MEL & Communications Officer

MEL & Communications Officer, MaWRiN Project

Location: Sindhuli

Company Description

WWF Nepal, the global conservation organization leading international efforts for a living planet, seeks applications from qualified Nepali candidates for the following full-time position. If you think you are an achiever and willing to work within a diverse team in a multicultural environment with commitment and passion for what you believe in, you are highly encouraged to apply.

Our Mission:

At WWF Nepal, we firmly believe people and nature are inextricably linked. Our mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment, and build a future Nepal in which people live in harmony with nature.

Our Vision:

From its origins as a small group of committed wildlife enthusiasts, WWF has grown into one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, active in over 100 countries.

Over this time, WWF’s focus has evolved from localized efforts in favor of a single species and individual habitats to an ambitious strategy to preserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development across the globe.

WWF-Nepal envisions a prosperous Nepal, with an active and socially responsible citizenry that a greater sense of stewardship towards the environment.

Our Core Values:

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’s 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 the 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.

Job Description

The Managing Watersheds for Enhanced Resilience of Communities to Climate Change in Nepal (MaWRiN) Project is located in Marin watershed of Sindhuli district. The project is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) managed Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) to be implemented over a period of six years by WWF in close association with the federal Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) as the National Executing Agency and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Bagmati Province as the Project Executing Partner. The project will enable the government and local stakeholders to invest in protecting the Marin watershed while bolstering the longer-term resilience of local and indigenous communities against climate emergencies.

The objective of the project is “to enhance climate resilience of Indigenous people and local communities in the Marin watershed (partly/fully covering area of Marin rural municipality, Kamalamai municipality, Ghyanglekh rural municipality, and Hariharpurgadhi rural municipality) through nature-based solutions and livelihood improvement.” The project’s objective will be achieved through the following three inter-connected components:

Component 1: Enabling environment for mainstreaming climate change through development of capacity of the municipalities and other key local agencies to assess and understand climate risks and vulnerabilities, and accordingly mainstream climate change adaptation strategies and actions in local policies and plans. Also, through the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and coordinated actions on climate change adaptation at the watershed level.

Component 2: Enhanced Resilience of Local Communities to Climate Change through a) Community-based natural resource management such as community identification of adaptation interventions, support and demonstration of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and livestock practices, improved water management, strengthened management of community and leasehold forests, and b) Nature-based Solutions that reduce climate impacts and risks.

Component 3: Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management, through tracking of project progress on a regular basis; garnering and analysis of lessons and good practices; and development and dissemination of knowledge that reinforces project results from components 1 and 2, providing sound basis for their replication, adaptation and sustainability.

A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be set up at field level. The Chief of the Soil and Watershed Management Office (SWMO), Ramechhap will serve as the Project Manager (PM). The main functions of the PMU are to (i) oversee fiduciary arrangements, (ii) ensure overall efficient management, coordination, timely implementation of the agreed project work plan/result framework including the Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Gender Action Plan, (iii) operational oversight of implementation activities, (iv) timely reporting, and for effective use of GEF/LDCF resources for the approved work plan and (v) monitoring of the project. The PMU will also serve as the secretariat to the project coordination committee and multi-stakeholder dialogue and action platform.

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Team Leader (TTL) and guidance from Program Manager, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Communications Officer will be responsible for monitoring, evaluation, communication, and knowledge management related activities of the project. S/he will be based in PMU office.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Update and Track Results Framework

• Prepare and implement monitoring, communication, and knowledge management plan of the project, maintaining vertical and horizontal communication.
• Prepare and implement performance monitoring and reporting framework with gender disaggregated indicators.
• Update, revise and maintain project’s results framework.
• Carry out the aggregation and analysis of programmatic data to update performance/outcome indicators.
• Develop and update monitoring plans and adaptive management schedules along with formats and checklists.
• Conduct assumption testing for different outputs and outcomes

2. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Conduct regular monitoring (performance and result) visits to ensure that strategies are working or if “theory of change” requires reevaluation
• Conduct initial analysis that identifies potential opportunities for adaptive management and communicate regularly with Project Management Unit (PMU)
• Coordinate with government line agencies and sub-grantees for effective implementation of project result-framework.
• Coordinate and conduct joint field monitoring visits of Government partners and WWF GEF agencies.
• Facilitate and coordinate mid-term and terminal evaluation of the project activities.

