Skip to content

Cameroon - Local Governance Expert

  • Remote
    • Yaoundé, Centre, Cameroon
  • International Partnerships Facility

Job description

The European Forest Institute

is seeking to contract an in-house consultant

to serve as

Local Governance Expert

based in Yaoundé, Cameroon

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 30 member countries and around 130 member organisations. EFI undertakes policy support and forest research at pan-European and global level, with headquarters in Joensuu, Finland. EFI has several offices across Europe in Barcelona, Bonn and Rome, and under its International Partnerships Facility, a project office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

 

The  International Partnerships Facility (IPF) of EFI is a global centre of knowledge and expertise that supports policy and governance reforms to safeguard the world’s forests. It promotes sustainable forest and land use to help protect and restore forests and maximise their role in green economic growth, climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation. It also fosters legal, deforestation-free and sustainable commodity production and trade.

 

In Cameroon, EFI supports the implementation of the EU-funded Natura Sud-Est programme, which aims to ensure sustainable development in and around the Dja and Lobéké protected areas by promoting inclusive growth and responsible use of natural resources. As part of the programme, EFI works with decentralised actors in improving the governance of territories and natural resources through reinforcing communal, spatial and budgetary planning and promoting conflict prevention/ resolution.

 

EFI is seeking a Local Governance Expert, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to assist the implementation of the Natura Sud-Est programme.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • Coordination of the technical work on land-use and budgetary planning in 8 target municipalities in and around the Dja and Lobéké protected areas

  • Organisation of technical studies on the potential of forestry, hunting and fishing revenues at municipal level, and building capacity of local stakeholders in financial planning and budget spending

  • Facilitation of stakeholder dialogue at local (municipality) level

  • Coordination with the project's implementing partners (such as CED and Nitidae)

  • Contribution to data collection for Monitoring and Evaluation needs under the Natura Sud-Est programme

  • Participation in communication and visibility activities.

The Expert will work closely with beneficiaries in the targeted municipalities, Ministries in charge of land-use planning (MINEPAT) and decentralisation (MINDDEVEL), civil society and Indigenous Peoples organisations, and the Central Africa Forest Observatory (OFAC).

Duty station and travel

The Expert will be based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with regular field missions and travel inside Cameroon and occasionally to Europe.

 

Conditions of engagement

The Expert is expected to work ‘full-time’ (complete working weeks) over the contract period which will be 2 years.

 

The Expert must ensure that he/she has the right to live and work in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from the commencement date of the contract. The Expert will be provided with office facilities and appropriate equipment and supplies to conduct their work. The Expert will be paid an hourly rate, which includes all personal costs necessary for implementing the tasks (e.g. organizing appropriate health insurance).

 

Interested candidates are requested to send (in English or French) a CV including copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas with a motivation letter by the 17th February 2025 23:59 CET, using our online application form.

 

For more information about the in-house consultant position, please contact Christiane Tobith, Natura Sud-Est Project Manager: christiane.tobith@efi.int.

 

Information about in-house consultant conditions of engagement is available by request from Niina Verkerk: niina.verkerk@efi.int.

 

EFI is an equal-opportunity employer.  All applications will be treated confidentially.

Job requirements

  • University degree in geography, forestry, land-use planning, natural resource management, budgetary planning, or a related and suitable field. MSc/MA or higher degree is an asset.

  • Minimum of four (4) years of relevant working experience in land-use planning, natural resource management or a related field, of which at least two (2) years in Cameroun, either through permanent residence in the country or frequent travelling.

  • Demonstrated experience with local-level budgetary planning and the use of related international standards.

  • Familiarity with community development and decentralisation issues in Cameroun. Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder processes is an asset.

  • Ability to work on politically sensitive issues with different stakeholders: (local) governments, NGOs CSOs, Indigenous Peoples and communities, etc.

  • Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams in multi-cultural environments.

  • Professional proficiency in written and spoken French, good understanding of English, and proven writing, reporting, presentational and communication skills.

or