Project Associate Boosting Indigenous Nature Business Models At FSC Indigenous Foundation

Position: Project Associate Boosting Indigenous nature business models (PN-T1336)

Location of the activities: Mainly in the Indigenous communities and FSC-IF offices in Ciudad del Saber, Panama

Reports to IPARD Lead Objective 3

Potential starting date: February 2023

Full time

DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) is an Indigenous-led global private interest entity established by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), that promotes the co-creation of forest and nature-based solutions, and the strengthening of Indigenous Organizations so their values, rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services and natural capital are incorporated into forest governance, the climate change agenda and market systems.

We are Indigenous Peoples; our strategies and our future actions are shaped by ancestral knowledge, practices, cosmovision, values, and respect for Mother Earth and our past. We as FSC-IF are providers of Indigenous-based solutions, and our ancestral knowledge and traditions have driven Indigenous-based solutions for centuries. We are Indigenous Peoples; we are the owners of Indigenous-based solutions to global challenges, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation is the global vehicle to design, manage, facilitate, and scale up Indigenous-led solutions through multi-sectoral partnerships. The FSC Indigenous Foundation has an Indigenous perspective driven by Indigenous values, vision, principles, ancestral knowledge, and traditional practices connected to Mother Earth. FSC-IF is shaped to respond to key challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous Peoples to achieve their self-development, self-governance, and self-reliance. Driven by this perspective, the way we operate differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting, and interacting do not fit into a predetermined Western tradition of thoughts, organizational management, or governance.

We are committed to work driven by our values of being guided by and supporting Indigenous Peoples’ values of: 1) Respect for Mother Earth Managing our lands, waters, and ecosystems with great respect to nature and care by recognizing that we only borrow them from future generations and 2) Respect for ancestral knowledge Keeping our promises to our ancestors to manage nature and the resources provided by the Mother Earth in a sustainable and respectful way.

The project co-financed by IDB Lab Panama: Boosting Indigenous People nature-based solution through a label around their Indigenous Cultural Landscape

Indigenous Peoples’ positive contributions to environmental conservation sustained on nature-based businesses, are poorly recognized and remunerated under the traditional marketing value-chains and financial mechanisms.

Indigenous Peoples are increasingly exposed to external pressures of third parties wanting to use their lands for rapidly expanding economic activities associated with deforestation and forest degradation.

Indigenous Peoples interest in strengthening their local economic and nature-based business development and accessing the economic opportunities to sustain their livelihoods and protect their landscapes is counterbalanced by critical constraints. IPOs lack technical and organization capacity, as well as business acumen and access to market which limit their opportunity to access sustainable economic opportunities. The lack of technical capacity, business acumen and low access to market at fair prices, combined with poor long-term planning and external pressures, limits the access to economic opportunities IPs need to have to sustain their ways of living in harmony with the natural environment and protect their landscapes.

The project’s primary objective is to collaboratively design and assess the product-market fit of a label as a mechanism for connecting Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to income opportunities that align with their worldview, Indigenous Cultural Landscape, and nature conservation efforts. The overarching goal of the project is to enhance the well-being of IPs by innovating mechanisms that bridge their products, services, and nature-based business models with markets that recognize the distinctive value derived from their way of life and their relationship with nature.

The proposed solution encompasses three essential strategies aimed at fostering the sustainable, long-term development of Indigenous economic models:

Enhancing Awareness and Governance: This strategy focuses on fortifying the awareness and governance structures pertaining to Indigenous nature-based business models. By empowering IPs with a robust understanding of their economic potential within their cultural context, this approach lays the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.
Capacity Development for Sustainable Business Models: The project aims to enhance both the business and technical capacities necessary for nurturing sustainable nature-based business models. This entails equipping IPs with the skills and knowledge required to operate successful ventures while upholding environmental and cultural values.
Prototyping and Piloting a Value-Enhancing Label: Central to the project is the development and testing of a label that amplifies the value of Indigenous nature-based business models. This label, when applied to products and services, showcases their unique origin and contribution, thus fostering market recognition. Technological solutions will accompany this label to facilitate monitoring, evaluation, and market trust.

