GIZ- Internal/ External Vacancy Announcement 

NatuReS Program

Climate change will have a significant impact on the supply, storage and demand of natural resources – especially water – in Africa and other parts of the world. Coupled with population growth, economic development, urbanisation, land-use change and ageing infrastructure, communities, businesses and governments will face many challenges developing more sustainable ways to use available water and other natural resources.

The Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS), which is funded by BMZ (the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (“GIZ”). NatuRes promotes corporate natural resources stewardship and multi-stakeholder collective action for more sustainable management of natural resources, especially those resources that are linked to water. NatuReS aims to strengthen and support local partnerships to address shared water-related natural resources risks . Due to the scale and complexity of emerging challenges related to water and natural resources, individual actions, though important, are limited in effectiveness. “Natural Resources Stewardship” addresses this issue by offering a pragmatic way of establishing a dialogue between public and private partners together with civil society to manage their shared natural resources risks. Put simply, stewardship is about taking care of something that we do not own but that is important to us. This is based on the premise that we are all accountable and therefore responsible for the sustainable use and management of our planet’s natural resources. Since 2009, GIZ has been assisting to catalyse multi-stakeholder collective action to manage and reduce shared water-related natural resources risks around the world. Prior to NatuReS, the International Water Stewardship Programme (IWaSP) was active in nine project countries: Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Saint Lucia and Grenada. The NatuReS project countries are currently: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, with more project countries to come. More information about NatuReS can be found on the programme website; Home - NatuReS (nature-stewardship.org)

For decades, the rural population in the Ethiopian highlands has been affected by increasing food insecurity stemming from high population growth, deforestation and unsuitable agricultural production methods.

In response to these challenges, the Ethiopian Government has adopted an ambitious Ten Years Development Plan (2021-2030), its aim being to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations and double Ethiopia’s GDP. Combating poverty and promoting economic growth and education are key elements of government policy.

In line with the Ethiopian Government’s objectives, German development cooperation with Ethiopia currently focuses on three priority Areas:

• Labor-market-oriented education and training
• Sustainable land Management, agriculture and food supply
• Biodiversity

“Protecting Lake Hawassa” Partnership

 Protecting Lake Hawassa is a broad and inclusive multi-stakeholder collaboration platform established in 2017, currently facilitated by the NatuReS programme, to improve water security for people, business and the environment in Hawassa, its lake and sub-catchment area. The partnership brings together private, public and civil society organizations to address shared natural resource risks.

GIZ Ethiopia (NatuReS Program Office) is looking to recruit a Program Officer for protecting Lake Hawassa partnership (PLH) in Hawassa.

Duration of contract:  From 1^st April 2022 to 30^th June 2023

Job Requirements

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the formulation of the partnership action plan (e.g. content, timeframe, budget) for all activities planned in cooperation with PLH partners and other GIZ programmes
• Ensure timely and effective implementation of the planned activities and support the implementing partners in planning, design, implementation and monitoring of activities.
• Report directly any delay noticed, compared to the partnership plan of the concerned activity, to GIZ NatuReS, PLH partners and other GIZ programmes
• Coordinate communication not only between the programme office and other stakeholders but also among stakeholders
• Actively coordinate implementation of project activities on the ground in close cooperation with all stakeholders, especially with the Hawassa University, the Rift Valley Lakes Basin Development Office, Hawassa Zuria and Shalla woredas and Environment Protection Office of Hawassa
• Support the private, public and civil society sectors in the financing and implementation of appropriate measures
• Advocacy and dissemination at both regional and international level of lessons learned from the measures
• Render support in monitoring, evaluation and reporting
• Supports knowledge management as well as good public relations and documentation. This includes development of communication materials for the project
• Help ensure that the partnership has high integrity standards in line with best practice guidelines
• Establish and maintain linkages with relevant governmental institutions, private companies and other development partners active in the project area
• Monitor and document the progress of the related planned activities (report writing, regular photo documentation);
• Participate and contribute towards NatuReS Global events
• Other related activities as assigned by the supervisor

Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications

• University Degree in Engineering, Agriculture, Geography, Environmental Studies, Water and Natural Resources/or other related fields.

Professional experience

• At least 5 years professional experience in a comparable position
• Excellent skill in reading, writing and speaking English
• High degree of initiative, efficiency, team-working, integrity and accountability
• Computer literacy
• Readiness to upgrade skills and continuous learning
• Fluency in Amharic
• Sidama and Oromiffa languages are added advantages

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Good understanding of the water and natural resources sector in Ethiopia;
• Good communicator capable of articulating issues and advising the NatuReS management on matters related to the partnership;
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications strong analytical, research and documentation skills;
• The ability to assimilate large amounts of information and present in an accessible manner;
• Ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given, ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities;
• Good interpersonal skills to assist negotiations with partners and beneficiaries to provide effective support to NatuReS programme team;
• Ability to work both on own initiative and also within a team;
• Be a self-driven, innovative and proactive personality capable of working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines.

How to Apply

Application procedure:

Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their non- returnable recent CV via CLICK HERE or Email: hreth@giz.de

“Please refer to our brochure to learn more about GIZ’s attractive benefit package.”

Note: Make sure you mention the vacancy number and position title ‘Program Officer’ #044/2022’ in the subject line of your email application. Due to large number of applications we categories applications with the vacancy numbers. Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might not be categorized in the appropriate folder and could be disqualified. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. We encourage persons with disabilities to apply for the position. In case of equal qualification, persons with disabilities will be given preference. Applications from qualified women are encouraged.