Nature-based Solutions Technical Advisor

Position: Nature-based Solutions Technical Advisor

Reports to: Country Director, WCS Madagascar

Position Managed: The National REDD+ and Government Liaison Advisor.

Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar,

Country Program/Sector: Madagascar

Scope: Country

Position Type: Full-time

Coordinates with: The Regional Nature-based Solutions Advisor; and Senior WCS Madagascar staff including the MaMaBay Landscape Director, Social Safeguards Advisor, and Conservation Director.

Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organisation established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity.

Madagascar is considered one of the “hottest” biodiversity hotspots, with extremely high species diversity and staggering rates of endemism – the island is home to more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity over only 0.4% of the world’s land area. Home to more than 112 endemic lemur species, 90% of these lemur species are now threatened with extinction, and almost a third are Critically Endangered.

WCS has been active in Madagascar since 1993 and works to ensure the long-term conservation of the country’s unique biological diversity with a focus on activities in our priority landscape/seascapes. We achieve this through terrestrial and marine protected area management, engagement with local communities to support them to become effective stewards of natural resources, environmental education, and a program of applied conservation science.

WCS’s interventions are focused on the MaMaBay (Masoala, Makira, Antongil Bay) Landscape/Seascape program in the northeast of Madagascar with interventions in and around Makira Natural Park, one of Madagascar’s most important sites for threatened and endemic wildlife. The Park has the highest diversity of lemurs of any protected area in Madagascar, and the highest number of endangered primate species of any protected area on the planet, as well as the highest diversity of palm species in Madagascar, and more than 100 endemic amphibians recorded from the site.

The Makira Natural Park was created as part of the development of a REDD+ project, intended to provide long-term funding for the park’s creation and management. The Makira REDD+ project is the longest-running VCS/CCBS validated REDD+ project in the world, and its benefit-sharing mechanism includes the distribution of 50% of net revenue to improve local infrastructure, provide health and education services, and support training, inputs, and technical assistance for sustainable agriculture. The project has an excellent team based in the nearby town of Maroantsetra, implementing protection, biodiversity, and community activities.

Whilst the project’s climate and biodiversity value is clear, local communities play an equally important role, with the project supporting communities in the buffer zone to obtain devolved management rights to forests through the Gestion Contractuelle des Forêts de l’Etat process. To date, 87 communities have been granted management rights.

Although the project remains active today, implementing a full range of forest and biodiversity conservation and community support, the project’s last VCS/CCBS verification was for the 2009-2013 period. The Government of Madagascar announced its intention to pursue an FCPF jurisdictional REDD+ approach, which temporarily paused VCS/CCBS verifications at Makira Natural Park.

With a new jurisdictional program under development, with the potential for nested projects within a jurisdictional framework, verifications of Makira Natural Park are anticipated to restart, first for the pre-jurisdictional program period, and later within a nested framework for the post-FCPF period.

WCS is also supporting the development of other REDD+ projects under VCS and CCBS in Madagascar outside of the MaMaBay landscape.

The Nature-based Solutions Advisor will bring carbon project expertise to the Madagascar program, complementing the existing teams dedicated to project implementation. They will lead the validation of a new baseline for Makira REDD+, and the verification of the pre-jurisdictional program period under Verra’s VCS and CCB Standards. They will maintain a clear focus on this goal, finding efficiencies to expedite the completion of the documentation and technical processes to a high standard. The Nature-based Solutions Advisor will also support the development and validation of partner VCS/CCBS REDD+ projects elsewhere in Madagascar. Funding for both these processes has already been secured, allowing focus on core responsibilities.

Job purpose

The Nature-based Solutions Advisor will bring carbon project expertise to the Madagascar program, complementing the existing teams dedicated to project implementation. They will lead the validation of a new baseline for Makira REDD+, and the verification of the pre-jurisdictional program period under Verra’s VCS and CCB Standards. They will maintain a clear focus on this goal, finding efficiencies to expedite the completion of the documentation and technical processes to a high standard. The Nature-based Solutions Advisor will also support the development and validation of partner VCS/CCBS REDD+ projects elsewhere in Madagascar.

