Vacancy #: 6968 Unit: TRAFFIC International Organisation: TRAFFIC International (TRAFFIC) Location: TRAFFIC International, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Reporting to: Programme Office Director- Europe Work percentage: 100% Grade: P2 Expected start date: 07 October 2024 Type of contract: Fixed-term (36 months with possibility of renewal) Closing date: 27 August 2024 BACKGROUND ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND
TRAFFIC is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
TRAFFIC International is a charity and limited company registered in the UK. TRAFFIC’s head office, based in Cambridge UK, provides worldwide leadership, coordination, cross-regional and corporate functions. TRAFFIC’s local engagement is managed through programme offices operating under the auspices of the UK charity, with staff based in a hub office and at other strategic locations where necessary. Programme offices operate within a geographic area of responsibility focused on one or multiple countries where TRAFFIC aims to help deliver priority programme outcomes. TRAFFIC works in strategic alliance with IUCN and WWF on wildlife trade issues.
Thousands of consumer goods contain wild plant and fungal ingredients, which are often harvested from highly biodiverse ecosystems by rural communities for whom trade is a critical source of income. A growing number of wild species in trade are threatened with extinction as demand outstrips supply and available habitats decline. TRAFFIC implements approaches to highlight the trade of the wild plant and fungi ingredients and expand markets and pathways for sustainable trade that benefits wild species and harvesters, including through the innovative collaborative platform (www.wildcheck.info).
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Nepal’s alpine Himalayan forests and rangelands are exceptional global biodiversity hotspots, home to keystone species, including multiple plants and fungi. Over 40 key Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are harvested and traded internationally, providing critical contributions to the incomes of the rural poor. Local livelihoods and biodiversity in these areas are threatened by wild plant and fungi overharvesting, climate change, illegal trade and inequitable supply chains. This has an impact across the region.
There are significant opportunities to improve both sustainability and trade of wild-harvested forest products, scaling up successful pilots in Nepal, linking to major markets (including in India, China, Europe). The project Scaling conservation of Himalayan plants and fungi through sustainable trade will improve local livelihoods, elevate traditional knowledge, and strengthen national and regional approaches to sustainable biodiversity-based trade, building on successful pilot projects in the Western Himalayas of Nepal and expanding to other regions in the Himalayas.
Aligning with national policies and supporting international biodiversity and development commitments (e.g. CBD, CITES and SDGs), the project will address threats to biodiversity, such as pre-mature and overharvesting and illegal trade, while improving local livelihoods and promoting equitable supply chains. By focusing on sustainable trade, the project will contribute to the conservation of keystone species and their habitats, ensuring long-term benefits for both people and nature. The project is funded by the UK Government Darwin Initiative and will be implemented between April 2024 and March 2029.
This role is open to candidates who wish to be considered full-time or part-time on a minimum of 80%.
The salary range for this position is between £45,000 to £52,000 p.a (pro-rata if part-time) depending on experience and skills. JOB DESCRIPTION CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES
The Senior Programme Manager – Himalayan NTFPs will manage the delivery of project activities for the UK Government Darwin Initiative supported project Scaling conservation of Himalayan plants and fungi through sustainable trade, coordinate regional trade reviews and identification of barriers, and coordinate the development of appropriate policy and trade interventions.
SPECIFIC DUTIES
• Coordinate the project inception in Nepal, and ongoing management of the activities delivery progress, working closely with project partners;
• Ensure timely reporting and communication with donor on project activities delivery;
• Deliver capacity-building sessions for government staff on NTFP inventory methodology, CITES, CBD, and other sustainable trade issues;
• Coordinate the development and publication of trade analyses for a selection of NTFPs, including the value chain mapping, and consumer demand, focussing on main consumer markets, as well as national and international policy frameworks assessment;
• Identify sustainable trade and policy barriers and opportunities for Himalayan wild plants and fungi and coordinate the development of responses and additional research by project partners;
• Lead the development of a traceability pilot for Jatamansi and associated NTFPs, and agree the roll-out plan with relevant stakeholders;
• Coordinate the establishment, and facilitate a regional multi-stakeholders Himalayan plants/fungi trade sustainability Forum;
• Ensure effective project communications and partnerships development, including in the context of match-making events and platforms, and consolidating project learnings.
SUPERVISION
Consultants and Staff in agreement with Line Manager
REQUIREMENTS • Educated to a degree level or equivalent;
• At least 7 years of conservation project management experience;
• Firm understanding and experience of trade in non-timber forest products, value chains, policy and stakeholder analysis;
• Experience in developing partnerships across multiple stakeholder groups;
• Strong communication, analytical, and presentation skills, including strong writing abilities in the English language; communications experience an asset;
• An ability to work cooperatively as part of a small team with strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work in different cultural contexts.
• Candidates must have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom
• We are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity, and working inclusively across our entire organisation. We seek to uphold these principles in our behaviour and practices – as an employer and as a global thought leader. TRAFFIC wishes to encourage applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds who can drive and inspire change and contribute to an organisation seeking to create significant and lasting change in the field of legal and sustainable trade of wild species. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups, and candidates with disabilities. APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the \"Apply\" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
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