Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Nairobi and outside as required
Responsibilities
You support the Executive Director to develop and implement an effective programme of policy and advocacy for conservation actions for priority species, sites and habitats, in line with Nature Kenya strategic plan. You take responsibility for encouraging ecological sustainability in ways that safeguard Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and priority landscapes and species including those regarded as common. You promote uptake of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and participate in national and global meetings and processes. To achieve this, you will support the Executive Director to:
Mainstream KBAs/IBAs and biodiversity in general into key sectors of the economy: agriculture, energy, water, infrastructure and others.
Analyse policies, legislation and institutional frameworks at all levels and develop recommendations for key target groups.
Catalyze and influence policies, legislation and institutional frameworks for ecosystem resilience
Empower local communities and Site Support Groups to advocate for species and sites conservation
Demonstrate and advocate the values of nature
Encourage and promote sustainable production
Develop and implement on the ground demonstrations/models for enhanced ecological sustainability in the process of meeting economic/humans needs
Work with the public and private sector to promote best practice to mitigate negative impact of major developments
Communicate the Nature Kenya work to audiences to influence them to take action for biodiversity conservation
Contribute to the implementation of biodiversity linked international treaties to enhance KBAs conservation
Mobilize the resources needed to influence policy, to conserve and sustain ecosystems services
You will support the Executive Director to promote an understanding and acceptance of the importance of a healthy environment to well-functioning production sectors. This will require an extensive strategy of communication, education and public awareness and advocacy. You will develop and implement mechanisms to bring together representatives of various sectors in order to coordinate activities and address common concerns. Through mainstreaming, biodiversity concerns will be internalized into the way economic sectors, development models, policies and programmes operate. By integrating biodiversity concerns into the way sectors operate you will enhance the immediate benefits of improving environmental quality and productivity, and which also serve as a long-term safeguard for sustainable development.
You are responsible for developing a national constituency of institutions that recognise and support Nature Kenya work. An important part of the job is to ensure that Nature Kenya conservation work is packaged and disseminated to a broad range of stakeholders, partners and members. A critical component is to ensure that Nature Kenya is adequately represented in key advocacy national fora and that Site Support Groups and national institutions understand their roles and obligation in the implementation of key policies, legislation, treaties, agreements and conventions to ensure IBAs/KBAs conservation in perpetuity. To support these strategic goals, fundraising is a key component of your work and you will raise resources to support your position and others working with you to achieve your planned targets.
You will report to the Executive Director but work as part of a team with the Species and Sites Manager, Local Empowerment Manager, Marketing and Membership Manager, Programmes Support Manager, Finance Manager and all other Conservation Programme staff, interns and volunteers. This position cuts across many Society units and requires excellent collaboration and cross-reference and linkages with all units to ensure communication and advocacy targets address all Society objectives and targets.
Specific Responsibilities
Reporting, supervising and planning
Report to the Executive Director
Work closely with Species and Sites Manager, Local Empowerment Manager, Marketing and Membership Manager, Programmes Support Manager, Finance Manager and all other Conservation Programme staff, interns and volunteers.
Attend and take minutes at the Environmental Legislation and Policy Working Group (ELPWiG)
Mainstream biodiversity into sectors of the economy
Analyse development policies, development strategies, conservation policies, laws and institutions and recommend/implement actions to promote biodiversity safeguarding
Promote climate smart agriculture systemically and at/around KBAs to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and incomes from crops, livestock and fish, without having a major negative impact on the biodiversity/environment.
Promote smarter location of wind energy, improvement of electricity transmission lines/designs to safeguard birds and advocate for avoidance of all areas that are hotspots for endangered species or areas likely to lead to significant bird and bat mortality
Advocate for appropriate placement of infrastructure e.g. roads, railways, transport corridors, cities, towns, schools, churches, dams for water harvesting and others to reduce/minimise/avoid impacts on KBAs/IBAs and other ecologically sensitive areas
Contribute to national, county and private sector policies, strategies, businesses cases and plans for development to promote KBAs conservation in perpetuity
Develop and implement strategies to engage appropriate stakeholders.
Engage all like-minded actors including media, institutions, membership and others to increase the voice and demand for sustainability
Advocacy and networking
Develop, implement and update advocacy strategy for Nature Kenya
Track development initiatives, EIAs and coordinate generation of comments on key EIAs to ensure compliance with Nature Kenya strategic objectives
Coordinate Nature Kenya’s representation at relevant parliamentary processes and key national and county meetings and conservation forums, and help advocate its conservation concerns in Kenya.
