Overview
Provides strategic leadership and direction for the Sahel Flagship unit, supervising staff and ensuring effective coordination of all unit activities across multiple complex projects. Manages high-level donor relationships with key partners and donors.
Key Responsibilities
- Provides strategic leadership and direction for the Sahel Flagship unit, supervising staff and ensuring effective coordination of all unit activities across multiple complex projects.
- Manages high-level donor relationships with key partners and donors; ensures 100% donor satisfaction through transparent reporting and timely milestone delivery.
- Coordinates strategic partnerships with the African Union, Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGGW), CILSS, OSS, FAO, and other regional and international organizations to advance Great Green Wall implementation and expansion.
- Directs the implementation and evaluation of flagship; ensures project milestones are achieved and impacts are measurable.
- Coordinates the timely and effective implementation of the LOGME II: Widen Proven Furrows projects, funded by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (IMEES); moderates the project’s steering committee and co-chairs its advisory committee.
- Leads resource mobilization efforts by implementing the GGW Accelerator Resource Mobilization Strategy, organizing high-level investor conferences, and developing bankable project portfolios to secure additional funding for scale-up activities.
- Facilitates the establishment and coordination of National Coalitions across all 11 Great Green Wall countries through high-level exchanges with ministers and decision-makers, ensuring effective country-level implementation.
- Provides board-level representation at major conferences including COPs, ministerial meetings, and international forums; serves as primary spokesperson for UNCCD Sahel initiatives and advocates for increased investment in land restoration.
- Coordinates transboundary initiatives including the establishment of water task forces and cross-border restoration activities that address shared challenges across the Sahel belt.
- Oversees budget management and financial oversight for the entire unit portfolio, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and effective allocation of resources across multiple projects and countries.
- Directs the preparation of strategic documents including policy papers, technical reports, funding proposals, and high-level presentations for donors, partners, and international forums.
- Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing implications for men and women in all planned actions and ensuring equal participation across all restoration initiatives.
- Performs any other job-related activity required to achieve the goals and objectives of the Sahel Flagship unit, the Global Mechanism, or the UNCCD.
Required Experience
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project planning and management, with at least three (3) years in a supervisory or leadership capacity, in areas such as sustainable development, land restoration, climate adaptation, international development cooperation, or related field is required. Experience in implementing large-scale, complex projects and promoting partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders is required. Experience in high-level donor relationship management and resource mobilization is required. Experience in a field operation of an international organization, particularly in Africa/Sahel, is desirable. Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable. Previous experience in land degradation, desertification, or climate adaptation initiatives is desirable.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, management, public administration, international relations, economics, environmental science, sustainable development, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
