NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (NRM) OFFICER

Job Summary

CARE is seeking a Natural Resource Management (NRM) Officer to support the successful management and implementation of the Regreening Africa II project. The ideal candidate will bring strong project management skills, with a collaborative approach to working with both internal project team and local communities. This role will focus on supporting the planning, oversight, and evaluation of the project, applying climate justice lens and community engagement principles throughout. The NRM Officer will provide both analytical and technical leadership in sustainable natural resources management, collaborating with relevant institutions on issues related to land, water, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, biological diversity and other environmental services. The role will also encompass livelihoods-related activities, working to address climate change, resilience, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, the NRM Officer will ensure the integration of environmental and social safeguards in the Regreening Project, promoting the protection and restoration of ecosystems while safeguarding community well-being.

Job Details

SCOPE:

Employment Type: Contract - Full-Time 

Job Status: Nationals only.

Slots: 1

Location: Sokoto, Sokoto State.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Job Responsibility #1: Technical

• Provide expertise and technical assistance in agronomy and agribusiness, FMNR, climate smart agriculture, IGA and Natural Resource Management across the consortium.
• Promote use/adoption of modern farming practice and techniques through training, advising farmers, farm visits and demonstrations to transform targeted farmers from subsistence to commercial farmers in line
• Promote use/adoption of modern farming practice and techniques through training, advising farmers, farm visits and demonstrations to transform targeted families from subsistence to commercial farmers
• Promote new smart climate technologies and approaches as necessary with possibilities of scaling-up and replication.
• Promote environment educational activities and resources to target audience through leaflets, sign post brochures;
• Promote restoration of the depleted forest cover through tree-planting at household and community levels.
• Support the established demonstration plots to act as learning and multiplication sites for farmer groups.
• Provide technical support to facilitate farmer behavioral change from conventional agriculture to regenerative and climate-adapted agriculture. 
• Gather market intelligence, monitor performance, and provide guidance while managing relationships with donors, implementing partners, and sub-awardees to achieve project objectives.
• Promote Participatory Forest Management (PFM) and Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM) by working with existing and/or new forest and rangeland cooperatives.
• Facilitate the planning, implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation of natural resource management related project activities.
• Identify and promote innovative livelihood programming approaches and interventions to achieve project objectives and suited to the particular conditions and needs of diverse client groups in the operational areas.
•  Provides technical assistance on environmental sustainability and natural resources management improvements to existing farming, livelihoods and resource use systems.
• Develop seedling production plans for priority indigenous species and identify/target nurseries for material production.
• Identify target farmers, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists to diversify plots with indigenous tree species options. 
• Led fruit mother blocks set up communities based on needs.
• Sharing of species information databases, decision support tools and knowledge plat forms.
• Lead Site scoping to understand the farming system, stakeholders/power dynamics and policy environment, local biophysical and social context (including ownership of land, current seed sources etc), bottlenecks to adoption, value chain/job opportunities, community interest/needs and land health. 
• Liaise with the Program technical lead to collaboratively develop and implement program activities.
• Technical lead for connecting smallholder farmers to resources, as well as improving access to finance, agricultural inputs, technologies, and extension services.
• Develop training curriculum for farmers and coordinate all required training, including training-of-trainers (ToTs), and ensure all training manuals are updated throughout the life of the project.
• Manage and propose mitigation strategy to potential program risks; develop and continuously review project risk management measures.

Job Responsibility #2: Reporting 

• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) specialist to ensure proper and timely reports of the program for internal communication and action. 
• Oversee the sharing of best practices and lessons learned from the project and lead program communication activities.
• Ensure Monitoring indicators according to project performance report requirements (PMT); Project results; 
• Assist in the production of reports on the results and impacts.

Job Responsibility #3: Capacity Building, Mentorship, and Staff Management

• Lead farmer trainings and workshops.
• Define expectations and provide leadership and technical support as needed so that the program team can perform their roles as required.
• Responsible in planning, execution of capacity building trainings, work with community members, organize forest and rangeland cooperatives, and provide technical support to government counterparts. 
• At the organizational level, devise and manage a project training program to increase capacity and awareness.

Job Responsibility #4: Strategic Engagement

• Together with the Project Manager develop strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders, including government and partners in Nigeria, regionally and globally, to promote effective coordination, collaboration, and dissemination of program learning.
• Participation in in-person workshops, as needed, such as annual workshops led by Program lead organization. 
• Enhance strong stakeholder engagement with government, private sector, business associations, community associations, and financial institutions as needed.

Other Responsibilities:

• Other Responsibilities as Assigned
• Contribute to CARE’s resource mobilisation efforts

Requirements

QUALIFICATION/EXPERIENCE/TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Required

• A university degree in natural resources management, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, ecology, biological sciences or a related field.
• 3 years of relevant experience in planning and implementing natural resources management and sustainable agricultural development projects and programmes, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change mitigation and adaptation, and agro-processing investment and finance support programmes in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated experience of working with an EU donor.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of regenerative agriculture, carbon credits, and greenhouse gas emission reduction through regenerative practices.
• Demonstrated experience in leading technical studies such as environmental impact assessment, baseline, and end-line evaluation studies, and so on.
• Ability to engage and advise senior-level stakeholders, including senior management of private sector companies, donor representatives, and others.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams.
• Demonstrated skills in building and maintaining relationships with project stakeholders, local partners, and local organizations.
• Fluency in English and strong oral and written communication skills; excellent demonstrated intercultural, interpersonal, and negotiation skills are required. 
• Demonstrated commitment to PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse).
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI).

Desired:

• Advanced university degree in natural resources management, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, ecology, biological sciences or a related field.
• 5 years of relevant experience in planning and implementing natural resources management and sustainable agricultural development projects and programmes, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate change mitigation and adaptation, and agro-processing investment and finance support programmes in Nigeria.

Competencies:

• Approachability                               
• Building Effective Teams
• Integrity and Trust
• Drive for Results
• Negotiating
• Organizational Agility

NOTE:

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CARE considers all applicants on the basis of merit without prejudice to race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, colour, national origin, marital status, or veteran status.
• There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job seekers. Please note that CARE will not request for any monetary payments from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

Qualified Women and Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Company

CARE

https://www.carenigeria.org/

CARE is a global humanitarian and development leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE vision is to seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. Our Mission is to work around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We put women and girls in the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We are strongly inspired and guided by our Core Values of Transformation, Integrity, Excellence, Diversity and Equality. CARE Nigeria was established in Nigeria in April 2017 and has been predominantly operating in the conflict affected Northeast, and in the Northwest. CARE aims to support vulnerable people who are affected by conflict, natural disasters and poverty across four key programming areas: Food and Nutrition Security and Livelihoods, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, a Life Free from Violence (Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response) and Women’s Economic Empowerment through its Flagship ‘Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) approach. Our Commitment to Nigeria people goes beyond our current humanitarian work to exploring and initiating longer-term development programs that address underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability in Nigeria. In collaboration with other stakeholders, we will initiate and support equitable and sustainable development interventions by enabling the underprivileged to realize their potential, exercise their right and strengthen linkages with broader society.