Regional Governance Manager, USAID/Madagascar HARENA Project At DAI Global

This position is a regional position based on: Menabe/Sava/ou Vatovavy and Fitovinany Region

CONTEXT

USAID’s five-year (2024-2029) HARENA Madagascar project will use a systemic, multi-sectoral approach to reduce threats to biodiversity and forests, improve conservation, and build resilience to climate change; develop sustainable economic opportunities for the poor; and improve environmental governance. By working across local economic and social systems, the Activity will address the root causes of poverty and food insecurity that drive communities in Madagascar to rely on areas of high biodiversity for their basic needs. To do this, the Activity will act through three key areas of intervention: 1) management of natural resources and protected areas (PA), conservation of biodiversity and forests (nature); 2) improved, climate-resilient livelihoods and private sector engagement to improve human well-being and socio-economic (wealth) outcomes; and 3) governance of natural resources and protected areas (power). Targeted in three geographic areas with high biodiversity value and high potential for terrestrial climate change mitigation, Harena will implement five strategic approaches to achieve key results:

• Strategic Approach 1: Improve sustainable management of natural resources with a focus on biodiversity, land, forests and protected areas (PA);
• Strategic Approach 2: Promote sustainable and climate-resilient diversified agriculture-based livelihoods, including complementary natural resource products (such as tree crops) to improve livelihoods and ecosystem services;
• Strategic Approach 3: Improve governance, advocacy and anti-corruption efforts at national, regional and local levels around the management of natural resources, land and water;
• Strategic Approach 4: Increase local resilience to prepare for and adapt to climate change and other shocks; And
• Strategic Approach 5: Strengthen land use management through spatial planning at the communal level and secure land rights through effective implementation of the land tenure policy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Regional Governance Manager will supervise and coordinate governance programming for the Harena project. He will lead the implementation of Harena’s regional environmental and natural resource governance initiatives and activities. He/she will implement, monitor and report on project-related activities in their designated region, in coordination with local partners, other projects and government stakeholders in order to achieve Harena’s regional and local governance objectives . He/she will do so with a comprehensive understanding of interventions in the region, including those related to natural resource management, livelihoods, and private sector engagement. He/She will conduct technical assessments and organize public interest meetings to identify existing conditions, key issues and opportunities to improve national, regional and local governance, advocacy and anti-corruption efforts in the field of natural resource, land and water management. He/she will do so based on a comprehensive understanding of Harena’s interventions in the region, including those related to natural resource management and environmental governance. The candidate will coordinate where applicable with the efforts of USAID and other stakeholders in the region, and particularly with Riake and Mizana to maximize impact and achieve efficiency gains.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• In collaboration with Harena’s senior technical team, contribute to the design of environmental governance strategies and RNs.
• Lead, coordinate and facilitate the implementation of governance activities in their assigned region by Harena.
• Mentor relevant staff and coordinate with regional/technical managers and specialists from Harena’s three target areas/landscapes to ensure alignment of technical activities.
• Provide technical support and advice to beneficiaries and other partners of the Partnership Fund for effective implementation of governance initiatives and activities.
• Support local partners and government stakeholders in the preparation and implementation of sustainable NRM policies and activities at the community level, as well as climate change adaptation/resilience policies, plans and activities carried out by communities.
• Facilitate the integration of governance initiatives through planning.
• Lead the establishment of an enabling environment (with municipal authorities and other local stakeholders and partners) to implement environmental, land use, and natural resource governance initiatives.
• Review, update and facilitate governance assessments, and formulate and lead the implementation of governance plans.
• Oversee effective coordination and collaboration with Riake, MizanaI, and other USAID-funded activities and local partners in their assigned region.
• Support capacity building of citizens, NGOs, CSOs and relevant municipal officials in targeted regions.
• Organize public interest meetings to establish and/or strengthen traditional land use agreements.
• Identify opportunities for strategic interventions and improvements in spatial planning, land tenure, advocacy and anti-corruption initiatives in the area of ​​natural resource, land and resource management water.
• Ensure regular coordination with regional and local stakeholders (particularly at the municipal level) to ensure effective implementation and communication of project objectives, particularly with regard to environmental and natural resource governance.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting and contribute to the collection of information and data for all project reports.

REPORT

The Head of Governance will report to the Director of the Regional Office. This position will have a dotted reporting line to signify close collaboration with the Field Program Director to ensure harmonization between all environmental governance activities in the three project regions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in political science, government, public policy, environmental policy, or another relevant field.
• At least 6 years of professional experience, preferably in donor-funded environmental sector projects.
• Experience in leading and managing project activities focused on environmental and natural resource governance, providing technical guidance for these types of activities, and supervising relevant staff.
• Professional knowledge of governance interventions, including but not limited to environmental governance, advocacy and anti-corruption.
• Experience in engaging local and community partners, non-governmental organizations and civil society, as well as local and regional government stakeholders.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions and approaches to environmental governance challenges at local, regional and national levels in coordination with partners and stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and people management skills and ability to relate to people at all levels of an organization, and particularly stakeholders at regional and local levels.
• Well organized and self-starter with strong technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and operational focus.
• Professional proficiency in oral and written French and Malagasy is required. Fluency in English is desired.