Develop advocacy training programme for Site Support Groups and collaborate with conservation programme for its successful implementation link to SSGs training.
Assist in the co-ordination and the operations of Nature Kenya’s Policy and Legislation Working Group, and help develop Nature Kenya’s position on relevant policy issues
Ensure that Nature Kenya’s database of key contacts, including decision-makers, is up to date and is used to maximum effect in advocacy
Co-ordinate the Key Biodiversity Areas National Liaison Committee for Kenya
Coordinate reporting for advocacy meetings attended by other staff
Lead campaigns for developments or actions that jeopardize biodiversity conservation
Contribute towards the domestication, implementation and reporting for biodiversity related sub-regional, regional and international treaties
Analyse conventions and identify opportunities for conservation
Work with appropriate Government and other organisations to improve the implementation of national and international environmental laws and treaties
Catalyse mandated agencies to domesticate appropriate MEAs e.g. CBD, CMS, AEWA, CITES, UNFCCC, UNFCCD, Nairobi Convention and others
Prioritise participation and mobilise resources to attend key MEAs nationally and globally
Track the implementation of the NBSAP and links to MEAs programmes of work
Catalyse national and grassroot participation in key international days
Conservation action
Develop a programme for SSGs policy and advocacy work
Liaise with Conservation Programme to ensure that SSGs participate in key events e.g. World Environment Day, World Migratory Bird Day, etc etc and ensure such events are covered by the media
Prioritise sites in critical need for protection and advocate for their formal protection by government and local communities
Prioritize key habitats and develop strategies for habitat conservation
Stimulate the development of site management plans and advocate for their implementation
Project and programme management and reporting
Support the Executive Director to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of Nature Kenya’s conservation and advocacy projects and programmes, and that donor requirements of reporting and accounting are met
Ensure effective management for all the projects delegated to you by the Executive Director
Assist in producing workplans, budgets and quality reports to donor requirements
Guide field staff to effectively deliver planned project targets and outputs
Ensure monthly workplans and budgets are prepared and agreed with the Conservation Porgramme Manager and Executive Director
Ensure field reports are received every month and that reporting is based on impacts and results are fed into standard donor reporting protocols
Communication
Provide a focal point for advocacy communications at Nature Kenya
Coordinate advocacy communications and input into Nature Kenya publications
Provide content for updating the advocacy section of the Nature Kenya website ensuring that it remains dynamic and informative
Engage Nature Kenya members and the public in the Society’s activities using the website
Consolidate media image and maintain contacts database
Write up articles for print and electronic media and publications
Create awareness on key conservation issues in Kenya and globally
Foster links with existing and potential Nature Kenya corporate members
Foster links with media and organize media participation in Nature Kenya activities
Stimulate the establishment of a media working group
Document lessons and experiences and communicate to the public
Take films and videos and market to media
Link with partners to ensure effective communication, advocacy and action for IBA/KBAs conservation
Fund-raising
Assess areas where donor support is potentially needed and match to appropriate donors
Write up fundraising proposals and submit to donors including corporates
Engage the private sector in biodiversity conservation initiatives
Assist to create opportunities to promote Nature Kenya’s activities and projects to potential supporters and donors
Ensure that staff and operating costs are consistently incorporated into funding proposals
Strategically talk to individuals who have potential to support advocacy, SSGs work and conservation actions
General
Strive for personal and professional development by updating your knowledge and skills, and taking part in appropriate conservation-related activities outside the workplace
Maintain a safe, clean, organised and efficient personal work space and common areas
Any other reasonable duties as specified by the Executive Director
Qualifications
Advanced degree in Wildlife Management, conservation, biology natural resources management
At least five years experience in conservation policy and advocacy
Excellent understanding of the socio-policy and conservation environment in Kenya
Experience with non-profit conservation organisations
Demonstrable experience in conservation influence
Demonstrable experience in proposal writing, project management, donor reporting and the logical framework approach
Strong strategic and analytical mind
Ability to speak clearly, concisely and cogently
Excellent English writing skills
Ability to get guidance and work with others and deliver results through teams
Passion and commitment for conservation and ability to work beyond normal working hours to deliver targets
Please share your CV and cover letter with title of position applied to: office@naturekenya.org. Include the title of the position in the subject of the email. Applications to be received by 31st July 2021. If you do not hear from Nature Kenya, consider yourself unsuccessful.
Apply via :
office@naturekenya.org
