Nature-based Solutions Specialist

Reports to: Project Delivery Lead

Works closely with: Senior Program Officers, Country Representatives, Specialty Team Managers

Background

Farm Radio International, a Canadian non-profit organization, enables African rural communities to meet their rights to information and communication through the innovative use of radio, mobile phones, other digital tools and traditional face-to-face methods. Together with broadcasting and project partners, we help increase access for tens of millions of small-scale farmers and people in rural areas across the continent to life-changing information and facilitate strengthening and amplifying their voices in their own development. FRI is committed to gender equality and inclusion (GEI) as we are well-placed to facilitate ongoing dialogue to contribute to the transformation of inequitable gender norms and relations of power and the advancement of human rights, especially those of women.

In April 2022, Farm Radio began implementation of a 5-year, multi-country project about gender inclusive nature-based climate solutions (NBS) with financing from Global Affairs Canada. The project will use Farm Radio’s interactive local radio programming to achieve enhanced rural community action on climate change adaptation and biodiversity using locally-relevant, gender-inclusive nature-based solutions. This project will help to create a common understanding of climate change, in particular how nature-based solutions can be used to address climate adaptation needs and enhance or protect biodiversity. It will offer a means for local communities (particularly women and youth) to identify and express their adaptation needs, expand access to NBS information across Sub-Saharan Africa; support rural communities in learning about, customizing and applying NBS for climate adaptation; and raise Canadian awareness of, and engagement with these solutions. There are six focus countries – Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda and Zambia. Farm Radio has offices in each of Uganda, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ethiopia and a strategic partnership in Zambia. The successful candidate may work in one of these countries.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Nature-based solutions is a relatively new field for Farm Radio. Recognising that there is a considerable body of work that has been done in defining, identifying and developing nature-based solutions (NBS), Farm Radio will engage an NBS subject matter expert as a link to the existing and emerging NBS community and provide expert knowledge on nature based climate solutions to the project.

1. Network with and engage NBS, climate adaptation and biodiversity specialists – 20%
2. Gather and provide subject matter (NBS, climate adaption, biodiversity) inputs for radio program content – 35%
3. Contribute to evaluation, learning, documentation and knowledge sharing – 20%
4. Build team and stakeholder knowledge and capacity re NBS, climate adaptation and biodiversity – 20%
5. Program development – 5%
6. Other assignments – 5%

Statement of work:

1. Working with Farm Radio colleagues in Project Implementation (PI) and Stakeholder Engagement, facilitate linkages with other NBS, climate adaptation and biodiversity specialists in different regions and countries of project implementation

2. Engage actively on behalf of Farm Radio in NBS related communities of practice and other networks

3. Identify appropriate organisations and individuals for formal and informal roles in advising the project

4. Assist in the formation and engagement of the project’s Global Advisory Team

5. Act in a supporting capacity to the project’s Global and National Advisory Teams, eg organising meetings and sharing documentation

6. Link NBS specialists with Farm Radio’s PI, Specialty and Country Teams for direct inputs into stakeholder engagement, formative research, e-discussions and program design

7. Advise Farm Radio’s Project Implementation and Specialty Teams (Digital Innovation, Gender Equality & Inclusion; Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning; Radio Craft; and Radio Resources) on nature-based solutions in key areas of the project:

8. Input to the planning and design of a variety of interactive radio programming, including On-Air Dialogues, Participatory Radio Campaigns and Documentaries

9. Research and develop content that can be included in radio programs

10. Advise on the planning, design and production of radio resources (scripts, backgrounders, how to guides etc) about NBS to be distributed among Farm Radio’s network of stations in the six focus countries as well as across Farm Radio’s network in 40 sub-Saharan countries

11. Contribute to the evaluation of project outcomes and learnings, particularly in relation to inclusive nature based solutions, climate adaptation and biodiversity benefits

12. provide input to baseline survey design, monitoring and evaluation tools, data collection methods etc

13. review and analyze data derived from monitoring and evaluation activities with a view to capturing and sharing learnings about inclusive nature based solutions practiced by African rural communities

14. contribute to documents, including peer-reviewed publications, derived from project evaluation and learning.

15. Build Farm Radio’s capacity in the area of nature-based solutions and environment, climate and biodiversity more generally

16. Organise and deliver regular training and provide informal coaching and capacity building on nature based solutions and climate adaptation to Farm Radio staff, especially those working directly on the NBS project

17. Organise and deliver training on nature based solutions and climate adaptation to Farm Radio partners, especially radio stations and other PI partners

18. Provide support to Farm Radio’s Program Development (PD) in identifying and securing new project/program opportunities in nature-based solutions and environment, climate and biodiversity

19. Identify opportunities

20. Advise the PD Team and input directly to proposals

21. Support the Stakeholder Engagement/Communications Team on external facing communications and events, eg webinars

22. Provide support to Farm Radio in other areas of expertise, as appropriate, feasible and based on internal requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

● Advanced degree in environmental studies or a related field,

● Experience working in the fields of climate change, nature based solutions, and biodiversity

● In-depth knowledge of the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions

● Deep and strong connections with leading public and civil society organizations, institutions and individuals with expertise in research and action on climate adaptation, nature-based solutions and biodiversity in Africa.

● Strong research and knowledge mobilization skills, particularly in the areas of climate adaptation, nature based solutions and biodiversity.

● Knowledge of communication for development, radio broadcasting, mobile telephony and social and behaviour change communication are significant assets

● At least five years’ experience environment/climate/biodiversity-related development projects

● Significant knowledge of gender equality and inclusion, as well as women’s rights, and experience in integrating these principles into project implementation

● Experience working in developing country settings

● Expertise with distance methods, eg e-learning, distance/online facilitation and networking, etc.

● Fluency in either English or French is a requirement; comprehension in the other language (French or English) is desirable and fluency in the other language is a significant asset

● Excellent cross-cultural communication skills

● Excellent organisational skills and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines