Grants Officer – Kiwa Initiative (Temporary)

Background

IUCN Oceania Regional Office (IUCN ORO) will be managing the Kiwa Component A: Local Projects Component , a portfolio of very small, small, and medium grants (EUR25,000 to 400,000) available to civil-society organizations, public institutions, national and local authorities in ODA-eligible countries of the Pacific and in the French overseas countries and territories. Over the next 2-3 years, IUCN will be issuing several calls for proposals for projects that protect biodiversity while addressing climate change impacts through Nature-based Solutions. Grants are anticipated to have durations of up to 12 to 36 months.
The overall objective of the Kiwa-Component A is to strengthen the resilience of Pacific Island ecosystems, economies and communities to the effects of climate change. The specific objective of the Kiwa-Component A is to improve access to very small to medium- sized funding targeting Nature-based Solutions for climate change adaptation in the Pacific while mainstreaming gender equality and a human-rights-based approach.

The Project is composed of 3 components summarised below:

Output/Result 1. Strengthened capacities of local and national authorities, civil society organizations (including those that represent women and indigenous peoples), to design and implement rights- based gender-sensitive and socially-inclusive very small to medium-scale projects on Nature-based Solutions for climate change adaptation at the local and national levels.

Output/Result 2. A grant facility is established able to provide swift and easy access to resources, and to adapt to the varying conditions and situations encountered in PICTs. This approach for the specification of the strategic directions and investments priorities shall make sure that the grant scheme reflects the actual local needs and demand.

Output/Result 3. Kiwa-Component A: Local Projects projects (around 15 very small, 12 small, and 10 medium grants) will be implemented in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT), having a positive impact on the needs and priorities of the PICTs.

Job Description

The Grants Officer – Temporary will undertake day-to-day administration of the Kiwa Initiative granting component which includes granting processes, procedures, reporting and monitoring and ensuring that they are delivered in a timely, effective and accurate manner according to the IUCN Kiwa Local Projects Component project description of action and Operation Manual (OM).

Grant Contracting

• Draft each approved grantee contracts and submit to ORO Legal to review and once cleared to send to grantees for their review and comments.
• In collaboration with ORO legal and Kiwa team finalise contract, all annexes and compile the finance questionnaire, due diligence, spending funds form and delegation of authority
• Facilitated the signing of contracts which includes uploading them on DocuSign for signing and arranging signing and grant launch where needed.
• Ensure all contracts are filed and monitor any amendments process.

Grant Tracking, monitoring and reporting.

• Ensure all grantee technical and financial reports received and filed and facilitate technical review and financial review with Kiwa team meetings and track progress.
• Track grantee Task, Deliverables and log-frame progress for overall M&E purposes.
• Monitor grantees project performance through communication with grantees and through site visits where appropriate.
• Work closely with IUCN ORO Financial Team to review each grantee’s project fincial report in line with the overall regional level project budget and expenditure authorizations in accordance with IUCN’s financial management systems and procedures.

Programme Planning, Reporting and Support

• The staff will be responsible to write the Grants Section of the Kiwa Semi-annual and Annual reports and submit these to the Kiwa Coordinator in a timely manner.
• Provide Kiwa Initiative Programme – Grants Component Annual Work Plan and Budget and provide quarterly updates as part of ORO Programme reporting and tracking of technical and budget tracking and planning process.
• When required provide donors grants data and analysis as required under the IUCN-AFD Kiwa Finance Agreement Log-frame and work plan.

Networking

• When required attend and represent IUCN at regional and international meetings to share lessons and present programme lessons and best practices.
• Actively reach out and support where appropriate and link Kiwa programme with other ORO programmes such as the NbS, Marine, PACA and other programmes.
• Support the the Kiwa Coordinator as required through engagement on regional network groups, task forces and committees; representing IUCN and Kiwa Initiative Component A at relevant fora, meetings and workshops at all levels; contribution to IUCN ORO programme planning forums, advisory committees and, project reviews.

Technical Support

• Develop a thorough understanding of the Kiwa Initiative Component A mechanism,
• Provide regular technical advice to the KI CA Coordinator and assist in work planning and the preparation of reports.
• Support the the KI CA Coordinator as required through engagement on regional network groups, task forces and committees; representing IUCN and Kiwa Initiative Component A at relevant fora, meetings and workshops at all levels; contribution to IUCN ORO programme planning forums, advisory committees and, project reviews.
• Contribute to tell the stories from the field of programme highlight from grantees, IUCN coordination and stories from our partners.
• Contribute to information sharing, lessons learning and documentation of project and programme experiences
• Perform other duties as may be assigned

Requirements

Education

• University Degree in Law and Natural Resource Management, Ecology, or a relevant field will be advantages.

Work Experience

• At least 2-3 years’ experience in project management and good understanding of contracting with good understanding of biodiversity conservation and/or protected areas management, ideally involving terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, at national and/or regional levels in the Oceania region.
• Experience in communicating and collaborating with management agencies, academic institutions and local, national and regional stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes.
• Proven experience in project administration.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and working as a facilitator or trainer in a multi-cultural setting.
• Sound English (verbal/written) with excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proficient in using office applications (MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint) and other web-based management systems.

Travel

• The position requires regular travel to ACP countries and OCTs in the region and to international meetings and events at a minimum of three missions per year (on average)

Applications

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the “Apply” button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.