Technical Advisor Land Use Planning - Liberia - (Fixed Term)

Job Description

THE GEF FOLUR PROJECT

The Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Project is based on the growing recognition that food production systems and land use must improve for the benefit of peoples’ health, planet, and economies. FOLUR will promote sustainable integrated landscapes and efficient food value chains at scale targeting commodities – cocoa and palm oil.

FOLUR aims to transform the global food and land use systems so that production areas are better integrated, producing ecosystem services and maintaining natural capital. To this end, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a sub-grantee to Conservation International-Liberia implementing a five-year Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded FOLUR project titled “Reducing deforestation from palm oil and cocoa value chains,” with the main objective “to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems for enhanced livelihood opportunities in the Gola Landscape through land use planning, restoration of degraded lands, and strengthening governance, policies, and market incentives for nationally replicable models of deforestation-free cocoa and palm oil value chains.”

Based on the above, the RSPB is seeking a highly motivated Technical Advisor Land Use Planning (TA LUP) to support the implementation of the GEF FOLUR

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The TA LUP will collaborate with Project partners in the Gola/Foya Landscape in NW Liberia. The TA LUP will provide technical assistance on the application of Landscape spatial planning procedures, engagement of stakeholders, partners, and resource users to develop land management database systems, a tool for improved food production systems and restoration of lands, most specifically in cocoa and oil palm areas.

Job Responsibilities

• Carry out a baseline assessment and produce a report on the land use planning processes and institutional framework governing land use planning in Liberia – drawn entirely from secondary source research, spatial analysis, field assessment, and desk-based information systems of Liberia.
• Develop an analytical framework of a Landscape based spatial baseline of information as a guide to recognize the major land use options, the resource users, the biophysical features, and the land use integration systems.
• In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, develop a policy framework and practical analysis of land use systems in Liberia, with relevance to the Gola/Foya Landscape.
• Provide technical advice, guidance, and support on the application of the land use planning process in collaboration with the Society for the Conservation of Nature (SCNL) Team.
• Provide technical support to the Land Use Restoration activities of the SCNL in the Gola/Foya, with relevant emphasis on cocoa agroforestry and Forest friendly cocoa production systems.
• Provide technical advice, active participation, and support to the design, development, and production of the Gola/Foya LUP, relevant to Food production systems and restoration of lands for agroecosystems.
• Through awareness and advocacy, support efforts on the application and implementation of both community and landscape land use systems, with relevance to sustainable development and natural resource use in Gola/Foya Landscape.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Conservation Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Land Management, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in land use planning and policy in developing country contexts, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Work experience in spatial information management in land use planning, natural resource management, or similar field
• Extensive experience engaging in reviews of policy and institutional arrangements related to land or other natural resources
• Proven skills in qualitative research.
• Experience designing land use planning processes that address issues such as deforestation, climate smart agriculture, and food production systems and that substantially engage civil society.
• Familiarity with the legal framework governing land and prior experience working in West African countries.
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical, and innovative problem-solving ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and statistical analyses is an added advantage.

This is a 2 year fixed term Contract Full Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 20th March. For further information please contact helen.tellis@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form.

Please can you provide a cover letter with your application, please include this at the end of your CV document upload.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.