Technical Advisor

ABOUT THE COMPANY

GIZ, the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, provides services in the field of international technical cooperation worldwide. In Kenya, it has been active since 1964, and up to now implements programs in a wide variety of areas, including economic development, green energy and water, governance, food security, and peace and security. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is GIZ's main commissioning party. However, GIZ as well works closely with the private sector, fostering successful interaction between development policy and foreign trade.

JOB SUMMARY

A. Background The global grogram "Multi-Donor-Initiative on Capacity Development for Access and Benefit-sharing (short: ABS Capacity Development Initiative)" located at the headquarters of GIZ GmbH in Eschborn, Germany, is looking for a technical advisor for its activities in the partner country Kenya. The position will be integrated in the agricultural cluster of GIZ Kenya and be supervised by the Biodiversity Manager in Nairobi. The technical supervision will be carried out by the staff member responsible for the work in Kenya located in Germany. The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) established the principle of sharing the results of research and development and the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilisation of genetic resources. As one of the first countries world-wide, Kenya implemented this principle in 2006 through its Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Regulations. To setminimum international standards in terms of implementing the ABS-provisions of the CBD, the Nagoya Protocol on ABS was adopted in 2010 and entered into force in 2014. Since 2015, the multi-donor ABS Capacity Development Initiative hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the development and implementation of ABS-Frameworks in its partner countries, amongst them Kenya. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in 2022, features the benefit-sharing principle of the CBD as one of the four goals of theinternational biodiversity policy. The ABS Initiative in its current working phase from 2022 to 2025 supports governments, indigenous peoples and local communities as well as stakeholder in achieving the ABS goals and target of the GBF. The activities cover at the international, regional, and national level: 1) New concepts to implement benefit-sharing in the context of the GBF2) Multistakeholder partnerships for biodiversity-based value chains3) Mainstreaming ABS into economic, trade, and agricultural policies4) Participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity-based value chains Work in KenyaThe ABS Initiative is working in all above-mentioned areas in Kenya. Activities supported, for example, the development of an IT-based permitting and monitoring system for the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (after developing comparable systems at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Research; Kenya Wildlife Service; Kenya Forest Service; National Environment Management Authority). The ABS Initiative also supported the foundation of the national trust "Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities of Kenya", which will play a main role in strengthening biodiversity-based value chains. Respective multistakeholder partnerships are planned to be developed in arid and semi-aridareas.

RESPONSIBILITIES

A. ResponsibilitiesThe Technical Advisor is responsible for: preparing the annual work plan for Kenya based on the annual planning of the ABS Initiative in cooperation with the line manager, responsible team members of the ABS Initiative and with the Kenyan partner institutionsreporting on the costs as part of the overall budget of the ABS Initiativeestablishing and maintaining contacts and efficient working relations with the Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society ad business sectorspreparing ToRs for and overseeing the implementation of GIZ contracts for (Kenyan) experts and consultancies in consultation with the responsible team members of the ABSInitiative and the relevant Kenyan partner institutionimplementing daily operational aspects of all issues related to the project, including providing guidance for the administrative staff in GIZ Nairobiensuring in cooperation with the relevant GIZ staff that financial and other regulationsof GIZ are complied with B. TasksThe Technical Advisor: coordinates and assists in preparing and conducting project activities as required forimplementing the work planassists international ABS advisers from GIZ in carrying out their work in Kenyaassists the ABS Initiative with all organisational and management issues related to theactivities in Kenyaexchanges regularly with the team members of the ABS Initiative and the core staff of the Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society and business sectorsworks on identifying the needs of Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society and business sectors in the context of the Kenyan ABS frameworkassures the synchronising the project activities with related activities conducted by Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society and business sectorscontributes to the GIZ monitoring and evaluation system ensuring that results of the activities in Kenya are reflected in the indicator measurement at the level of the ABSInitiativeprepares and submits quarterly reports to the political partner C. ProfileThe Technical Advisor should have the following qualifications, competence and experiences: QualificationsThe technical professional holds a university degree in an area related to the objectives of the ABS Capacity Development Initiative, with a focus on one of following areas (equivalent to LL.M., M.A. or M.S.)Environmental law, international law, human rights lawBotany, zoology, biochemistry, pharmacology, ecology, geographyPolitics, public administration Professional experienceAt least five years' professional experience in a comparable position andin at least three of the following areas:working with or for governmental institutions in Kenya, preferably at thecounty levelworking on environmental and biodiversity topicsmanagement of third-party funded projectsorganisation of multi-stakeholder workshops and conferencesaddressing target groups through specific publications and awareness raising activitiesworking with community-based organisations and grassroot groupsknowledge on drafting and implementing environmental law, e.g. related to the CBD, Nagoya Protocol, CITESworking in R&D based on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge for e.g. industrial, medicinal, cosmetic applications Other knowledge, additional competencesstrong communicative, networking and organisational competencewillingness to travel regularly in Kenya and also abroad, as determined necessaryfluent in English and Swahili, ideally some knowledge of German and Frenchgood working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, voice-over-IP, email, theinternet) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office)willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with the line manager in consultation with the project manager of the ABS Initiative D. Duration of AssignmentThe duration of the assignment will be until E. Duty locationThe duty location is Nairobi. F. Submission of ApplicationVacancy Reference Number: GIZ/ARD/01/04/2024 GIZ is an equal opportunity employer. All applications should be received by 7th May 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Reporting, Stakeholder communication, Creative thinking, Leadership skills, Ability to coordinate, Networking

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree