INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

CONTEXT

There is urgent need for identifying, demonstrating, and disseminating sustainable agricultural systems that enhance productive potential and address the interconnected drivers of poverty and climate vulnerability in El Salvador. Opportunities to address this situation include dissemination of best practices and technical capacity building in Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA), strengthening value chain integration, availing and training on the use of and capacity building for the use of IT technologies with application in the agriculture sector. Cooperative/associative arrangements are an effective means to build capacity and enhancing the preparedness and resilience of women and youth in the agriculture sector, providing them with decent livelihoods and improved employability in the sector.

The project aims to strengthening the technical and entrepreneurial capacities and provide financial support to vulnerable farmers under associative arrangements to improve sustainability of farming practices and value chain integration that contribute to the climate adaptation and resilience goals of El Salvador and net-zero goals of Republic of Korea (ROK).

The expected long-term impact of the program is to create a transformational change that will improve climate resilience, build socio-economic opportunities for vulnerable local communities, and protect the ecosystem services on which they rely. The program aims at increasing local people’s ability to cope with climate change and other external shocks in the medium and long term through ecosystem-based adaptation that is based on climate smart agriculture (CSA) techniques.

Sustainable CSA models (agroforestry and silvopasture systems) promoted, demonstrated, and disseminated with this project will generate short – medium – and long-term employment to strengthen post COVID-19 economic recovery from the bottom up: CSA management systems generate local employment, which in turn stimulates consumption and production, unlocking a positive feedback loop to create more jobs and support a transition towards green growth.

The approach proposed is human-centric, focusing on strengthening climate-vulnerable farmers, especially women and youth, to be integrated with CSA value chains, focusing on agriculture, agroforestry, and silvopastoral products:

• Raising awareness of ICT tools to improve access to market information and climate adaptation of resource constrained and marginalized sector of the Salvadorian population.
• Providing technical training on CSA, entrepreneurship, business management and financial literacy, that will be delivered utilizing proven methods to reach final beneficiaries on the ground.
• Supporting Government of El Salvador in making ICT tools (early warning systems) available to a larger number of unserved farmers nationwide, to facilitate access to information that will allow them to prepare for climate-related hazards.
• Technical assistance on preparation of CSA project business plan will be delivered, focusing on de incubation of bankable associative business models with potential to aggregate and leverage additional funding from the private sector.
• Acceleration of bankable business models will be supported through provision of seed capital and matchmaking with private sector investors

GGGI is seeking a highly experienced Forestry or Agroforestry professional to support the implementation of the project “Strengthening Capacities of Women and Youth for Implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in El Salvador”.

Reporting directly to Project Manager, based in El Salvador, with a secondary reporting line to GGGI Regional Director, based in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Regional Office, The Forestry Senior Associate will support the execution and implementation field operations undertaken by the project.

The Forestry Senior Associate will be the responsible for field operations involving the establishment of Agroforestry and Silvopastoral systems in the “Departamentos” of Usulután and San Miguel in El Salvador and will directly supervise the work of a team of Agroforestry technicians. The Forestry Senior Associate will also support the Project Manager with ensuring that project operations align with GGGI’s policies and rules, donor requirements and national legal frameworks and sectoral strategies.

PURPOSE

• Analyzes local context and identifies opportunities for implementation of silvopastoral and agroforestry systems and integrates them into the design of the project implementation plans and activities.
• Supervises and supports the delivery of capacity building activities on technical matters related to CSA.
• Contributes to the analysis of promising value chains and the development of bankable business plans.
• Oversees implementation of agroforestry and silvopastoral systems on the ground, in collaboration with ongoing projects and programs undertaken by Government of El Salvador, supervising the work of a team of agroforestry technicians
• Assesses delivery issues and works with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) to identify practical solutions to support project implementation by leveraging their own skills and networks.

ENGAGEMENT

• Collaborate with GGGI colleagues in El Salvador and HQ on project related matters to enable the delivery of high-quality outputs and outcomes in accordance with GGGI Standards and contractual conditions of the project.
• Support the Project Manager in ensuring timely delivery of field operations linked to project outcomes and outputs.
• Establish, maintain, and strengthen relationships with central government agencies (MAG, MARN), Regional and local governments, donor, NGOs, development partners and local stakeholders.
• Support efforts to identify opportunities for resource mobilization that contributes to expand project impact and sustainability in alignment with GGGI policies and procedures.

DELIVERY

The Senior Associate is expected to deliver the following:

• Oversee and manage implementation of activities by supervised staff and third-party contracts, ensuring adherence to GGGI policies, rules and regulations and donor requirements
• Contribute to analysis of value chains and development of bankable business models, in collaboration with the Value Chains Officer
• Assist in evaluating program risk factors and project issues, and developing solutions to address such issues.
• Develop action plans for project implementation in coordination with MAG and MARN.
• Plan and oversee implementation of field activities related to establishment of agroforestry and silvopastoral productive systems.
• Support the Project Manager in ensuring successful delivery of outputs by applying technical knowledge and stakeholder engagement skills and networks.
• Stay informed on technical knowledge and expertise in CSA, climate plans, government of El Salvador’s strategic plans, policies and legal framework, among others.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree in forestry, agroforestry or related field. A Master’s degree is desirable.
• A minimum of 5 years of demonstrable professional experience in leading the implementation of forestry and CSA activities on the ground.
• Experience in the delivery of capacity building activities targeting local farmer organizations.
• A proven track record of implementing technically and commercially viable agroforestry and silvopastoral systems that contribute to climate change adaptation and emissions reductions.
• Must be a citizen of El Salvador, or have valid work permit in El Salvador.
• Fluency in Spanish and English.

FUNCTIONAL

• Experience within sustainability and climate change adaptation in the land use sector
• Experience in engaging with public sector, and civil society in capacity building activities.
• Project delivery experience, including managing the work and deliverables of supervisees and consultants within planned time and on budget.
• Experience designing and implementing agroforestry and silvopastoral systems on the ground as well as experience in community-based and participatory development projects.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Process and share information easily.
• Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenge
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Promote the optimum use of public resources.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Promote creativity and innovation among staff.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Senior Associate is an X7 grade level in GGGI’s El Salvador salary scale. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate’s experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Applications and CVs must be sent in English.

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.