Hiring Organization:
Wildlife Conservation Society
Date Posted:
2010-03-25
Position Description:
Terms of Reference: Albertine Rift REDD Project Manager
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Albertine Rift program seeks a REDD project manager with expertise in forestry carbon project development to undertake the technical analyses needed to launch forest carbon projects (REDD) primarily in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Specifically the REDD project manager will be responsible for completing a Project Design Document (PDD) for specific projects as well as support development of forest carbon feasibility studies in four landscapes in Eastern DRC and Uganda. The position will be based in the town of Beni, in the DRC, but will initially be based in Kampala, Uganda. The position is for 24 months with possibility of extension.
The main responsibility of the Albertine Rift REDD project manager will be to lead the development of a REDD project in the Mt Hoyo Virunga landscape in Eastern DRC. This project is funded through the Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) and aims to generate carbon credits under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Communities and Biodiversity Alliance standard (CCBA). The REDD project manager will lead in the project design, data collection, and technical analysis needed to complete a project design document (PDD) for VCS and CCBA.
In addition, the REDD project manager will help lead the analysis for three feasibility studies: One in the Misotshi-Kabogo massif (originally called Kabobo) in Eastern DRC, one in Itombwe massif ; the other in Murchison-Semuliki landscape in Western Uganda.
He/she will be conduct the following tasks:
• Identify appropriate areas for REDD based on the conservation priorities, and a consideration of project additionality and confirming to VCS requirements
• Design field survey and organize teams for biomass inventory collection and ground truthing.
• Develop an assessment of carbon stocks across the landscape, based on existing information and land-use maps.
• Evaluate socio-economic data to assess drivers of deforestation
• Work with remote sensing team to review drivers of deforestation, evaluate historic deforestation
• Hold meetings with local stakeholder communities to explain the project and ensure achievement of any necessary agreements/contracts related to boundaries and management commitments.
• Develop baseline scenarios of deforestation and calculate potential emission reductions (Note: Remote sensing work will be led by a technical specialist in the US.)
• Lead the writing of the Project Design Document for VCS and CCBA and the feasibility reports
• Coordinate with the WCS Forest Carbon Team, Government agencies and stakeholder to identify and development mechanisms for the distribution of REDD benefits
• Coordinate with the WCS team in Kinshasa and with the WCS Central African REDD Technical Advisor to ensure that project activities effectively link to broader national REDD policy.
Qualifications/Experience:
Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this position has a strong knowledge of REDD and REDD project development experience. Candidates will have a minimum of a Masters degree in forestry or related field (e.g. conservation biology, geography, economics), along with relevant work experience in forestry or related field. Experience managing climate change , ecosystem service payment (PES), or forestry projects generally and REDD in particular, is an advantage. Additional skills include remote sensing, modelling, budgeting, project management, fieldwork, and statistical analysis. Candidates with fluency in French and interest in Central or East Africa are encouraged.
Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three referees to Marisa Arpels at marpels@wcs.org.
For more information about Wildlife Conservation Society and Climate Change and Conservation Finance, please visit our website at: http://www.wcs.org
Application Deadline:
May 24, 2010
Contact Information:
Marisa Arpels
2300 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10460
USA
Website:
http://www.wcs.org
E-mail Address:
marpels@wcs.org