Wildlife Conservation Society
Experience: 5 to 10 Years
Skill Required: Environment & NRM
Apply By: 31-12-2024
Reports to: Country Director, WCS Madagascar
Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar, with travel to field sites
Department, Division: East Africa, Madagascar, and Western Indian Ocean (EAMWIO)
Coordinates with: Regional Nature-based Solutions Advisor, EAMWIO
Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity.
Madagascar is considered one of the “hottest” of biodiversity hotspots, with extremely high species diversity and staggering rates of endemism – the island is home to more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity over only 0.4% of the world’s land area. Home to more than 112 endemic lemur species, 90% of these lemur species are now threatened with extinction, and almost a third are Critically Endangered.
WCS has been active in Madagascar since 1993 and works to ensure the long-term conservation of the country’s unique biological diversity, focusing on activities in our priority landscape/seascapes. We achieve this through terrestrial and marine protected area management, engagement with local communities to support them to become effective stewards of natural resources, environmental education, and a program of applied conservation science.
WCS’s interventions are focused on the MaMaBay (Masoala, Makira, Antongil Bay) Landscape/Seascape program in the northeast of Madagascar with interventions in and around Makira Natural Park, one of Madagascar’s most important sites for threatened and endemic wildlife. The Park has the highest diversity of lemurs of any protected area in Madagascar, and the highest number of endangered primate species of any protected area on the planet, as well as the highest diversity of palm species in Madagascar, and more than 100 endemic amphibians recorded from the site.
Position Overview
The Forest Carbon Technical Advisor will bring carbon project expertise to the Madagascar program, complementing the existing teams dedicated to project implementation. They will lead the validation of a new baseline for Makira REDD+, and the verification of the pre-jurisdictional program period. They will maintain a clear focus on this goal, finding efficiencies to expedite the completion of the documentation and technical processes to a high standard. The Forest Carbon Technical Advisor will also support developing and validating partner VCS/CCBS REDD+ projects elsewhere in Madagascar.
While undergoing the processes required for the initial validation and verification, the Advisor will put foundational systems and processes in place to ensure that future verifications are streamlined and efficient. Following the verification of credits, they will support the sale of credits by engaging with marketing partners and potential buyers.
The Forest Carbon Technical Advisor will collaborate with and be supported by a range of internal and external stakeholders, including the global and regional WCS REDD+ team; landscape-based field teams and managers; technical support teams (e.g. GIS/remote sensing team); senior WCS Madagascar management team; local to national government authorities; Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) and the Verra Secretariat; project investors and credit buyers.
The position will report to the WCS Madagascar Country Director and oversee the national REDD+ and Government Liaison Advisor. They will collaborate closely with the Regional Nature-based Solutions Advisor and senior WCS Madagascar staff including the MaMaBay Landscape Director, Social Safeguards Advisor, and Conservation Director.
The Forest Carbon Technical Advisor will be part of an established and expanding team of REDD+ specialists in WCS and part of a dynamic and committed WCS Madagascar team. This position comes at an exciting time for the WCS Makira REDD+ project, and for REDD+ in Madagascar in general, with the opportunity to bring significant benefits to local communities and to support the conservation of some of the world’s most important and threatened biodiversity.
Position Responsibilities
Project Development and Monitoring
Policy engagement
Project Marketing and Funding
Capacity Building
Qualification Requirements :
Required
Preferred
To successfully satisfy the requirements of this position, you should:
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through this link. We review received applications on a rolling basis
WCS is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.