Technical Specialist

Background

1. Office/Unit/Project Description

As part of achieving the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy’s goals for the forest sector, targets set in the NFSDP and REDD+ Implementation Plan, a Forest Sector Transformation Unit (FSTU) has been established. The FSTU is established to: Build and scale-up a pipeline of bankable, transformational, high-value and innovative  forestry programs/projects;   Support the implementation of initiatives through targeted, hands-on support to achieve large-scale  success, maintain momentum and generate buy-in; Provide evidence-based policy analysis and recommendations to the Commission, partners and stakeholders.

The Technical Specialist is expected to work mainly with the Forest Sector Transformation Unit (FSTU) and with the REDD+ Investment Programme Team in general. The incumbent will primarily focus on driving the development of innovative forestry projects and resource mobilization and will focus mainly on private sector engagement in the forestry sector. 

The Technical Specialist needs to be strong in program/project proposal development, strategy formulation and solving technical problems. The Advisor will provide support in designing and implementing programs; including innovations, introduction of best practices (incubation of new project  ideas) and developing partnerships with the private sector and civil society. An important element of the  role is to transfer knowledge and skills to the FSTU and other RIP staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. Scope of Work

Support forest sector resource mobilization:

• Develop project concept notes and write proposals;
• Identify international financing mechanisms for the forest sector; 
• Mobilize funds from development partners and the private sector;
• Build a portfolio of new private-sector and civil-society partnerships.

Provide technical advice:

• Ensure technical linkage with other initiatives related to forestry for consistent and coordinated REDD+ Investment Programme (RIP) implementation; 
• Identify forest management and restoration approaches, draw lessons learnt and share information and knowledge with members of the FSTU team;
• Contribute to the development of tools, methods and approaches for the implementation of RIP;
• Provide technical programming, implementation and monitoring support for the forest sector;
• Provide technical guidance and direction delivery and business development team leaders in the FSTU to help them provide technical and implementation support to regional project offices.

Strtegic support for  the functions of the FSTU:

• Provide advice on piloting and scaling-up successful forestry practices implemented by the private-sector and civil-society organizations;  
• Challenge and motivate teams to create truly aspirational targets and provide the required support needed to achieve results;
• Advise on the development of programmatic strategy and models;
• Develop program management guidelines;

Operational support for the functions of the FSTU  

• Work closely with the forest sector to facilitate collaboration in implementing RIP and complementarity in the design and implementation of national programmes, aligned to regional and international initiatives;
• Ensure the development of annual work plan, budget and implementation of activities according to the approved plan;
• Elaborates annual work plans and ensure their social, economic and ecological validation
• Provide technical support during assessments, studies and backstop forestry projects as required.

Knowledge Management and communication

• Compile the experience of other countries in forest sector transformation and adopt to the context in Ethiopia;
• Coach, mentor the selected staff of the Commission to transfer knowledge and skills
• Support the production of  communication and Knoweldege products relevant for forest sector transformation in the country

3. Institutional Arrangement

The Technical Specialist is expected to work mainly with the Forest Sector Transformation Unit (FSTU) and with the REDD+ Investment Programme Team in general. The incumbent will primarily focus on driving the development of innovative forestry projects and resource mobilization and will focus mainly on private sector engagement in the forestry sector. 

The Technical Specialist needs to be strong in program/project proposal development, strategy formulation and solving technical problems. The Advisor will provide support in designing and implementing programs; including innovations, introduction of best practices (incubation of new project  ideas) and developing partnerships with the private sector and civil society. An important element of the  role is to transfer knowledge and skills to the FSTU and other RIP staff. The Technical Advisor shall teport to the Drector of Forest Sector Transformation Unit.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

5. Minimum Qualifications of the successful IPSA