synergies.

Qualification Required & Experience

The Specialist will have the following qualifications:

•   An advanced degree (Master's or above) and a minimum of ten (10) years of regional/international experience in environmental law, policy reform and/or natural resources management development programmes with at least five (5) of these being in 'West Africa with regional and national organisations/entities.
•   Demonstrated success in implementing programmes aimed at strengthening local, national and regional laws and regulatory frameworks to promote governance, transparency and sustainable development.
•   Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in strengthening regional or national institutions through sound and workable laws, policies and regulations that promote government accountability in natural resource management, environment protection and enhancement of ecosystem services, sustainability development.
•   Understanding of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in private sector engagement that reaches all stakeholders, including women, youth, the- poor and very poor, creativity, willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically.
•   Fluency and advanced professional proficiency in English and French is required.
•   Demonstrated experience in collaborating across projects.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Please include a letter of application explaining individual qualifications for this opportunity, your current CV in reverse chronological format, a list of at least 3 professional references including name, contact information. and statement of relationship to the reference and type "Policy Reform and Sustainable Development Specialist" in the subject of the email.

Send to: wabiccrecruit@gmail.com

Closing Date: 31 March, 2016

•   Tetra Tech is committed to diversity and gender equality in all of its operations-in the US and overseas. We strive to reflect these goals in our global mission and in our workforce.
•   We encourage applications from women and underrepresented ethnic, racial and cultural groups.
•   Tetra Tech ARD is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer