Project Officer

Job Description

Job Summary:

As a member of the Restore Africa team, the Project Officer will work closely with the Technical Lead Carbon, Markets and Value Chains as the focal point for carbon-related work, providing comprehensive coordination and support to partners on compliance with requirements of Gold Standard, maintaining quality assurance and ensuring comprehensive information capture, documentation and collation of documents required for compliance with the required standard.

Required Languages:

English, Chichewa.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening, analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with implementing partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Experience of communicating to a diverse range of audiences.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, as well as independently, and coordinate with colleagues based in different locations and time zones around the globe.
• Eagerness to grow and learn in an evolving environment.
• Optimistic, mission-driven personality with a can-do spirit.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none)

None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal

The PO will work under the guidance of the Technical Lead Carbon, Markets and Value Chains but also coordinate closely with other members of the Restore Africa team including Chief of Party, MEAL Manager, Senior Program Officer, and ESG-I and Compliance Manager. You will ensure that partners are applying best practices in carbon programming and complying with relevant policies and guidelines from the carbon developer, investor, carbon registry and Malawi Carbon Markets legal framework.

External

Global Evergreening Alliance (GEA) Program Coordination Unit; implementing partners, government and sector stakeholders

Responsibilities

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Coordination with the Program Coordination Unit Carbon Expert, Project Management Unit and implementing partners to provide technical backstopping in alignment with requirements of GEA (project proponent), CAM (investor), Gold Standard (certifying body) and Government of Malawi.
• Liaison with Environment Affairs Department to support the carbon registration process and ensure alignment with the Carbon Markets Framework and emerging regulations
• Lead documentation and reporting of technical aspects of the carbon project, in coordination with the MEAL Manager, including lessons learned.
• Lead the project’s Carbon Technical Working Group and support partner staff to implement and monitor carbon activities, including provision of training and capacity building to ensure their ability to meet carbon project responsibilities and obligations
• Lead, with input from the carbon technical working group, on the design and development of community mechanisms for carbon benefit sharing
• Liaise with ESG-I Manager to ensure full compliance with carbon project implementation including the project ESIA recommendations and overall compliance reporting obligations.
• Liaise with GEA on implementation of carbon verification processes, providing quality assurance on all documentation
• Identify opportunities and provide technical input into development of new projects for CRS Malawi including scale up of the Restore Africa project or complementary projects in livelihoods and land restoration
• Develop and maintain an understanding of relevant regulatory policies, national and international trends in voluntary and compliance carbon markets related to nature-based carbon removal

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 4 years relevant work experience in design, monitoring or auditing of relevant projects
• Excellent understanding and knowledge of afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry projects and community-based natural resource management
• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Knowledge of quantitative data gathering and analysis
• Knowledge of project planning tools, theory of change and development of project idea notes and project description documents
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Knowledge of voluntary carbon market standards, especially those associated with Agriculture, Forest and other Land uses (AFOLU)
• Experience using GIS and Commcare
• Strong quantitative skills, with the ability to use data and metrics to draw conclusions and inform decisions.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

About Us

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.