Tajikistan Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist; US Forest Service/International Programs

Message title: Tajikistan Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist; US Forest Service/International Programs

Organization/Project: US Forest Service/International Programs

Title of your vacancy/procurement: Tajikistan NRM Specialist

Closing date: January 31, 2025

External link: N/A

Description: Below

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Tajikistan Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist

Dushanbe, Tajikistan November 2024

Background:

The US Forest Service (USFS) is the principal domestic technical agency for forestry and natural resource management in the United States and the largest natural resource research institution in the world. Its 35,000-person workforce possesses a wide range of natural resource management skills, including expertise in forest and rangeland management, protected area management, wildlife management, research and practical applications related to ecological resilience, recreation and tourism development, ecosystem services valuation, and ecosystem restoration, among others. The agency’s multiple use mandate requires that it balance conservation with social and economic interests, necessitating a pragmatic approach to natural resource management. Further, the Forest Service works extensively with resource management agencies at both the federal and state level and with communities, tribes, and civil society to coordinate management, seek input, and resolve conflict – the agency is well-versed in the shared management of resources that do not adhere to political and administrative boundaries (i.e., ecosystems and their primary constituents – water, wildlife, soils, and services).

The primary purpose for this program is to provide support to USAID/Tajikistan for implementation of the Strengthening Natural Resource Management Capacity activity. This program is funded by USAID/Tajikistan and this partnership will provide an efficient mechanism through which USAID/Tajikistan can engage the unique technical expertise and capabilities of USFS/IP. In collaboration with USAID/Tajikistan, USFS will develop technical cooperation with relevant Government of Tajikistan (GoT) counterparts on a wide array of focus areas including but not limited to, forest and ecosystem management and strategies for climate adaptation and resilience; strengthening community capacity and promoting public participation and ownership in the natural resources sector; institutional strengthening for educational, academic and/or research institutions in natural resource management and resilience; and empowering women and youth in natural resource management. In so doing, this will support priority United States Government (USG) assistance objectives as established within USAID/Tajikistan’s Strategic Framework (SF) Tajikistan’s Integrated Country Strategy (ICS), United States Strategy for Central Asia 2019-2025 (C5+1), and USAID/Tajikistan’s Feed the Future Program.

This program collaborates closely with relevant GoT agencies including the State Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, the Tajik Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, the Tajik State Committee on Environmental Protection, the Tajik State Agency of Land Reclamation and Irrigation, the Tajik Academy of Sciences, the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Tajik Hydrometeorology Agency. This program also collaborates with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Community-based Organizations (CBOs), and academia to ensure individual project components are carried out effectively and meet the needs of target beneficiaries. USFS may also explore collaboration with other international donor agencies active in Tajikistan’s natural resource sector.

USFS Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) provide technical assistance to support relevant GoT agencies, and/or their respective local authorities, in knowledge areas and skills that are critical to strengthening natural resource management. USFS SMEs provide technical assistance through both remotely based support from the US and in-person technical consultations, trainings, workshops, and Train-the-Trainers activities implemented in Tajikistan.

Position Description:

Reporting and working closely with USFS-IP Program Manager based in the United States, Management and Engineering Technologies International Inc. (METI) office, and Tajikistan In-Country Lead based in Dushanbe, the Tajikistan Natural Resource Management (NRM) Program Specialist will provide technical and administrative support to the “Strengthening Natural Resource Management Capacity in Tajikistan” program. The NRM Program Specialist will ensure effective implementation of the technical activities from the workplan and recommend necessary adjustments as needed. The NRM Program Specialist will coordinate closely with USFS/IP Tajikistan team members and provide technical and positional capacity building support in relation to the technical cooperation programs. The NRM Program Specialist would support the program in capacities such as, but not limited to, the following:

Provide technical and administrative support for effective implementation of USAID/USFS-IP program involving relevant USG agencies, GoT ministries, academic institutions, community-based organizations, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders.
Lead in-country technical visits by international personnel, workshops and trainings, including but not limited to: providing NRM expertise in topical trainings; coordinating objectives with US-based Program Manager, in-country technical team, and USFS SMEs; coordinating logistical requirements with Tajikistan office and administrative team; providing summary reports and next steps; and other tasks as required.
Provide technical recommendation, proactive development, and leadership of programmatic workstreams including restoration initiatives, forest inventory and monitoring, sustainable nursery management and nursery development, sustainable rangeland and pastureland management, and community-based sustainable alternative income generation.
Contribute to ongoing USFS work planning processes, including providing recommendations and inputs to the design of program activities with GoT ministries and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Provide reporting including monthly progress reports and activity reports, including information indicators and activities on relevant activities.
Conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders including academic institutions, NGOs, and government entities in Tajikistan in order to inform future USFS work.
Provide regular and comprehensive reporting to the program leaderships on all developments and communications with stakeholders.
Take direction from the Project Management Lead and effectively facilitate programmatic and coordination decisions with necessary stakeholders.
Work closely with the MEL Specialist to assess impact of partnerships, trainings, and capacity building activities.
Coordinate closely with Finance and Operational team members to provide information related to administrative requirements of technical activities.
Carry out any other related responsibilities as assigned by the office.

The NRM Program Specialist should have the following skills and experience:

Bachelor’s degree or higher in forestry, environmental science and/or natural resources management, or related fields.
Minimum of 7 years’ experience working in natural resource management positions. Prior experience working with USAID or USG programs/projects is highly preferred. Proven experience in providing effective coordination is required.
Demonstrated understanding of Tajikistan’s forestry and climate change context, highly preferable having experience working with the GoT and community partners on initiatives related to sustainable natural resource management.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing programmatic workstreams that meet program targets.
Demonstrated ability to develop strong networks within the forestry and natural resources sectors in Tajikistan.
Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and develop a network of contacts among international donor officials, USG, GoT, and non-government staff.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively without day-to-day supervision.
Experience coordinating and supporting sub-grants to community-based NGOs is highly preferred.
Possesses a demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with staff from national and local government, the private sector and civil society.
Able to develop effective working relationships with the project/program team members as well as with the external suppliers, vendors and service providers.
Interest in learning new tools, ability to make evidence-based operational decisions.
Proven ability to provide on-the-job capacity-building training to other team members.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication skills;
Required computer proficiencies: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet; and,

Language Ability

The incumbent must be proficient in spoken and written English, Tajik, and Russian

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION

Issuance Date: 27 November 2024

Application Closing Date: 20 December 2024

Number of Positions: 01 (One)

Position Title: Tajikistan Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist

Level of Efforts: Full Time

Salary: Relevant to the technical skill level of the position but may be adjusted to account for additional experience and skills.

Period of Performance: Initially 1 Year; with the possibility of extension

Base Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Expected Starting Date: 15 January 2025

If the US Forest Service were to secure the services of an individual with these skills, the successful applicant would be hired through Management and Engineering Technologies Inc.

Qualified individuals should send a CV/resume and cover letter to: usfstajikistan@gmail.com Subject: Tajikistan NRM Specialist

Application will remain open until suitable candidate is selected.

Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot respond to all applicants and therefore only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.