The implementation of the project will take place in the following communities:

Region

Communities

Embera Wounaan Collective Territory

Ipetí, Periatí and Puerto Lara

POSITION SUMMARY

FSC-IF is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Project Coordinator who will be responsible of supervising and leading the execution of the project boosting Indigenous Nature Based solutions through a label around their Indigenous Cultural Landscapes. Under the supervision of IPARD’s Objective 3 Lead he/she will also be the focal point to articulate the different stakeholders participating in the project, from implementing partners, to the donor and local organizations.

The project team will be composed of the Project associate who will be supported by IPARD’s objective 3 Program Lead and Program assistant. Furthermore, the Monitoring and Social Learning Specialist and the Communication Officer will work closely with the Project Associate in specific activities related to their areas of expertise. Finally, the project will have two external partners: Forest Stewardship Council and Health in Harmony.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management

Lead the appraisal phase of the project by planning all the resources required to execute the project successfully.
Ensures that projects achieve deliverables with technical excellence, meet targets, are well planned, budgeted, and properly monitored.
Provide technical guidance to partners or organizations involved in the execution of the project.
Align operations with project objectives, tracks project performance, oversees implementation of approved activities, monitoring timelines, tracking budgets and supporting sub-awardee performance and financial management.
Coordinate all partners involve in the implementation of the project, from institutional partners to local partners and Indigenous Peoples Organizations.
Coordinate with IPARD Program Director the relationship with USAID and intersectionality between IPARD and this new project.
Identify, develop, and maintain strategic partnerships with private companies and other key stakeholders to advance the project’s and FSC-IF objectives.
Identifies and anticipates potential risks and opportunities and elevates them to senior project management.

Program development and partnership

Develop, implement, and monitor a fundraising strategy to complete the project’s budget.
Support IPARD team in any requirement to maintain liaison with the FSC-IF team in Panama and with Indigenous Peoples’ Authorities (IPA) and strategic partners on program and project development and management, including drafting, budget preparation and review of proposals and agreements.
Map and monitor areas of strategic donor interest (country and regional level) by leading and maintaining partnerships with the public and private sectors with the support of IPARD’s private Sector Engagement Specialists.

Monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management

Supports Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning processes and deliverables.
Support FSC-IF and IPARD in learning from evidence to adapt programming, and support implementation of knowledge management practices and services.
Manage and coordinate repositories of best practices and technical knowledge around the main objectives of the project.
Build methodologies that could be used in other countries and with other Indigenous Peoples.
Complete IDB Lab´s Project Status Report every six months to evidence and track progress toward meeting project results, document lessons learned, update project risks and mitigation actions.
Create and maintain updated a repository for the means of verification/evidence of the program activities and keep all management tools required by IDB Lab updated in accordance with the progress of the project (Annual operating plan, Milestones plan, Results matrix, etc) with the support of IPARD’s Monitoring and Social Learning Specialist.

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in economy, marketing, communications, business, finance, international relations, social science, or related areas.
At least 5 years of experience working in areas related to community enterprise development, climate finance, international development, or similar areas in relation to Indigenous Peoples or local communities.
At least 2 years of experience coordinating projects from the start up to the closure phase.
Previous experience implementing projects funded by international cooperation agencies, experience with IDB would be a plus.
Experience working with Indigenous Peoples or local communities in Panama is desirable.
Strong oral and written communication skills in Spanish. English will be a plus.

Specific Experience and/or Knowledge Requirements:

Demonstrated experience working on areas like climate change, nature-based solutions, climate smart agriculture and forest management.
Experience working with labels, certifications or similar systems is desired.
Understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and sustainable development in Panama is a plus.
Networking and collaboration with the private and financial sectors, as well as relevant donors will be an asset.
Demonstrated ability to establish trusting relationships with national, regional and global partners, especially the private sector and donors.
Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diversity of values, views and approaches to issues relevant to FSC-IF.

Other important requirements

Master’s degree preferred in the environmental field.
Being a member of an Indigenous People community would be an advantage.
Demonstrated ability to follow standard practices and procedures, receive general instruction and supervision, and contribute to projects and initiatives.
Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management with minimum oversight.
Willingness to travel within Panama. Home location in East of Panama or willingness to relocate near indigenous communities of the project would be an advantage.
Demonstrated resourcefulness in problem solving and initiative to learn new skills.
Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to take initiative.
Strong knowledge of MS Office applications.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should apply by January 8, 2024. Please send the following documents to recruitment.fscif@fsc.org