Forestry and Natural Resource Management Officer at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Overall Responsibilities

• Promote sustainable management of forests, land, and water resources to improve livelihoods and environmental stability.
• Mitigate conflicts linked to natural resource competition (e.g., farmer-herder clashes, deforestation disputes).
• Strengthen community resilience by integrating climate-smart NRM practices into peacebuilding efforts.
• Support reforestation, agroforestry, and land restoration initiatives to combat desertification and degradation.
• Facilitate dialogue among stakeholders (farmers, herders, local authorities) for equitable resource access.

Main Tasks and Duties

• Conduct assessments of forest cover, land degradation, and water resources in Potiskum and surrounding areas.
• Develop and implement community-based NRM plans (e.g., afforestation, soil conservation, sustainable firewood collection).
• Promote climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry to enhance food security and biodiversity.
• Train communities on sustainable charcoal production, alternative energy sources, and fuel-efficient stoves to reduce deforestation.

Capacity Building:

• Train local farmers, women, and youth groups on sustainable land use, tree planting, and conservation.
• Raise awareness on environmental protection, deforestation risks, and climate change adaptation.
• Strengthen community forest management committees (CFMCs) and water user associations for participatory governance.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support in Development and implementation of robust M&E frameworks to measure program impact.
• Analyze data to inform program adaptations and report on progress against indicators

Proposal Development:

• Contribute to the development of proposals for funding, ensuring the inclusion of cash-based interventions and livelihood components.
• Collaborate with the program development team to align proposals with donor priorities.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Engage with humanitarian actors, government agencies, and local authorities for coordinated response.
• Participate in cash working groups and sector meetings to advocate for CFF approaches.
• Collaborate with NGOs, government agencies (e.g., Ministry of Environment, Yobe State Afforestation Program), and UN bodies (FAO, UNDP) on NRM initiatives.

Gender and Inclusion:

• Ensure gender and youth inclusion in all NRM and peacebuilding activities.
• Ensure that project activities are gender-sensitive and inclusive, addressing the needs of all beneficiary groups.
• Integrate gender and inclusion strategies into program planning and implementation.

Reporting:

• Monitor and report on project progress, challenges, and impacts related to forestry and NRM.
• Prepare timely and accurate reports on ........... activities for COOPI, WFP, and other stakeholders.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for organizational knowledge.

Networking and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Leverage partnerships to enhance program reach and impact.

Knowledge Sharing:

• Facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and learning within COOPI and the broader humanitarian community.
• Organize workshops and learning events to share insights from the program.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of developments in cash programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• This Terms of Reference outlines the key responsibilities and expectations for the .........................under the WFP/BMZ-funded project.
• The role is pivotal in ensuring that COOPI delivers high-quality cash assistance to support the resilience and recovery of displaced populations in Northeast Nigeria.

Key Deliverables

• NRM assessments and action plans for target communities.
• Trained communities on sustainable forestry, agroforestry, and conflict-sensitive NRM.
• Established community-based NRM committees with conflict-resolution mechanisms.
• Reforestation / restoration projects (e.g., tree nurseries, degraded land rehabilitation).
• Reports on conflict trends related to natural resources and mitigation strategies.

Desired Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years experience in forestry or land restoration projects.
• Knowledge of climate change adaptation, desertification control, and agroforestry.
• Strong facilitation, mediation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of GIS and remote sensing is an advantage.
• Strong communication and community engagement skills.
• Language Requirements: Spoken and written fluency in English.