While undergoing the processes required for the initial validation and verification, the Advisor will put foundational systems and processes in place to ensure that future verifications are streamlined and efficient. Following the verification of credits, they will support the sale of credits by engaging with marketing partners and potential buyers.

The Nature-based Solutions Advisor will collaborate with and be supported by a range of internal and external stakeholders, including the global and regional WCS REDD+ team; landscape-based field teams and managers; technical support teams (e.g. GIS/remote sensing team); senior WCS Madagascar management team; local to national government authorities; Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) and the Verra Secretariat; project investors and credit buyers.

The Nature-based Solutions Advisor will be part of an established and expanding team of REDD+ specialists in WCS, as well as part of a dynamic and committed WCS Madagascar team. This position comes at an exciting time for the WCS Makira REDD+ project, and for REDD+ in Madagascar in general, with the opportunity to bring significant benefits to local communities and to support the conservation of some of the world’s most important and threatened biodiversity.

Major Responsibilities

Project Development and Monitoring

• Lead the collation of and development of all data and information required to successfully achieve project validation and verification according to the requirements of the VCS and CCB Standards. Ensuring data collection and analysis represent the most up-to-date scientific findings and best-practice approaches.
• Lead the development of an updated Project Description and Monitoring Report, as well as additional elements including non-permanence risk reporting.
• Act as the lead on project validation and verification audits, including engaging with VVBs and responding to VVB findings.
• Support WCS Madagascar Social Safeguards Advisor to ensure community benefits are delivered and safeguards adhered to as stipulated in project documents and according to safeguard requirements.
• Work with landscape teams to ensure alignment of project activities and interventions with CCBS safeguard requirements and VCS requirements.
• Develop standard procedures for data collection and reporting to facilitate project monitoring and reporting across all project interventions.
• Ensure supported REDD+ projects successfully nest within the national REDD+ jurisdictional system according to national requirements.

Policy Engagement

• In collaboration with the REDD+ and Government Liaison Advisor, engage in national REDD+ processes and establish WCS as a part of REDD+ policy and technical excellence.
• In collaboration with the REDD+ and Government Liaison Advisor, provide policy and technical advisory support to MEDD/BNCC REDD+ as requested.
• In collaboration with the REDD+ and Government Liaison Advisor, support the development of the national REDD+ jurisdictional system to maximize the potential value of REDD+ projects.

Project Marketing and Funding

• Support the development of project marketing and promotional materials for use by WCS and external REDD+ marketing firms.
• Act as principal liaison for REDD+ project information requests from WCS’ external REDD+ marketing firm, as well as existing and potential credit buyers.
• Lead or contribute to client-specific reporting (as appropriate)
• Seek out and develop grant funding proposals supporting project outcomes.

Capacity Building

• Collaborate with and train, where necessary, landscape field teams to collect necessary project data/information and monitor key project indicators.
• Establish competencies of landscape teams to lead the ongoing monitoring of REDD+ project achievements.

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills:

• Master’s degree in forestry, environmental science, geography, conservation or a related field.
• Prior experience and familiarity with the design and implementation of large, landscape-level forest conservation and rural development projects.
• 4+ years’ experience in the assessment, development and implementation of forestry and land-use projects, preferably for the carbon markets under the VCS and CCBS.
• Strong analytical and technical writing skills; extreme attention to detail.
• Professional experience in project management and project reporting.
• Demonstrated professional-level fluency in English is required, and in French is highlighted as desired.
• Ability to travel to project sites, as required, for extended periods.

Preferred

• Prior experience with developing, validating and verifying AFOLU projects under the VCS and CCBS.
• Experience in proposal development and grant reporting.
• Demonstrated GIS and Remote Sensing competencies.

To successfully satisfy the requirements of this position, you should:

• Have good personal organisational and priority-setting skills, with the ability to work effectively under time pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Be capable of working independently and being an effective team player, with initiative and creativity.
• Have a demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders in a culturally diverse setting and build project alliances.
• Value information sharing and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning.

Compensation: Salary and benefits

Internationally competitive salary with a comprehensive expatriate package including Cigna medical insurance for employees and dependents, cost of living allowance, housing allowance, relocation reimbursement, child education reimbursement, retirement benefits, and annual home leave.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labour laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging in a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and looking for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, colour, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities. The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies.