Landscape Coordination and Forest Restoration Specialist
Organizational Context
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the AFR100 Support Programme in Tanzania, focusing on the Monduli-Karatu landscape. This initiative supports locally led Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR), strengthens producer organizations, and promotes restoration-based enterprises to improve livelihoods. Implementation involves close collaboration with local authorities, communities, Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and specialized service providers, necessitating strong field-level coordination and technical oversight.
Job Purpose
The primary objective is to enhance field-level coordination, technical oversight, and quality assurance for the AFR100 Support Programme within the Monduli-Karatu landscape. The role involves facilitating effective collaboration among service providers and stakeholders, offering technical guidance on Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) methodologies, monitoring the progress and quality of on-the-ground activities, and ensuring timely resolution of implementation challenges. This ensures activities align with workplans, restoration priorities, and overall project objectives.
Responsibilities
Coordinate all field-level activities among service providers in the Monduli-Karatu landscape, ensuring coherence and avoiding duplication. Organize and facilitate regular landscape-level coordination meetings. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with district authorities, local government focal points, communities, and Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs). Facilitate collaborative problem-solving and support the timely resolution of implementation challenges. Maintain a significant field presence, participating in key programme events and providing technical oversight. Assist communities and producer groups in accessing grant mechanisms, including sensitization and application support. Provide technical guidance on FLR approaches, ensuring interventions align with ROAM priorities and technical standards. Support service providers in selecting and applying appropriate restoration techniques. Conduct regular field visits to verify activity quality and progress. Identify and report implementation challenges, technical risks, and deviations, recommending corrective actions. Support M&E activities by verifying reported data against ground observations and flagging discrepancies. Provide regular field updates and share lessons learned and success stories.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR), sustainable land management, forestry, agroforestry, or natural resource management field-based programmes is necessary. Experience coordinating field activities with multiple partners, providing technical guidance on restoration approaches, and working directly with rural communities and local authorities is essential.
Skills
Key competencies include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing. Demonstrated experience in coordinating field activities involving diverse partners, providing technical guidance on restoration techniques (e.g., assisted natural regeneration, agroforestry, rangeland restoration), and direct engagement with rural communities, producer organizations, and local government authorities are crucial for this role.