Africa Climate Adaptation Lead at Nature ConservancyNature Conservancy

Job Description (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); We work with local communities, governments and organizations to conserve Africa’s important places. Africa is special. Its wild lands and waters are home to incredible numbers and diversity of species living close to people. For most rural Africans, connection to place takes on unique meaning, more so than anywhere else on Earth because their daily existence depends on the productivity of their natural resources. Challenges in Africa Some 60 percent of Africa’s lands and waters – community property, in a sense – are managed by the people who live on them. These people are undoubtedly the most vulnerable on Earth. A continuing threat is their lack of control over the communal lands and waters they depend on for survival. And as the people struggle, so too does the wildlife that relies on the same resources. An absence of strong institutions and governance further compounds these challenges. Therefore, our work in Africa is focused on perfecting and exporting the best examples of community-led conservation across the continent’s vast shared lands and waters. These examples are ones that provide tangible benefits to people. Conservation has to pay to be successful. Roles and Responsibilities Design and implement TNC Africa Climate Adaptation Strategy including a robust and scientifically sound theory of change, to accelerate and scale the deployment of NBS.Coordinate a regional climate adaptation team to provide high-level support and coordination for climate adaptation work through the implementation of nature-based approaches to adaptation, science and other policy and finance mechanisms.Design, coordinate, collaborate, implement, support complex and diverse projects, encompassing multiple programs in multiple countries, and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization.Incorporate cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.Provide adaption policy support to inform adaption workstreams in the UNFCCC and other national and regional adaptation policy processes, including the Global Goal on Adaptation.Maintain and build on TNC’s role as a major conservation and adaptation partner within the Region’s NBS community.Serve as the principal climate adaptation contact and develop and maintain productive collaborations with governments, communities, other conservation organizations, and foundations – as well as with TNC staff in other regions and globally.Build capacity internally and externally for NBS design and implementation, including strategies for understanding and addressing barriers, and support the build out of extensive outreach and training opportunities.Build the capacity of partners and local actors such as coastal and fisher communities, pastoralists, and smallholder farmers to manage better and address adaptation needs and actionsMay require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours. What You’ll Bring: BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.Extensive understanding of the science of and experience in implementing climate change adaptation projects, natural climate solutions and nature-based solutions in general.Experience working with and advising on current trends and practices in climate science and nature-based approaches to adaptation, especially in an African context.Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivationExperience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting, and achieving objectives and managing performance.Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.Experience working with communities and actors at local/community level on climate related and resilience building issues.Experience negotiating. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS Fluency in French an added benefit.Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.7-10 years’ experience in conservation and climate adaptation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing adaptation and conservation policy and plans.Knowledge of current trends and practices in climate adaptation and NCS in Africa.Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.Politically savvy.A passion for nature and wild places.