The Governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Malawi are jointly implementing the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP), which is managed by the Secretariat of the Joint Songwe River Basin Commission (S-SRBC) with offices located at Kyela, Tanzania. The Songwe River Basin (SRB) covers an area of 4,243 km2 in seven districts of: Karonga and Chitipa (in Malawi); and Kyela, Mbeya Rural, Ileje, Mbozi and Momba (in Tanzania). The basin is part of the wider Zambezi River basin. The river forms part of the border between Malawi and Tanzania. Increasing competition for space, water and natural resources is degrading the Songwe River Basin.
Both riparian countries in 2017 ratified the Convention on the Establishment of the Joint Songwe River Basin Commission (SRBC) to sustainably manage the basin natural resources and implement the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP). The Convention came into force on 1st July, 2018. The SRBDP is a multipurpose transboundary Programme under which the challenges and opportunities resulting from the behaviour of the Songwe River are planned to be worked on through various projects. The projects are to cover construction of dams for flood control and hydropower productions, development of irrigated agriculture, water supply, fisheries and tourism to mention a few including non-structural measures.
The Strengthening Transboundary Cooperation and Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Songwe River Basin (STCINRM-SRB) Project as one of the non-structural measures has been established to prepare the ground for the implementation of the SRBDP by addressing the problem of environmental degradation. Specifically, the Project objective is to enhance basin protection, livelihoods and integrated water resources management through improved transboundary cooperation and sustained ecosystem services. The Project will be implemented for a period of four years.
The Secretariat of the Joint Songwe River Basin, therefore, seeks to use part of the proceeds of the grant package to recruit individual consultants to fill the positions of the Hydrologist/FEWS Expert; a Financing Mobilisation/M&E Expert; an Environmental/Agro/Forestry Management Expert; an ICT/GIS/MIS Expert; and a Procurement Expert to provide services in the Project at the S-SRBC headquarters in Kyela, Tanzania.
Position Title: Environmental/Agro/Forestry Expert
Reporting to: The Acting Executive Secretary for the Songwe River Basin Commission.
Reference Number: SRBC/STCINRMSRBP/ENV/1
Publication date: 25th February, 2020
Closing date: 10th March, 2020
Place of duty: S-SRBC Offices in Kyela, Tanzania
Terms of Appointment: Four (4) year contractual appointment renewable every year based on performance.
Functions and Responsibilities
The Environmental/Agro/Forestry Expert functions and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: a) Plan, coordinate, monitor and supervise the INRM programme;
- Supervise the technical assistant and 6 technicians recruited to implement the INRM programme;
- Liaise with the District commissioners (Malawi side) and District Executive Directors (Tanzania side) and supervise the work of the district officers involved in the programme;
- Ensure sound communication and consultation with stakeholders and the other components of the project, in particular provide the required data to the MIS;
- Identify capacity building needs for the local stakeholders and organize training programs;
- Further prepare other environmental projects identified in the SRBDP (upscaling of the INRM programme in the basin) and liaise with the resource mobilisation officer for finance mobilisation;
- Address environmental and social development issues in various SRBDP operations during the identification, preparation, appraisal, and supervision stages;
- Mainstream relevant and cross-cutting environmental and social issues into SRBDP operations, particularly issues related to natural resource management and climate change;
- Develop recommendations to enhance environmental and social benefits and corrective measures to mitigate environmental and social risks in the SRBDP operations;
- Implement activities related to promotion of alternative livelihoods and provide required capacity building training to enable effective participation of SRB communities in the program;
- Coordination, facilitation and monitoring of the consultant responsible for the INRM pilot programme;
- Develop a participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME) database in cooperation with transboundary SRB field staff and district officers for pilot program;
- Facilitate transboundary SRB meetings, ensuring that sustainable land remediation results/observations/lessons learnt are shared to enhance an adaptive innovative option/approach to achieve SRB sustainable landuse;
- Become familiar with such District/Village bylaws/guidelines relevant to achieving sustainable SRB landuse goals;
- Provide support in ensuring sustainable production of material/products from proper landuse, agroforestry, farm practices and forestry, which may be required by communities in the SRB for socio-economic use (schools, community halls, village administration centres, etc.);
- Participate in the design, delivery of quarterly effectiveness reviews of the “Enhancing Transboundary Landuse and Integrated Natural Resource Management” program;
- Lead or participate in species survey of the remnant SRB indigenous flora and monitor the propagation of species select for replanting;
- Plan and undertake sensitization sessions with eco-tourism operations and assist them to develop support extension/information material to meet clientele requirements;
- Become familiar with IUCN guidelines for rare, endangered species protection;
- Plan and undertake sensitization sessions with SRB district, Village Administration Centres, Eco-tourism operators to familiarise them with IUCN guidelines;
- Plan and undertake sensitization sessions with SRB district, Village Administration Centres, Eco-tourism operators on recycling requirements to maintain SRB sustainability and water quality; and
- Lead or participate in updating the SRB landuse management strategy for each catchment as required to SRBC environmental sustainability guidelines.
Qualifications and Experience
- Master of Science (MSc) degree in environmental science/management, ecology, zoology or agriculture with a specialization in natural resources/environmental management and/or governance and familiar with participatory techniques to engage communities and strengthen community environmental management capacity;
- 7 years of relevant experience in inland environmental/agricultural management, post-harvest handling, agricultural/food products safety and quality, statistics and data management of environmental/agricultural, or related field;
- 3 years of practical experience in project planning, implementation and management;
- Demonstrated experience in undertaking or leading environmental/agricultural analytical or research activities including but not limited to production/postharvest surveys, and handling environmental data (QA/QC);
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing community livelihood programs;
- Demonstrated experience in designing and/or organizing community capacity building programs;
- Demonstrated experience working with or in regional/international or development partners organizations dealing with the environment and agriculture. Working experience with FAO procedures and guidelines related to the environment and/or agriculture is desirable;
- Relevant experience in the development/ review of environmental/agricultural policies, strategies and regulations, at a national or river basin is desirable;
- Excellent writing, analytical, presentation and reporting skills, with proven skills in writing reports;
- Fluency in spoken and written English and ability to converse and write in either Chewa and/or Swahili highly desirable;
- Computing skills related to data management; and
- Experience working in river basins is desirable.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, copies of academic certificates, professional certificates and Curriculum Vitae (not exceeding four pages) with names and contact information of three traceable referees to:
The Secretariat of the Joint Songwe River Basin Commission
P.O. Box 300,
Kyela,
TANZANIA.
Contact name: Eng. Gabriel M. Kalinga
Email: [email protected]; cc: [email protected]
To reach him not later than 10th March, 2020, 17:00 Hours Local time (EAT).
Please mention the title of the position you are applying for in your email or Post.
Only shortlisted candidate will be contacted.
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