Data Collection And Management Specialist [open To Internal And External Applicants]

Organizational Context

The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) Trust Fund, administered by the MPTF-Office, aims to preserve the value of Congo Basin forests for climate change mitigation, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. It supports country-led REDD+ and Low Emissions Development frameworks. Payments for Environmental Services (PES) are a key instrument, incentivizing conservation and community resilience through direct financial rewards. A digital PES tool has been developed to ensure transparency and accountability in managing these schemes across multiple countries.

Job Purpose

The Data Collection and Management Specialist will support the CAFI Secretariat in the large-scale deployment and operationalization of the CAFI PES digital tool across CAFI countries. This role is crucial for ensuring effective partner onboarding, robust field data collection processes, and continuous improvement of the digital tool based on field implementation feedback. The specialist will facilitate the transition from pilot to full-scale deployment, provide training and support to partners, and contribute to the refinement of PES methodologies and digital product development. The ultimate goal is to enhance the transparency, accountability, and measurable impact of PES schemes in the Congo Basin, thereby supporting forest conservation and sustainable development objectives.

Responsibilities

The Data Collection & Management Specialist will oversee field data collection and quality assurance, optimizing mobile data collection forms and ensuring data integrity. Responsibilities include functional testing of the CAFI-PES digital tool, identifying and reporting bugs, and collaborating with the development team for user-centric improvements. The role involves facilitating large-scale, multi-country deployment, defining partner onboarding processes, and delivering training on PES methodologies and the digital tool. Additionally, the specialist will support the development and contextualization of CAFI PES programme methodologies, provide operational guidance, and gather/report field feedback for product enhancement. Knowledge building and sharing, including organizing training on ICT issues and contributing to knowledge networks, are also key functions.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience (with a Master's degree) or 7 years (with a Bachelor's degree) is required in areas such as participatory natural resource management, environmental protection, or performance-based payment mechanisms. Demonstrated experience with Kobo Collect, Payments for Environmental Services, supporting digital tool development, and working with Congo Basin countries is essential.

Skills

Core Competencies: Achieve Results, Think Innovatively, Learn Continuously, Adapt with Agility, Act with Determination, Engage and Partner, Enable Diversity and Inclusion. Technical Competencies: Knowledge Facilitation, Data Collection (Sorting, Cleaning, Survey Administration, Real-Time Data), Digital Product Design, System Thinking, Nature (Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Natural Resource Management).

Explore related opportunities