3. Reporting

• Support TTL in preparation and timely update of Project Progress Report (PPR) every six-month and annually. Ensure timely submission of Core Indicator Report and Project Completion Report.
• Closely work with GESI and Safeguards Specialist to ensure proper integration of GESI, environmental and social safeguards issues while reporting.
• Ensure proper combination of datasets while preparing communication materials and knowledge documents.
• Ensure that project follows the PPMS standard (WWF Network’s Project/Programme Management Standards) with major focus on analyze/adapt & share.

4. Database Management

• Maintain and update the project database including the systematic collection of pictures and visuals for monitoring.
• Consolidate and collect different project data from sub-grantees, partners organization and government offices.
• Synthesize and analyze data to measure project progress, contribution, and impacts against the result framework.
• Establish, manage, disseminate & troubleshoot project database system to cater adaptive management practices adhering to WWF Network standard.

5. Knowledge Management

• Ensure project’s knowledge management in close coordination with TTL.
• Cross-learning and knowledge sharing within GEF and other projects, including WWF Nepal.
• Collect/compile the knowledge/learning products of the project and prepare knowledge products for wider dissemination.
• Organize periodic project level lesson learning in field and center office to capture lesson learnt.

6. Communications/Documentation/Production of Success stories & Lessons

• Identify and develop opportunities to ensure documentation, production and communication of important success stories, case studies and lessons with key stakeholders using the best tools and communication media.
• Keep track of project activities updates, achievements, reports and learning and contributes to success stories, photo stories, and case studies of semi-annual and annual reports.
• Ensure quality production of all communication materials, presentations, reports in line with the communication standards and branding guidelines where they exist.
• Translates and edits communication and outreach materials where applicable.

7. Capacity Building

• Build capacity of field staff, sub-grantees and other partner institutions on monitoring and reporting processes.
• As needed, provide communication coaching or training to the field staff, and other partners to effectively communicate key messages and lessons from the project and promote information about project objectives and activities.
• Support capacity building of project personnel and stakeholders at province, local level, and district level agency officials.
• Develop and review the Monitoring Evaluation & Learning related training sessions and materials.

8. Other Duties

• This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the tasks that are anticipated proactively. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to the project needs.

  Supervisory Responsibility: None

Working Relationships:

Internal: Works closely with PMU staff, GESI & Safeguards Specialist and Project Officer.

External: Interact frequently with existing government, non-government and civil society partners, consultants, and grantees.

Qualifications

Knowledge: Bachelor’s degree in Environment Management, Development Studies and other Natural Resource Management related field.

Experience: At least 3 years of field experience in the monitoring and evaluation of project related to integrated watershed management, climate change adaptation, or any related field is mandatory. It is essential that the individual has experience of capturing lessons for adaptive management, and also documentation, dissemination and communication of project information. Experience of working in national GEF projects will be an added advantage.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and excellent communication skills that include report writing, presenting the monitoring results, and making presentations.
• The position requires knowledge of data storage and analysis, software packages like MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, and MS Power Point. Knowledge on SPSS would be an advantage.
• Excellent cross-cultural and people skills and ability to interact with government, and NGO staff.
• Adaptive Management Skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Should be an action oriented and result driven person.
• Excellent communication skills both written and spoken in Nepali and English.
• The ability to work under pressure situations, especially in terms of output deliveries on deadlines.

Additional Information

Interested applicants are requested to apply for the position by 17:00 hours on October 25, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be informed.

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All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

WWF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please join us in our mission to save life on Earth.