Nigeria: Natural Resource Management Advisor (Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation In Northwest Nigeria)

Feb 16, 2023 | Mercy Corps
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Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now, and for the future. 

Program/Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic and market development, and conflict mitigation. With the insurgency spilling over from the Northeast of Nigeria and causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. With funding from institutional donors, foundations, and private corporations, Mercy Corps continues to assist to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods.

Northwest Nigeria is currently experiencing a complex crisis and high violence perpetrated by numerous armed actors, including clashes between farmers and herders, criminal gangs, and non-state armed groups. This large-scale violence is fueled by a spiral of attacks and retaliations affecting a significant part of the population. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives each year since 2018, causing substantial losses of assets, weakening institutional and socioeconomic infrastructures, and leaving communities without livelihoods. Over 200,000 people have fled their homes, and approximately 60,000 fled to the neighbouring Niger Republic. From 16 November-30 December 2021 recorded a displacement of 969,757 people in the Northcentral and Northwest geopolitical zones. 39% of the affected population was from the Northwest, of which 18% were from Katsina representing the highest percentage of the affected States.

General Position Summary

This role will support the implementation of the EU-funded pilot program titled ‘Conflict mitigation and community reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria. The project will be implemented through a Consortium led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Mercy Corps (MC), and the Center for Democracy and Development( CDD)

Katsina has been experiencing multiple dimensions of conflict, including farmer-herder strife, and acts of Banditry. While the conflict has many factors, it is rooted in the increased competition over land tenure and mismanagement of natural resources. The lack of or unimplemented policy frameworks on land access, resource use, and weak dispute resolution mechanisms, as well as a broader absence of social protection, have created a vacuum contributing to lawlessness and conflict. The conflict had its epicentre in Zamfara, however, with a false narrative, the subsequent mobilization of vigilante groups along ethnic and community lines and impunity, and increased access to light weapons, the conflict escalated to Katsina. Coupled with repeated and lethal cycles of communal violence and wider human rights violations and abuses, especially against women and girls. This proposed pilot project will complement the Government’s efforts in conflict mitigation and community reconciliation by promoting an inclusive peace-building process in Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, and Kankara LGAs in Katsina State.

The project’s overall objective is to reduce community violence, promote locally-driven peace initiatives, and mitigate conflicts over natural resources in Katsina State of Northwest Nigeria. The project will contribute to strengthening the capacity of communities and local governments to manage their resources sustainably; reinforce their social cohesion; and build more resilient households and societies through the establishment of dialogue mechanisms inclusive of all social groups and authorities, provision of mental health and psychosocial support and the strengthening of the local governance system

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Advisor will provide strategic advice, analysis, and direction to the communities, and local governance structures on a range of NRM-related issues concerning policy, management and development, land & water use, environment and conservation, and research and development. The NRM Advisor will lead, monitor and report on the climate approaches and NRM compliance. He/she will lead project formulation and implementation to ensure that climate and NRM  requirements are met. The NRM Advisor will lead the identification and establishment of natural resource management committees and will work closely in synergy with the Senior Program Officer to identify and implement immediate conflict prevention or mitigation measures, such as the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure along transhumance corridors. Also, the NRM Advisor will be the custodian of community action plans which lays the foundation for the implementation of social cohesion and infrastructure projects by collaborating closely with the Infrastructure Advisor who leads the final execution of specific community projects. The NRM Advisor in collaboration with the communications team will disseminate key findings and lessons learned in research briefs, white papers, and reports.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning 

• Lead in the design, implementation, and interpretation of the community natural resource maps, and communicate the key findings and implications to internal and external audiences.
• Ensure timely provision of strategic technical advice including the appropriate documentation and dissemination of processes and results to the program team, community stakeholders, and external partners.
• Contribute to conducting community-level natural resource situational analysis and dissemination to stakeholders. Carry out documentation of best practices.
• Assist to develop and institute a simple yet robust NRM monitoring plan.

Capacity building

• Assess training needs of project staff, government staff, and beneficiaries; develop appropriate training curriculum, training material, and support training implementation.
• Provide technical backstopping to the project staff in NRM, particularly in the areas of planning and implementing community-based natural resource management initiatives, and development of operational action plans.
• Contribute to developing technical guidelines, manuals, handbooks, and information materials relevant to project implementation and building capacity of project staff, government staff, and community beneficiaries.

Program Implementation

• Support in the identification of the targeted intervention sites and program participants and help formulate indicative project activities. Coordination of the overall site selection process for all on-the-ground interventions (in consultation with stakeholders)
• Review costed community action plans for implementation.
• Support the development of ToRs of technical consultancies related to the subject matter.

Programme Quality Oversight

• Review of national, and local policy and legislative frameworks related to land use planning (including the possibility of conservation/restoration), commodity production, water management, and sustainable forest management; identification of trends and opportunities for change;
• Review of relevant past and ongoing initiatives for lessons learned and synergies;
• Profiling of the delineated project landscape, including working with the state governments e.g. Land & Survey, Forestry sectors on mapping current land use and natural resource management;

Technical Leadership

• Provide safeguard and gender implementation support to the project and wider program team to enhance project and initiative quality and ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures, including advice on improving implementation to meet project targets and compliance.

Team Management

• Sustain a work environment of mutual respect you and other team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide other team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to the project implementation.

Influence and Representation

• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with Consortium partners, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure project implementation targets and technical quality standards are met.
• Participate in coordination meetings and workshops for the project at both Local and State levels as delegated.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility:  None

Accountability 

Reports Directly to Programme Manager and works closely with the Senior MEL Officer, Senior Program Officer, Infrastructural Advisor, Technical Support Unit: Climate, and PAQ.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum BA/S in relevant field or another similar field; MA/MS/MBA or equivalent preferred in, Natural Resources Management, Environment Sciences, related Biological Management, or other related fields.
• Minimum of 4 years of working experience in a similar context and issues.
• Familiarity with global and localized climate change priorities, standards, and compliance requirements
• Familiarity with global NRM and climate frameworks that can be adopted for the management of local resource-related issues.
• Good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues in a highly insecure environment.
• Previous experience in implementation, monitoring, and evaluating sustainable NRM management.
• Demonstrated capability in policy formulation.
• Expertise in forestry, water, and land management and development.
• Understanding of national and regional/global issues related to NRM.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to motivate, inspire and promote teamwork in an interdisciplinary, multicultural, context.
• Experience in supporting institutional capacity building.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills and ability to formulate well-targeted documents.
• Strong negotiation and coordination skills.
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is a plus.

Success Factors

S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, and rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive, and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive communication skills, and proven experience with capacity building. S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in the Kastina metropolis, Kastina State and it requires frequent travel to other project field locations in Kastina State, as well as Abuja. Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in term seems of accommodation and logistics. Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available. Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity, and water are available but might be erratic. The location is not eligible for hardship and R&R benefits. Given the nature of the response, working hours require flexibility, and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Note

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Travel required: Yes.