Summary
Date Posted: Monday, January 24, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Job Title: Project Officer
Project: Investing In Forests and Protected Areas For Climate Smart Development

1. Introduction
The Government of Uganda has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate Smart Development (IFPA-CD Project.
The IFPA-CD project is jointly developed and implemented by Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) as the Lead Agency and Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, National Forestry Authority (NFA), and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The problem being addressed by this project is increased vulnerability of economic productivity, biodiversity and livelihoods to climate change effects due to declining forestry ecosystems goods and services.
The project geographic area includes the Albert Rift and West Nile, with focus on target protected areas (7 National Parks, 4 Wildlife Reserves, 28 Central Forest Reserves) and 18 refugee host districts. The performance-based subsidy scheme for private plantation development will be implemented at national scale.
The project aims to improve sustainable management of forests and protected areas and increase benefits from forests in target landscapes.
At the end of the project life as a result of improved sustainable management of forests and protected areas, increased benefits from forests in target landscapes, additional household level economic activities supported by the project intervetions, there will be an increased provision of ecosystem goods and services, increased household incomes and improved livelihoods of 250,000 households in the project area.
The interventions to achieve the above outcomes include; i) management of forest and wildlife protected areas in the Albertine Rift and West Nile region; ii) enhancing productivity of forests and wildlife protected areas; and, iii) increasing resilience of landscapes and livelihoods to climate change and impact of refugees.
The project is structured in four main components namely; i) Improving management of forest protected areas; ii) Increasing revenues and jobs from forests and wildlife protected areas; iii) Increasing resilience of landscapes and livelihoods to effects of climate change and impact of refugees; and, iv) Project Management Support.
The project will deliver seven (7) broad outputs which have logically been designed to achieve the two outcomes of the project that ultimately will enable the project make its contribution to the development objective.
The Ministry of Water and Environment, as the Lead Agency, hosts the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) which is responsible for overall project coordination and reporting. The PCU includes National Project Coordinator and other staff responsible for project monitoring, environmental and social risk management, financial management, and procurement.
NFA and UWA are responsible for implementation of activities under the project. Institutional coordination and leadership at NFA and UWA is assured by the Institutional Focal Points. NFA intends to hire a Project Officer / consultant to provide support to the Institutional Focal Point in smooth coordination and implementation of project activities under NFA.

2. Objectives of the Assignment
The main objective of this assignment is to engage the services of a qualified and experienced individual consultant as the Project Officer (PO) to support implementation of the IFPA-CD Project. The Project Officer will work closely with and directly supporting the designated Institutional Focal Point for NFA, and user departments, and field staff of NFA and coordinate with the PCU at the Ministry of Water and Environment and other project implementing entities

3. Key duties and responsibilities
The PO will be responsible for:
• Planning, monitoring and reporting:
o At the technical level, lead the process of preparation of NFA’s annual and quarterly work plans and budgets under the project, ensuring timely follow ups with relevant departments regarding provision of their inputs, as required.
o Working with the Director Plantations Development, Director Natural Forests Management, and responsible NFA Range/ Plantation Managers, monitor and track status of implementation of all approved activities, identifying delays and bottlenecks and bringing these to the attention of the Institutional Focal Point and NFA management.
• 2. iii. Guide NFA to comply with the planning, budgeting and reporting requirements of World Bank.
• Ensure that all necessary reports are prepared in a timely manner, with inputs from all relevant NFA departments, and are submitted to the Institutional Focal Point.
• Develop NFA monthly project activity plans/schedules, budgets and cash flow requirements and process their approvals.
• In support of the Institutional Focal Point for NFA, prepare relevant project reports that would feed into overall project reports to the Government of Uganda and the World Bank (compiled by the PCU at MWE).
• Working with the NFA designated focal points for environmental and social (E&S) risk management, ensure adequate monitoring and reporting on E&S risk management to the PCU.

• Technical inputs to project implementation
o initiate drafting of required technical documents related to implementation of project activities, such as terms of references, etc. while coordinating inputs from user departments and relevant NFA staff and stakeholders

o undertake initial review of all technical reports and provide inputs and suggestions as needed for their finalization and next steps, to the Institutional Focal Point.

• Budget and Finance Management:
o Undertake initial review of all activities / budget requests from the field activities and ensure they are consistent with the approved activity plans, schedules and budgets.
o Ensure adequate filing of all non-accounting documents that may be required to support the NFA Project Accountant in financial reporting to the GoU and World Bank.
• Monitor budget performance and compliance issues and advise the
• Institutional Project Focal Point on any bottlenecks or delays.
• Support to IFPA-CD Project Steering and Coordination processes:
• Support the participation of NFA management in the Project Steering Committee, including preparation of required background documents and briefs.
• Participate in the Steering, Coordination and Stakeholder engagement meetings and workshops, as required, together with or representing the Institutional Focal Points. In meetings where the Project Officer represents the Institutional Focal Point, inform the Institutional Focal Point of the meeting outcomes, and any implications as related to project implementation.
• Communications and outreach
• Working directly with the NFA PR department and the project communications officer located at the PCU, assist the Institutional Focal Point (IFP) in the development and implementation of communication and awareness activities of IFPA-CD Project supported activities within NFA.
• Assist the IFP, initiate and carry out an elaborate but targeted internal communication program to raise stakeholder awareness and knowledge of IFPA- CD Project among staff of the NFA.
• Support the IFP during Lesson learning sessions, document and disseminate lessons and project experiences by NFA.
The consultant may be required to perform any other duties as may be requested by the
Institutional Focal Point.

4. Required skills, competencies and experienc
• The Project Officer shall at least have a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Ecology,
• Natural Sciences, Environmental sciences, or Project Management.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience with conservation organizations in or outside Uganda or a project funded by an international development organization or World Bank funded projects at national level.
• The Project Officer should have very strong writing and communication skills as well as organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Proven experience in working with different institutions at all levels; knowledge of information management technologies, partnerships development and communication technologies is an added advantage.
• Ability to work independently and determine correct prioritization of tasks under tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with institutional and policy issues related to environment, forestry, wildlife, tourism and climate change.

5. Supervision and coordination
The PO will report to the Executive Director or to his delegated staff. The PO will be based at NFA headquarters, Kampala.

6. Duration
The duration of the position is six years. The PO will be recruited for an initial period of twenty-four (24) months, with a six-month probation period, after which a mandatory performance evaluation will be conducted by NFA. This period may be extended as required to ensure the implementation of the IFPA-CD depending on satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
7. Remuneration
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience
8. Facilities and information to be provided by the client
The Consultant will be based in NFA, Kampala. Adequate office furniture and equipment will be assigned to the Consultant.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements, should submit their applications, certified copies of academic certificates, transcripts and curriculum vitae giving full details of applicants’ education, qualifications, experience (with evidence), present salary, three referees with their full postal address, e- mail and telephone contacts as well as the candidate’s full address and e-mail to the address below not later than close of business on 18th February 2022 or send to info@nfa.go.ug
Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of lobbying will lead to automatic disqualification.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Executive Director
National Forestry Authority
Plot10/20 Spring Road, Bugolobi
P.O. Box 70863, Kampala-Uganda
Tel: 0312 - 264035/6; 0414 -360400"

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