TRIDOM Landscape Financing Coordinator 385 views4 applications

Reports to : TRIDOM Landscape Leader

Supervises: None, consultants when necessary

Location : Preferably Libreville, Gabon opened to Yaoundé or Brazzaville

Date : January 2019

I- Background

The Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkebe (TRIDOM) Landscape covers nearly 10% of the Congo Basin rainforests (178,000 km²) in Cameroon, Gabon, and Congo-Brazzaville, and currently includes 11 protected areas (in total 42,319 km² or 24% of TRIDOM). This Landscape is one of the priority landscapes for WWF because it holds the largest elephant population in the Congo Basin (estimated at up to 40,000, though rapidly declining) and harbors most of the biodiversity typically found in central Africa’s rainforests, including both western gorillas and central chimpanzees (estimated at up to 140,000). TRIDOM has only some 250,000 inhabitants (typically 1 inh/km² average density) including an estimated 10,000 Baka indigenous people. With a forest cover of 97% and a deforestation rate of 0.2% per decennium (1990-2010) it is one of the most intact forest blocks in the Congo Basin. TRIDOM has low road density and few easily navigable rivers. However, the development of a growing logging road network and public road improvement have led to many emerging threat as artisanal mining, Palm and cocoa expansion, logging, and ivory poaching.

There is currently a narrow window to influence major REDD (+) financing and develop multi-million USD public finance landscape programmes through e.g. FCPF, GCF, CAFI and LDNF for the TRIDOM landscape. The proposed recruitment of a Landscape Financing Coordinator for TRIDOM will support the development of project concepts and ensure their alignment and coherence with Emission Reduction-Programs design process in Cameroon and Congo, and eventual GCF proposals for Gabon (or other green funding sources under development).

II- Major Functions

The TRIDOM Landscape Financing Coordinator will:

(i) ensure a commonly agreed landscape approach in the TRIDOM that helps deliver at scale on the TRIDOM Conservation Plan; and

(ii) coordinate WWF network efforts for securing public private and performance finance to achieve the landscape and Conservation Plan goals.

III- Major Duties and Responsibilities

1- Build capacity within WWF offices in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo in Landscape programs/bankable projects design and financing

● Develop an understanding among WWF staff and key partners of the landscape approach and landscape finance application in TRIDOM;

● Train WWF team members and related staff on landscape approaches, carbon and other finance and other related matters based on training provided through the Sustainable Landscapes ACAI and Landscape Finance Lab;

● Establish and coordinate a TRIDOM landscape finance team of WWF and partner staff to provide guidance and resources for landscape finance activities;

● Liaise with donors and develop financial proposals to support Landscape TRIDOM activities, in particular the ones mentioned below and liaise with PSP fundraising teams in the WWF network.

2- Develop project proposals with partners

● Develop project concept(s) and assess potential funding sources for the conservation areas and reduced-impact logging options in (i) Ngoyla Mintom, (ii) Atama Corridor and (iii) ETIC area. This will include:

• Meet with partners and companies involved in projects/areas mentioned above;
• Analyze carbon mitigation potential and benefit-sharing rules for each cases (based on last ER Programs design documentation);
• Estimate project cost and potential returns (incl. RoI);
• Consult relevant investors interested in these sectors in TRIDOM area. It includes assessing the feasibility to source funding from regional player seeking to compensate their impact on forest & emissions (e.g. extractives sector or hydropower);
• Contribute to the key ER-Programs deliverables (sub-project in ERPD in Cameroon, components of ERPA benefit sharing plan in Congo).

● Mobilize and liaise with a group of corporate partners and investors active or interested in transforming practices and investing in green development in TRIDOM in collaboration with the relevant WWF Practices.

● Develop green finance / reduced carbon emission proposals in (TRIDOM) Gabon (in collaboration with the GCF or other funding sources).

3 – Influence large-scale programs in the area (FCPF ER-Programs, CAFI initiative, GEF…)

• Participate in the Green cocoa initiative in Cameroon;
• Support/influence CN-REDD in Cameroon in the development of the Emission Reduction Program to facilitate integration with project concept(s) in development. This will lead to review, analyze and influence the development of the Cameroon ER-Program components as carbon baseline, benefit sharing and monitoring systems in order to address specific issues related to zero-deforestation cocoa sourcing project. Main activity will be to have meetings with CN-REDD and other governmental representatives, conduct technical review, analysis and recommendations for discussions with CN-REDD; participation in ER-Program working groups & consultations;
• Support/influence CN-REDD in Congo to develop a protection or sustainable forest management project in TRIDOM palm oil concessions and to incorporate potential project concepts developed in ETIC area;
• Capitalize on recent development and opportunities of large-scale funding in the area (CAFI initiative, GEF) and ensure incorporation/coordination of project concepts with emerging program idea.

The TRIDOM Landscape Financing Coordinator will be supported by the Landscape Finance Lab team and platform, that will provide methodological & communication tools and relevant technical expertise (carbon methodology, economical analysis, investors contact…).

IV- Profile

Required qualifications & experience

• At least a Master degree or equivalent in natural resource management/ economics, Forest, Agriculture, Finance or related fields;
• At least 5 years’ experience in natural resource management/economics, forest or agriculture or finance sectors. Ideally in Central Africa;
• Skilled communicator (fluent in English and French);
• Ability to translate information and work across disciplines;
• Strong MS Office skills, including Word and Excel;
• Ability to command the confidence of people at all levels of seniority;
• An enthusiastic team player, with experience of collaborative working.

Required skills and competencies

• Economics analysis skills and ideally carbon analysis, business plan development etc.;
• Strong capacities in writing concepts and proposals;
• Ability and track records in establishing contacts and maintaining relationships with partners and donors;
• Proven experience in effectively animating working groups & providing technical assistance and trainings
• Interpersonal skills and ability to deal with multiple teams located in multiple locations (virtual teams);
• Experience in raising and mobilizing funding;
• Excellent negotiation, diplomacy and lobbying skills.
• Adherence to WWF’s values: knowledgeable, Optimistic, determined and Engaging.

V- Working relationships

Internal – Interacts with WWF staff on a daily basis; Co-ordinates and interacts with Landscape Finance Lab, WWF-International and other WWF Network staff as appropriate.

External – Interacts as required with Partner NGOs, private sector and donors.