Noé is a French non-profit organization of general interest, created in 2001, with the mission of safeguarding biodiversity in France and internationally. Noé deploys programs for the conservation of endangered species and the preservation and restoration of natural environments and protected areas. The organization also carries out educational actions aimed at developing changes in behaviour that are more respectful of the environment. Its action is located in France, overseas and internationally with the implementation of biodiversity conservation projects in Africa and Europe. Since 2015, Noé has developed, thanks to the support of the French Development Agency (FDA) and with its partners, an innovative approach of pro-biodiversity value chains in Central and West Africa. These pro-biodiversity value chains aim to put the economy at the service of biodiversity, by promoting the products of nature as a sustainable source of income for the populations living at the periphery of Protected Areas (PA) while improving the governance of the natural resources by the communities.
Noé’s program mainly operates by providing technical and financial support to local NGOs to implement projects combining community development with biodiversity conservation, although since the end of 2023, Noé has started direct implementation in the Western Region of Ghana as well.
Since mid-2023 Noé Ghana has started developing with its partners some landscape conservation and development strategy focusing on the Wester Wildlife Corridor and the Ankasa Rainforest Area to have a mid-term visibility of the priorities and required actions at the landscape level. Project development and implementation is now oriented to fully serve the operationalization of these strategies.
Noé is now looking for a new member to lead the management of the 5-people Ghanaian team as well as to oversee the programme and to ensure the implementation and impact of the conservation strategies.
Main responsibilities and activities Throughout the duration of the contract, with the support of the Head of International Department and the Ghana team, the Country lead will:
1) Manage the Noé Ghana team, ensure its empowerment and growth (25%):
• Supervise the work of the accountant/administrator and of the project coordinators.
• Ensure mentorship of the coordinators for them to be able to gain autonomy and handle more responsibilities (regular meetings, mission in Tamale, trainings and capacity building on project coordination and management tools)
• Recruit team members when required by project needs.
• Recruit an ecologist to focus on the transcutting topic of species conservation on Noé Ghana projects.
• Organize capacity building with the team members to help them grow on technical aspects as well as soft skills.
• Ensure the interface between the Head Quarters and the Ghana team.
2) Ensure the technical support to the project implementation when needed (15%):
• Provide continuous technical support to the CSOs and conduct field visits (2pprox.. once per quarter)
• Validate the 6-monthlty financial and technical reports of the CSOs and authorize settlements.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with private companies and/or gain their support in the implementation of the supply chains.
• Provide trainings to improve the capacities of CSOs in technical and financial reporting.
• Oversee the organize of events, steering committees, trainings.
3) Ensure the administrative and financial management of the projects (20%):
• Validate the monthly accountancy, financial monitoring and fund requests prepared by accountant/administrator.
• Validate the technical and financial reports to be submitted to the various donors (both institutional and private).
• Produce and ensure the quality control of funding agreements with financial partners and sub-grantees.
• Oversee the annual external financial audit and the technical evaluations when occurring.
4) Ensure Noé’s structuring and growth, and develop Noé’s network in Ghana (40%):
• Finalize the Avu/Keta lagoon wetlands conservation and development strategy in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.
• Update the funding plan to have medium term visibility on the financial opportunities.
• Develop proposals to secure additional institutional and private funding agreements to ensure the viability of the landscape strategies.
• Ensure the satisfaction of financial partners, the renewal and growth of partnerships, and their long-term commitment.
• Engage with other national and international NGOs to identify, organize and support potential new projects based on a holistic and innovative approach to conservation.
• Meet with government structures to ensure the setting up of public-private partnerships (especially with the Forestry Division).
• Implement the communication strategy of Noé Ghana to bring visibility on the approach and results of Noé’s actions.
Expériences / Formation
The ideal candidate will be an environmental enthusiast, committed to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development and will have the following skills:
• A Degree or a master in one of the following topics: Agronomy, Natural Resource Management, Ecosystem Management or Forestry.
• One experience (1-2 year) in working with NGOs/CBOs on biodiversity conservation and/or sustainable value chain development (Non-Timber Forest Products) in a sub-Saharan country.
o Team management in intercultural context
o Capacity building of / working with local NGOs in West Africa
o Managing relationships with the private sector and networking
o Community-based biodiversity conservation and community development
o Drafting tenders for public and private funding
o Financial and technical management of projects
• Autonomous and practical mind, with good organizational capacities
• Very good interpersonal skills
• Good writing skills and communication ability at meetings and events
• Proficiency in computer tools (Pack Office)
• Excellent level of English and good level or French (written and oral)
Salaire
Location: Based in Accra – Ghana, with field visits in the country.
Salary: Up to negotiation depending on experience.
Contract: VSI
Duration: 2-year renewable. The project manager should be ready to commit for at least 3 years.
Comment postuler
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter by June 15th, 2024 to Natacha Cayre, ncayre@noe.org and Nicolas Drunet, ndrunet@noe.org