BACKGROUND

IUCN is seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic candidate to join the IUCN Species Conservation Action Team as Programme Officer – Species Conservation) to support the IUCN SOS – Save Our Species programme.

IUCN SOS – Save Our Species aims to improve the conservation status of globally threatened species, their habitats, and the people depending on them. It provides grants for conservation projects targeting globally threatened species. By strategically focusing on species conservation priorities and by providing rapid action funding that can be mobilized quickly during crises, SOS provides critically needed resources where and when they matter most.

IUCN Save Our Species supports science-based conservation action on the ground that saves animals, plants, and fungi from extinction. We focus our efforts where they will have the biggest impact by funding frontline conservation organisations across the world that have unique knowledge of their region and the local biodiversity. IUCN Save Our Species is IUCN’s response to the challenges identified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ mobilising IUCN’s unique knowledge and expertise of the IUCN Expert Commissions.

This is a local recruitment. Only Malagasy nationals, individuals with residence status, or those with the appropriate employment visa for Madagascar are eligible to apply. The Programme Officer will be recruited locally by a temporary agency and will eventually be directly recruited by IUCN. S/he will be based in the upcoming Madagascar Country Office, in Antananarivo, Madagascar. As a temporary arrangement until the office opens, the Programme Officer will work remotely from home.

The primary task of the Programme Officer will be to contribute to the effective implementation of the SOS Lemurs (Phase II) initiative in Madagascar. This position will also contribute to delivering other species-related initiatives, project development, and liaison with IUCN Programmes, Members, commissions, and partners.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

– Ensure the efficient implementation of the SOS Lemurs (Phase II) initiative and other initiatives with the same geographic scope;

– Be responsible for the day-to-day management of the grants following IUCN SOS standardised procedures and in coordination with the Grants Coordinator;

– Support the development of operational guidelines and templates and contribute to preparing the documentation for calls for proposals to be published on the IUCN Grants Portal;

– Assist in reviewing applications received by the SOS Secretariat, including review of applications’ eligibility under SOS criteria and supporting the SOS Technical Advisory Group’s review of applications;

– Liaise with grantees;

– Monitor grants and organise and conduct project monitoring missions, as well as prepare mission reports in coordination with the Grants Coordinator;

– Review progress and final reports submitted by grantees and prepare project evaluation reports;

– Lead on the data collection process for SOS Lemurs (Phase II) grants to feed into the SOS monitoring and evaluation framework and other tracking tools;

– Support the collation of impact data and the capture of lessons learned towards the development of various communication outputs;

– Support the organisational development and capacity-building activities of SOS Lemurs;

– Support policy interventions at national, regional and international level and make linkages between the IUCN Save Our Species on-the-ground work and relevant policies at these levels;

– Ensure timely and quality communication of the SOS Lemurs (Phase II) initiative through IUCN’s regional and global communications channels;

– Support the organisation of workshops and webinars;

– Keep the IUCN Eastern and Southern Regional Office and other programmes implemented in the Western Indian Region updated on SOS Lemurs projects and beneficiaries in order to avoid duplication and increase efficiency, e.g. updates on calls for proposals, the project pipeline, joint visibility and communications opportunities, grantee due diligence processes, etc.

– Contribute to drafting yearly progress reports to the donor;

– Regularly liaise with relevant donors (i.e French Development Agency, EU Delegation, KfW, etc.) in the country, providing regular updates on the status of relevant SOS Lemurs projects;

– Assist in identifying opportunities for partnerships and project development, and support IUCN SOS fundraising efforts;

– Support the development of proposals for the Species Conservation Action team.

– Represent IUCN at relevant international events;

– Contribute towards knowledge management for conservation in conjunction with the Center for Science and Data;

– Carry out other relevant tasks at the request of and in agreement with the line manager.