Job Opportunity: Senior Program Officer GEF Project Agency - 21016 (WWF)

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Senior Program Officer (SPO) for the WWF GEF Project Agency. The SPO oversees/leads project development and implementation as a member of the WWF GEF Agency and engages WWF offices, governments and partners around Global Environmental Facility (GEF) opportunities.

This position: (i) coordinates with and guides project development teams developing WWF GEF concepts and projects, to ensure quality and compliance with WWF and GEF policy, (ii) plays an oversight and project compliance role for WWF GEF projects in implementation, and (iii) contributes to WWF GEF Agency strategy and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Project Scoping and Development: Oversee and guide planning, process, and development of WWF GEF projects and programs through GEF project cycle in coordination with WWF offices, governments, GEF Secretariat, and other key partners; Provide strategic GEF and technical guidance for successful project design; Coordinate and ensure compliance of WWF and GEF standards throughout project development

• Implementation: Supervise and provide implementation support of WWF GEF projects in coordination with WWF offices, governments, and other key partners; Support project teams in adaptive management, troubleshooting, reporting, and other implementation management duties; Coordinate and ensure compliance of WWF and GEF standards throughout project implementation; Complete GEF Agency project reporting

• Representation: Represent WWF GEF Agency at internal and external meetings including project and program steering committee meetings/missions, as well as trainings, workshops, and key international events; Active participation in GEF Secretariat task forces and other ad hoc committees

• Coaching: Coach WWF Network, government, and other key partners in understanding of GEF institutions, policies, procedures and tools for the development of transformative ideas into WWF GEF projects and programs in line with GEF priorities

• WWF GEF Agency Support: Build overall effectiveness and operation of the WWF GEF Agency by contributing to guidance notes and templates, as necessary

• Build relationship with GEF Secretariat and other key GEF stakeholders

• Other duties as assigned.

Webinar: Conservation Trust Funds

Closing The Gap: Financing and Resourcing of Protected and Conserved Areas in Eastern and Southern Africa

Following the successful launch of the report Closing the Gap - Financing and Resourcing of Protected and Conserved Areas, partners including the IUCN, World Commission on Protected Areas and Conservation International invite you to this event on Conservation Trust Funds as a means to increase revenue, enhance sustainability and improve management efficiency.

When: December 9th, 15:30 EAT
RSVP: Required

Speaking on the panel is our very own Katy Mathias!

Please register below!

Short-term consultancy: SeyCCAT

Business Plan Development for The Seychelles’ Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT)

The Seychelles’ Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) is an independent, public-private
trust fund currently managing more than US$ 25 million. SeyCCAT strategically invests in ocean
stakeholders to generate new learning, bold action and sustainable blue prosperity in the Seychelles.

SeyCCAT was originally established in 2015 to manage the US$ 21.6 million innovative debt restructure between the Government of Seychelles and the Paris Club of creditors, supported by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Under the debt conversion, the Government of Seychelles committed to improved policies and investment around marine conservation and climate change, most notably the development of a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) for a 1.35-million-km2 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), including the protection of 30% of the EEZ. SeyCCAT provides additional support for the MSP process through grants and human resources management services.

There is an immediate need for SeyCCAT to develop a business plan in light of recent institutional growth, as well as investigate appropriate financing frameworks under which it can best complement the Government of Seychelles MSP and Blue Economy development.

The SeyCCAT is seeking a consultant or consultants to develop the following:

I. SeyCCAT Business Plan;

II. MPA Financing Plans for two Seychelles MPAs developed under the recent national MSP

initiative; and

III. Design one Blue Finance Pilot Project, connecting blue finance to MPA management within one of the selected MPA sites as defined in the MPA Finance Plan.

CFA Webinar: Debt Conversions

Please join the us for a webinar on debt conversions (also known as debt for climate and nature swaps), a finance instrument that allows countries to reduce their national debt and reallocate funds for sustainable development and conservation projects.

Date: November 16th
Time: 11:00am EST
RSVP: Required

During the webinar, we will provide a brief overview of this instrument and some lessons learned from previous projects. We will also engage the authors of the recently released paper "Tackling the Triple Crisis: Using debt swaps to address debt, climate and nature loss post-COVID19" along with a Q&A session moderated by CFA's Executive Director, David Meyers. 

Miss the webinar? View it below!

