Project Officer

Project Officer (Agriculture & Livestock), 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 (TLL) and guidance from the Program Manager, the Project Officer will support the overall implementation of the project. This position is expected to have expertise in Agriculture & Livestock so that s/he can provide technical backstopping for local communities to take up climate adaptive technologies and practices for agriculture, livestock management, and water management. S/he will be also responsible for enhancing the capacities of local private veterinary and agriculture service providers so that the local communities have enhanced access to such services even during the adverse conditions following excess rain, drought, and forest fire. This position requires frequent travel to the project site.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Technical backstopping

• Strengthen Farmer Managed Irrigation Methods: Responsible to strengthen and scale up farmer managed water-efficient irrigation methods for farm-based livelihoods and enterprises.
• Promote Value Chain: Promote value chain of traditional varieties of climate resilient high value traditional agriculture crops, and grass/fodder species.
• Private sector engagement: Strengthen farmers’ cooperatives led agriculture and livestock-based enterprise development.
• Technological innovation: Selection of energy-efficient and gender friendly tools for improved agriculture production.

2. Capacity Building

• Identify and train female farmers on agriculture, fishery, and livestock-based enterprise development.
• Train local communities/farmers/user group members on climate-adaptive agriculture technologies and practices.
• Capacitate local farmers in conservation farming and promote the cultivation of indigenous varieties.
• Build capacity of local and provincial government agencies in the delivery of extension services to local communities on climate-adaptive technologies and practices in agriculture, irrigation, and livestock management.

3. Planning

• Support the planning process with the guidance from TTL and in coordination with implementing partners.
• Support in preparing detailed Annual Workplan and Budget (AWP/B) that includes targets and key activities for the achievement of project’s outputs and outcomes.

4. Project Implementation

• Responsible for overall implementation of activities related to climate smart agricultural practices and livelihood improvement under Component 1 and 2.
• Support in organizing workshops, other project-level periodic planning meetings/sessions, annual/semi-annual Project Steering
• Committee (PSC) meetings and annual/semi-annual/quarterly Project Executive Committee (PEC) meetings.
  Support the TTL in preparation and disbursement of sub-grants and consultancies.

5. Coordination

• Coordinate and communicate with key stakeholders and project partners under the guidance of TTL.
• Support the TTL in coordinating PEC meetings with key government partners.
• Support the TTL in getting endorsement of AWP/B and procurement plan during PEC meeting.
• Update programmatic and financial data to TTL for PEC and PSC meetings.
• Identify gaps, barriers and bottlenecks and coordinate with relevant partners for the effective project implementation.

6. Reporting and Documentation

• Support the preparation of semi-annual and annual project progress report (PPR).
• In coordination with Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) and Safeguards expert, ensure documentation of all safeguards related activities including Grievances Redress Mechanisms (GRM).
• In coordination with Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) and Communication Officer, ensure that communication and
• learning materials are developed, and success stories are documented and published.
• Ensure lessons learned are systematically documented, widely shared, and reflected in periodic reports and in the next planning cycle.
• Assist in the implementation of a gender action plan and ESMF in close collaboration with the GESI & Safeguard Expert.

7. Grant and Consultancy Management

• Prepare Terms of References for the call for proposals.
• Support Finance and Compliance Officer for preparing grants and contracts.
• Timely tracking of progress from grantees and consultancies.
• Review deliverables from consultants, and grantees/sub-grantees, and ensure quality of the reports is in line with the WWF GEF standards and policies.

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: Project Associates

Working Relationships:

Internal: Works closely with PMU staff

External: Work closely with existing government, non-government and civil society partners, consultants, and grantees.

Qualifications

Knowledge: Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, or any technical degree related to agriculture and livestock management.

Experience: At least 3 years of experience in project implementation of which at least 2 years in agriculture and/or livestock related projects is mandatory. Knowledge on climate-adaptive agriculture technologies and practices, co-operatives led agriculture and livestock-based enterprise development, value chain/market system development, integrated agriculture and livestock management is highly desirable. 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, facilitation, and presentation.
• 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.

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.

Please do not click on “Apply with Indeed” button once you start the application process.

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.