International Expert in Management of Forest Resources (project co-manager) at Belgian Technical Co-operation (BTC)

International Expert in Management of Forest Resources (project co-manager) at Belgian Technical Co-operation (BTC)

Description:

The Belgian development agency, BTC, mobilises its resources and its expertise to eliminate poverty in the world. BTC contributes to the efforts of the international community and works towards a society that provides present and future generations with sufficient resources to build a sustainable and fair world.

Closing date: 23 Jan 2011
Location: Rwanda
In view of the the further development of its activities the BTC is currently looking for an (m/f):
International Expert in Management of Forest Resources (project co-manager) – Rwanda
Support Program to the Development of the Forestry Sector in Rwanda

Ref.: RWA/09/070-1
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Duration of the contract: 48 months
Probable starting date: 2nd or 3rd trimester 2011

Monthly salary package: between 5.427,63 euro and 7.788,38 euro (this includes the gross monthly salary and the expat benefits: hardship allowance and expat allowance). The salary is calculated, depending on the composition of the family and the number of years of relevant experience.

Project:
This program is the second phase of the Support Program to the Reforestation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Rwanda implemented by BTC in the framework of the Belgo-Rwandan cooperation.
The program is implemented under the Ministry of Forests and Mines (MINIFOM) and has a double anchorage:
* At the central level it is part of the National Forestry Authority (NAFA) and aims at strengthening this structure which has been created fairly recently and is currently not yet fully operational; 

* In 6 pilot districts it aims at promoting decentralized sustainable forest management, an action which is in the process of being launched. 

 

The main principles of the intervention are:
* To build capacities in the forestry sector through action and 

* To boost the development of this sector, which has for historical reasons been in a condition of serious decline for the last two decades. 

 

Therefore, the specific objective of the program is:
“The bases of a system of sustainable management of the forest resources of Rwanda are established and needs of the country for forest products are increasingly met”.
The three results to reach this objective are:
Result 1: “The availability of trained professional foresters is increased and technical capabilities of stakeholders in the forestry sector are strengthened”.
Result 2: “The institutional capacities to implement the national forest policy are reinforced from the central level to the decentralized level”.
Result 3: “Forest resources in the pilot districts (3 in the Northern Province and 3 in the Eastern Province) are increased and diversified and their management is improved”.

The implementation of the program relies on the establishment of a light Program Management Unit embedded within NAFA. Given the volume of the activities of capacity building, this Program Management Unit includes two International Technical Assistants, one of who is entirely dedicated to training.
The Belgian contribution is 6 million euros and the total duration of the program is 48 months, including 3 months of inception.

Function:
Under the general supervision of the BTC Representative in Kigali, in conformity with the directives of the Steering Committee of the program, the Co-management Delegate/Principal International Technical Assistant will work in close collaboration with the Intervention Director and the staff of the program as well as with the Director General of NAFA and the staff of NAFA.
In accordance with the descriptive elements presented in the Technical and Financial File of the program, he/she will be entrusted with the following responsibilities:

Role as Co-management Delegate:
* Assist the Intervention Director in all decision making process regarding the management of the intervention, in particular regarding the co-management of the funds. In that framework, he/she will be responsible for the preparation of the tendering procedures and will take part to the evaluation of the offers, the contracting and the administration of the contracts. He/she will supervise the establishment of rigorous methods of budget accounting; sign the agreements between the program and its partners (districts, etc.); 

* Establish the system of monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the program, supervise the preparation of the work plans and timetables of the activities; 

* Supervise the production of the technical and financial reports of the program for the Steering Committee and take part to the meetings of this committee; 

* Be responsible for the operational and financial closure of the program at the end of the implementation period. 

 

Role as Principal International Technical Assistant:
* Bring a key contribution to the development of models, systems and methods aiming at the sustainable decentralized management of forest resources; 

* Make sure the strategy of the program is consistent and ensure a technically sound implementation of the program; 

* Provide direct technical support to all activities aiming at making NAFA operational; 

* Coach NAFA and National Agricultural Research Institute/Forest Tree Seed Center (ISAR/CGF) teams; 

* Bring technical support to the preparation of the terms of reference of all studies and technical consultations planned; 

* Provide a technical input in all studies, trials and other applications implemented or supported by the program; 

* Take part to and support the technical evaluation of the activities and the production of technical documents on analyses, lessons learned and recommendations on the interventions; 

* Prepare the bases of a comprehensive training plan targeting the main actors of the forestry sector (Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry-Busogo, forestry secondary schools, NAFA headquarters, ISAR/CGF, the pilot districts, NAFA staff in the pilot districts and the private operators involved in the activities of the program), in collaboration with these institutions. 

 

Specific tasks:
* Support the wide consultation on the implementation of the National Forestry Policy; 

* Prepare proposals and give advise to MINIFOM/NAFA on the content and application of the new forest legislation (including taxation system, funding system, control system); 

* Design the methods to produce decision-making tools for the managers of the Rwandan forest resources, in collaboration with the concerned partners (NAFA, ISAR, National University of Rwanda/CGIS, international and national consultants, etc.); 

* Provide technical input in the organization of communication campaigns and the design of the content of messages to promote sustainable management of forest resources; 

* Together with NAFA, in collaboration with the pilot districts, design the systems and modalities of implementation of the District Forest Management Plans; 

* Propose technical improvements to the operations of forest management, including the operations of afforestation; 

* Develop models of agro-forestry practices to promote and advise on the establishment of a strong and efficient (agro-)forestry extension system. 

 

Profile:
* Forest Engineer or master’s degree in forest sciences or environmental sciences; 

* At least 5 years of experience in afforestation forestry (sylviculture of plantations) and forest management (management of tree plantations / management of forests or woodlands) in tropical or subtropical countries; 

* Proven experience of several years in project management in an international context; 

* Proven experience of several years in the institutional strengthening of forestry services at all levels (central, decentralized and local); 

* Proven experience of several years in capacity building in forestry, especially at institutional level; 

* Experience in the following disciplines is strongly desired: forest policy, forest legislation; GIS and other information systems (development, management); design, organization and data processing of forest inventories; participative approach and involvement of local communities in forest management; agro-forestry; gender mainstreaming; 

* Experience in the following disciplines is desired: watershed management and erosion control, integrated rural development, forest ecology, wood downstream processing; 

* Experience in the Great Lakes Region an asset; 

* Good skills in project management and human resource management; 

* Good knowledge of administrative and financial procedures of donors, knowledge of BTC procedures is an asset; 

* Sensitive to transversal themes (gender/ the environment). 

* Good reporting and communication skills; 

* Fluent in English and/or French, with at least good capacities to communicate in the other language. 

 

How to apply
Please apply not later than 23/01/2011, through our web site www.btcctb.org. Use our Standard CV and a letter of motivation to apply. You can find the model of our Standard CV on the page Jobs of our website. If you have any additional question, don’t hesitate to contact us at +32 (0)2 505 18 65.

Reference Code: RW_8CEG4Y-88

Tweet