FOREST SPECIALIST (f/m)

This selection will serve to constitute a pool/reserve.

Enabel is the Belgian development agency. It implements Belgium’s governmental cooperation. The agency also works for other national and international donors. With its partners in Belgium and abroad, Enabel offers solutions to address pressing global challenges – Climate Change, Urbanisation, Human Mobility, Peace and Security, Economic and Social Inequality – and to promote Global Citizenship. With 2,100 staff, Enabel manages about 200 projects in twenty countries, in Belgium, Africa and the Middle East.

In July 2021 the Board of Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a 6 years TREPA project (“Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation”), a multi-stakeholder project financed through the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an Accredited Entity which signed Master Agreement with the GCF on behalf of other parties, including the Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Forestry Authority, Enabel, ICRAF, World Vision and CORDAID.

This project is focusing on the landscape’s restoration for adaptation of the Eastern province of Rwanda to droughts, through sustainable forest management, dissemination of agroforestry and silvopastoral technics, restoration of protective forests, dissemination of clean cooking solutions, farmers group organization, access to microfinance and support to products value chains, etc.

Enabel is one of the 3 executing entities (which are Enabel, IUCN and Rwanda Forestry Authority RFA) and will be in charge of the output 1.2.3, 1.5 and partly 3.4 (forestry and cooking solution components of the GCF -TRPA project.

Particularly, in collaboration with Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) and IUCN, Enabel will be in charge of:

• Rehabilitation of 4000 ha of private smallholder forests in the Eastern Province through the Private Forest Management Unit (PFMU) approach (regrouping in cooperative small-holder forest owner and restoring their degraded forest into productive plantation), which has been successfully piloted by the former Enabel FMBE project;
• The dissemination of clean cooking fuel and technology solutions is targeting about 100,000 rural households of the Eastern Province, with the setting of clean cooking rural hubs linked to subsidy/microfinance schemes, building on lessons learned from the EU -funded DESIRA project currently implemented in the same area by Enabel.

To support the implementation of its activities Enabel is looking for a (f/m) Forest Specialist.

Duration of the contract: Open-ended employment contract – local contract according to the Rwandan labor law

Function:

Under the direct supervision of the Intervention Manager and in close collaboration with RFA/ SPIU Forest Program Manager, the Forest Specialist will counterpart with the District Forest and Natural Resources Officer (DFNRO) to support the establishment of PFMUs across the 3 Districts of the Eastern Province (Bugesera, Ngoma and Kirehe) which are covered by the Ngoma hub.

In general, (s)he will:

• Ensure on field good communication and relationships between project partners actors (IUCN, Enable, World Vision, ICRAF, ICCO) with local key stakeholders and local authorities, ensuring the efficient participative approach in the PFMU establishment process;
• Assist the districts in the identification of areas suitable for PFMU establishment, support community awareness campaign on PFMU opportunities and ensure the identification and mapping/registration (in FMES) of the targeted small-holder woodlots owners;
• In collaboration with World Vision, support the training of targeted small-holder woodlots owners on PFMU process and modalities, facilitate the elaboration and signature of commitment’s MoUs between farmer’s groups and local authorities, and support the establishment and training of PFMU’s cooperatives.
• Support PFMU’s members in the choice of the right species, support the identification and exact quantification of restoration works to be done, and support the project in the design of technical specification and ToRs for the restoration works contracting;
• Supervise, provide technical guidance and control restoration works (tree planting, anti-erosive ditches) done if targeted PFMUs by the contracted forest service providers, according to prescriptions, modalities and target set in the contracts;
• In collaboration with PFMU’s representatives, ensure the final reception of restoration works and coordinate the official hand-over to the land owner’s cooperatives;
• Support the participatory design of SFMPs for the restored PFMUs, and facilitate their approval by districts
• Support the technical training of PFMUs members on good tree planting and forest management practices, and on the understanding and respects of SFMP’s prescriptions
• In collaboration with ICCO and ICRAF, Support the development of linkages between PFMUs and wood products off takers (pellet / timber company, etc.);
•  Provide support to the development of alternative incomes generation activities and in the setting of local saving groups.
• Assist in identification, technical supervision and control of all forest management/planting activities supported by the project;
• Support Districts in the use of FMES for the registration and M&E of the PFMUs
• Ensure that gender is mainstreamed in all project activities, assist in training/awareness activities;
• Facilitate/ensure the organization and delivering of training/awareness sessions planned in the context of project activities;
• Ensure regular reporting, provide any required data to the SPIU M&E officer and facilitate and accompany M&E missions;
• Ensure any other activity that will be instructed by Enabel and RFA project managers.

Profile:

qualification and experience

• Rwandan Citizen
• At least master’s degree in forestry/Agroforestry/Agronomy or equivalent
• At least 5 years’ experience in Forestry and Agroforestry sector in Rwanda among which at least 3-years’ experience in participatory works with local communities and local authorities
• At least 2 relevant working experiences in tree plantation restoration and sustainable management in Rwanda districts;

technical skills

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and spoken) in English and Kinyarwanda, knowledge of French would be an asset;
• Experience in PFMUs establishment and in the use of the FMES database will be a strong asset;
• Good communicator and keen learner;

attitude

• Strong interpersonal skills with high level of integrity;
• Mature and team player
• Proactive, engaged and a self-starter.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with others inside and outside the organization.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Able to fit in a collaborative governance mindset (Self responsible, accountable, authentic communication …)