Climate Change Adaptation Technical Officer

Organization Overview:

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a global non-profit organization that operates within Anabaptist churches worldwide. Dedicated to sharing God’s love through relief, development, and peace efforts, MCC prioritizes building meaningful relationships with local partners and churches. Guided by Anabaptist principles, MCC strives to integrate peacebuilding into all its endeavours.

Position Overview

The Climate Change Adaptation Technical Officer will play a crucial role in collaborating with implementing partners to ensure the successful execution of the “Locally Led Indigenous Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe” – LINCZ project. This role will focus on delivering technical expertise and guidance in climate change adaptation strategies. The Technical Officer’s responsibilities will encompass leading environmental impact assessments, offering support to implementing partners in the areas of Conservation Agriculture and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), while ensuring the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and scientific insights to maximize project impact.

Role and responsibilities:

Collaboration with Implementing Partners:

• Work closely with implementing partners to provide support, guidance, and recommendations throughout the project’s lifecycle.
• Foster collaborative relationships with partners to ensure coordinated and effective project implementation.
• Collaborate with implementing partners, local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure project success.
• Engage in collaborative workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and capacity-building activities.

Environmental Impact Assessment:

• Lead and oversee the preparation and execution of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in collaboration with partners and selected consultants.
• Ensure that implementing partners are involved in the assessment process, contributing their expertise and insights.

Conservation Agriculture and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR):

• Provide technical leadership to implementing partners in the application of Conservation Agriculture practices.
• Guide and support the promotion of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) techniques, emphasizing sustainable natural resource management.

Agriculture-Based and Non-Timber Forest Value Chain Initiatives:

• Collaborate with implementing and technical partners as they develop and implement agriculture-based and non-timber forest products value chains
• Ensure that these initiatives contribute to biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, climate change adaptation, and economic benefits for local communities.

Environmental Rehabilitation and Watershed Management:

• Collaborate with partners to develop and implement strategies for environmental rehabilitation and watershed management.
• Engage implementing partners in restoring degraded lands, improving water management, and mitigating climate change impacts.

Forestry Management:

• Support partners in the designing and implementation of forestry management initiatives, ensuring active involvement of relevant stakeholders and communities.
• Integrate indigenous knowledge systems and scientific insights to develop sustainable forestry practices.

Integrating Knowledge Systems:

• Collaborate with implementing partners to integrate indigenous knowledge systems and scientific knowledge into project activities.
• Promote a balanced approach that leverages traditional practices alongside modern techniques.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Work with implementing partners to prepare regular reports on technical activities, progress, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Collaborate closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure accurate documentation and reporting of technical data.

Qualifications and skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental science, agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in climate change adaptation, environmental impact assessment, and sustainable natural resource management.
• Strong understanding of Conservation Agriculture, FMNR techniques, environmental rehabilitation, watershed management, and forestry practices.
• Experience collaborating closely with implementing partners to achieve project goals.
• Proficient in project management, data analysis, and technical reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; knowledge of local languages (Ndebele, Shona and Tonga) is an asset.