Meet our panelists

Paul Steele - International Institute for Environment and Development

Paul Steele, chief economist for IIED, is focused on the linkages between environment, climate and poverty reduction and has more than 20 years' experience working for international organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, the World Bank and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Sejal Patel - International Institute for Environment and Development

Sejal Patel is an environmental economist who has worked in public policy analysis, climate finance and governance, and climate-resilient development. Her work concentrates on bridging international, national and local level climate policy responses and resourcing

Kevin Bender - The Nature Conservancy

Kevin Bender is TNC’s Acting Deputy Managing Director, NatureVest. He leads TNC’s initiatives to finance conservation and climate adaptation via the structuring of sovereign debt conversions globally.

SeyCCAT Webinar

Partnerships for ocean conservation and climate action.

This year, we celebrate 5 years since the establishment of SeyCCAT. SeyCCAT has successfully turned a blue economy vision into concrete impactful action. Within 5 years, the funds available for the sustainable financing of ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries and climate action, via the Blue Grants Fund, has more than tripled. So far, SeyCCAT has channelled more than SCR 6.9 million (approximately, US$ 500,000) to support marine protected areas and the Seychelles marine spatial plan. It continues to support Seychelles' ocean and climate ambition by supporting the marine spatial planning initiative and the integration of blue carbon into Seychelles' nationally determined contributions. SeyCCAT's success is intertwined with the support it has received from its partners. To commemorate SeyCCAT@5, its webinar is dedicated to partnerships for ocean conservation and climate action!

Africa’s Ocean Innovation Summit pitch opportunity!

Africa’s Ocean Innovation Summit pitch opportunity!

Ocean Innovation Africa is looking for African-based startups (or operating in Africa with local offices) with disruptive business models and/or innovative products and services with direct or indirect positive impact on the oceans to feature in the pitch competition at Ocean Innovation Africa 2020.

Know of a potential startup? Let them know!

Read more here

Job Opportunity: Fundraising Officer, Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust

Job Opportunity: Fundraising Officer, Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust

The Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust–PONT is a German conservation trust fund dedicated to conserving the PrespaOhrid ecoregion and its rich natural and cultural heritage by providing effective long-term funding support to

the national parks and conservation organizations in the region.

PONT is looking for a passionate, organized multi-tasker and creative Fundraising Officer for one year to develop and implement a Fundraising strategy.

Read more here

CFA webinar: Launch of the CFA’s “Conservation Trust Funds 2020: Global Vision, Local Action”

Date: November 12th
Time: 11am -12:30pm EST
RSVP: Required

Please join us on Thursday, November 12 for the long-awaited launch of "Conservation Trust Funds 2020: Global Vision, Local Action,"- a comprehensive analysis of Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) over the past decade and into the future.
 
During this 90-minute webinar, authors Paquita Bath, Amilcar Guzmán-Valladares, Viviana Luján-Gallegos, and Katy Mathias will share key findings from the report.

Thierry Renaud from the MAVA Foundation and Bryna Griffin from BirdLife, donors to the project, will share some remarks.

David Meyers will moderate the panel discussion 
 

Meet our panelists:

Natalia Arango, Executive Director, Fondo Acción 
Scott Lampman, Director, Tropical Forest Conservation Act Secretariat, USAID
Sean Nazerali, Director of Innovative Financing, BIOFUND

This 10-year review was produced as a project of CFA's Environmental Funds Working Group, by a consulting team of Wolfs Company and Aligning Visions, in partnership with a highly engaged CFA Task Force. RedLAC and CAFÉ were key project partners.
 
The study was made possible through funding from Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre, Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM), Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat, Master Capital LLC, MAVA Foundation, Trillion Trees (including BirdLife International, Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF-UK), and WWF-US.

We look forward to seeing you!

Photo credit: Jlhopgood

CFA Upcoming webinar – Release of revised Practice Standards for CTFs

As part of the upcoming RedLAC-CAFÉ Virtual Congress, the CFA together with diverse financial and technical partners will launch the revised CFA Practice Standards for Conservation Trust Funds

When?

October 8th, 2020 9AM - 11AM EDT

How to register?

Register for the RedLAC-CAFÉ Virtual Congress by clicking below!

Sustainable Finance for Conservation RedLAC / CAFÉ (Virtual Conference)

RedLAC and CAFÉ invite you to register to our joint virtual congress that will happen from October 6th to 8th, 2020, and will be focused on finding new opportunities for the planet in the post-2020 agenda.

The event will have multiple sessions with high-level speakers that will address the future of CTFs, fundraising priorities, the 30x30 goals, social and environmental safeguards, private sector engagement, and sustainable investment. There will also be opportunities for virtual networking between participants and cultural exchanges. All sessions (except for breakout rooms) will be translated to Spanish and French.

Register for free and engage with a global community of conservation finance practitioners, including environmental funds, donors, impact investors, NGOs, the private sector, and government authorities.