The USAID-funded West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development (WA BiLED) project in West Africa, implemented by Tetra Tech International Development is currently accepting expressions of interest for a Policy and Partnerships Specialist. This position will be located in our Accra, Ghana office.

The overall goal of WABiLED is to strengthen the capacity of national and regional networks and institutions to enforce and prosecute wildlife trafficking laws; improve regional and transboundary cooperation and conservation strategies that include private sector partnerships and incorporate best practices for sustainable natural resource management (NRM); and improve capacity for economic planning and development of LED strategies including REDD+.

The Policy and Partnerships Specialist will work an integral member of the WA BiLED team and will be reporting directly to the Chief of Party (COP).

Responsibilities:

* Strengthen, adapt or develop policies, strategies, legal, regulatory and/or other governance arrangements in support of advancing the WA BiLED outcomes across the 3 technical Objectives (i.e. 1.Combating Wildlife Trafficking (CWT), 2. Reducing deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss; and 3. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon sequestration from land use) and the mandates of the core regional partners

* Work with the Objective Leads, and based on the earlier work and outcomes from the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WA BiCC) Program, review current policy, legislative and judicial frameworks, and enforcement activities, including all the approved and adopted strategies and action plans for combatting illegal trade in wildlife (or similar). Identify priority activities and action steps. Initial priorities will be support for the implementation of the West Africa Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Crime; Transboundary Management Agreements and upscaling policies and lessons to regional partner institutions; and supporting national level REDD+ and PES Strategies and upscaling lessons and policies to regional partner institutions

* Work with the Landscape and Forestry Specialist and the core regional partners and their Member States to review and, as needed adapt or develop, policies or other governance arrangements in support of sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, forest landscape restoration, community forestry, REDD+ and other relevant approaches that will reduce forest and biodiversity loss and degradation

* With and through the Technical Advisors (embedded with ECOWAS and MRU) and the WA BiLED technical and organizational team, the Specialist will provide policy guidance and organize regional initiatives, including the preparation for regional and international meetings related to biodiversity and climate change and the development of low emission policy priorities. Priority support will be to work with ECOWAS to implement its revised Environmental Action and Forest Convergence Plans as well as the M&E, Communications and Resource Mobilization Strategies developed under WA BiCC, and assist the MRU Secretariat to implement its revised Action Plan and its accompanying M&E, Communications and Resource Mobilization Strategies

* Encourage the development of partnerships relevant for the conservation and management of West Africa forests, especially those with the private sector responsible for natural resource utilization, community development and climate change.

* Serve as the WA BiLED focal point for cooperation with international organizations and with other relevant bodies, including financing institutions in West Africa, to avoid duplication of work and to leverage and enhance synergies.

Qualifications:

* An Advanced degree (Master’s or above) in environmental law, policy reform and or/natural resources

* Ten (10) years of regional/international experience in natural resources development programs, environmental law and/or policy reform

* Minimum five (5) years of working experience in West Africa with regional and national organizations/entities.

* Demonstrated success in implementing programs aimed at strengthening local, national and regional laws and regulatory frameworks to promote governance, transparency and sustainable development.

* Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in strengthening regional or national institutions through sound and workable laws, policies and regulations that promote government accountability in natural resource management, environment protection and enhancement of ecosystem services, sustainability development.

* Understanding of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in private sector engagement that reaches all stakeholders, including women, youth, the poor and very poor, creativity, willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically.

* Fluency and advanced professional proficiency in English and French is required.