Project Coordinator (PC)

Background

The Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit international NGO established by the Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn & the Former First Lady of Ethiopia, H.E. Mrs. Roman Tesfaye. It strives to support the efforts of government, communities and partners in bringing socioeconomic transformation in Ethiopia and the broader continental Africa.

With its programmatic focus areas- maternal & child health and nutrition, climate-smart conservation and ecotourism, agricultural transformation, and economic empowerment of women and youth, synergizing each other, the foundation envisions seeing A healthy and economically empowered community in a well-conserved environment. Geographically, its support focuses on areas with the highest disparities where the foundation could add value.

Job Summary

The Climate Smart Conservation and Ecotourism Program (CSCET)of HRF is a flagship initiative with the main goal of ensuring collaborative and community-based response measures towards addressing the two interrelated problems of biodiversity loss and lack of secure community livelihoods in a way that mitigates the persistence of both anthropogenic and climatic impacts on the biodiversity stock. To attain this goal, the program adheres to a community-based sustainable conservation approach whereby local communities and their institutions work closely with the park officials while ensuring sustainable benefits from their conservation endeavors by creating various alternative livelihoods, including ecotourism. Ultimately, the program work is meant to create as many alternative livelihood strategies as possible for all of the community members around the national parks who depend on these resources to support their living (food, fuel, fodder, etc.) and empower them to be in full charge of protecting the resources from further depletion.

The Maze conservation and community livelihoods project, entitled The Preservation of Maze National Park and its Watershed in Ethiopia is a five-year (2024-2028) project fully funded by the Agence franaise de dveloppement (AFD) and implemented by Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF). The project is aimed at ensuring the long-term integrity of Maze National Park for the benefit of nature and communities around the park with three key components: a) Maze National Park is functional and achieves its conservation objectives; b) a win-win approach regarding natural resources management is in place between communities and the park; and c) the water flow in the park's rivers is ensured and sufficient. For the implementation of this project, HRF has set up a project Management Unit (PMU) located in Maze NP, Morka Town, Gamo Zone. The PMU has been set up to coordinate the implementation of the five-year project through mobilizing and engaging local communities, park management, local government offices, and other relevant partners towards the realization of the stated project goal.

The Project Coordinator (PC) of the PMU, thus, is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the PMU and its human and physical resources. The designated coordinator is in charge of planning, coordinating, and directing effective and efficient project implementation through working harmoniously with the PMU staff, Maze National Park (MzNP) management, local government, local communities, and other relevant stakeholders. The PC position holder officially represents HRFs field office (the PMU), serving as a focal person of HRF in the project area. The PC is entitled to create effective communication channels with all relevant decision-makers and stakeholders in the project area to ensure the smooth and effective implementation and attainment of the project outcomes over the entire project period. Being directly responsible to the Chief of the Climate-Smart Conservation and Ecotourism Program (CSCET) of HRF, the project coordinator guides overall project implementation, monitors, evaluates and records the project performance in line with the project document and action plan and provides timely reports to the program office; receives feedback and communicates among the PMU and relevant stakeholders for further improvement of project performance.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Coordinator (PC)

• Prepare an annual plan of action in line with the project document and guide its implementation by coordinating the PMU staff and relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure the acquisition, deployment, and duty-bound of all of the PMU staff and guide their day-to-day performance as per the project implementation manual and relevant guidelines.
• Create smooth and collegial working relationships and communication lines with the park management, community representatives, local stakeholders and government officials to materialize all those joint activities specified in the project document.
• Set up or establish associations, committees or other relevant platforms about the project implementation and speed up the implementation of the three components of the project.
• Mobilize stakeholders and communities towards the attainment of the project goals.
• Work closely with the Maze National Park management and coordinate the effective implementation of project activities that ensure the proper implementation of the Maze National Park General Management Plan (GMP).
• Work closely with the local stakeholders and government bodies to ensure the implementation of alternative livelihood plans as specified in the project document.
• Work closely with the local Agriculture and Water Offices and other relevant bodies as well as communities and private actors to ensure the effective implementation of soil and water conservation work in the landscape, put in place effective and binding water governance frameworks that guarantee fair and equitable use of water resources for downstream users and livelihood associations while securing the sustainable flow of the waters into the MzNP.
• Plan and undertake continuous and organized awareness-raising activities among the local communities and stakeholders towards the necessity of conserving the park and its biological resources for the long-term benefit of communities and the ecosystem.
• Plan and undertake all the project activities vis--vis the project outcomes, including a) Maze National Park is functional and achieves its conservation objectives; b) a win-win approach regarding natural resources management is in place between communities and the park; and c) the water flow in the park's rivers is ensured and sufficient for the benefit of nature and people.
• Undertake the performance appraisal of the PMU staff as per the HRFs Human Resource Policy Manual.
• Based on the internal reports from project staff and field-based ongoing monitoring, prepare periodic performance reports and submit them to the HRF Program office.
• Partaking in the line management responsibility, ensuring the financial management and procurement within the limit of the PMU.
• Undertake other relevant and specific activities assigned by the HRF Program Chief.

Job duties:

• The job holder should work in line with the New Labor Proclamation - Proclamation No. 1156/2019, at least eight hours daily (Monday to Friday). The position requires physical presence in the workplace (Gamo Zone, Kucha Wereda, Moka Town).

Nature of supervision:

• The position holder is directly responsible to the Program Chief of HRF and will be supervised per the Foundations HR Policy and in line with the project Implementation Manual.

Quantity: 1

Sex: Both and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Duration of contract: for one year with the possibility of extension.

Vacancy number: HRF- CSCET-PO-001/2024

Required qualifications and competencies

• The Project Coordinator must have a Masters degree in academic fields such as Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Biodiversity Conservation, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management, Environment and Development, Rural Development and Livelihoods, or any other related fields.
• The Project Coordinator must have relevant work experience of 12 years and above, most of which is related to project coordination, particularly in an NGO setting.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in protected areas management or community-based natural resource conservation.
• Articulated knowledge of government policies and strategies about biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, tourism development, etc.
• Proven experience communicating and collaborating with local communities, the private sector, and local, national and regional stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes.
• Ability to compile large amounts of information succinctly into a coherent document for conservation practitioners and government officials.
• Excellent facilitation and coordination skills, the ability to manage the timely and effective delivery of quantity and quality work on time.
• Strong communication and presentation skills and an ability to prepare appropriate and timely reports to various audiences and cultures/contexts.
• Time management skills, including the ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Proven command of written and spoken English; conversing with the local language of the project area community and culture is mandatory.
• Familiar with and working efficiently on Office 360 and other project management software.
• A team player who can contribute effectively to collaborative issues and demonstrate innovation and leadership as appropriate.