Technical Forestry Expert

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 30 member countries and around 130 member organisations. EFI’s headquarters are located in Joensuu, Finland. EFI has several offices across Europe, including in Barcelona, Spain 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.

EFI is preparing for the implementation of the EU-funded PASSAD programme (2024-2029), which aims to strengthen the sustainable and inclusive management of forest resources in Côte d’Ivoire. In the context of this new programme, EFI will work with national and local stakeholders to:

1) Strengthen the implementation of the Forest Conservation, Rehabilitation and Extension Strategy (SPREF) in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB);

2) Implement the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and develop production and management capacities for a sustainable forestry sector;

3)Develop an inclusive and sustainable forestry system in the rural domain.

EFI is seeking a Technical Forestry Expert, based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to contribute to the implementation of the PASSAD programme, in particular to support outputs 1) and 3) above.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Reinforcing stakeholders´ capacities (national and local actors) in support of EIB´s investments in forest governance and sustainable forest management;
• Strengthening MINEF's capacities and modernisation efforts in support of the implementation of the SPREF in line with gender priorities;
• Improving and adapting forestry and forest sector trainings;
• Supporting forest owners in (agro)forest management, as well as commercialising and marketing (agro)forest products.

The Technical Forestry Expert will work closely key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the SPREF, the associated support from the EIB and other forest sector actors from the rural domain.

Duty station and travel

The Technical Forestry Expert will be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with regular field missions and travel inside Côte d’Ivoire and occasionally to Europe.

Conditions of engagement

The Technical Forestry Expert is expected to work ‘full-time’ (complete working weeks) over the contract period which will be 4 years.

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

Interested candidates are requested to send (in English) a CV including copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas with a motivation letter by 6^th December 2024 23:59 CET, using our online application form.

For more information about the in-house consultant position, please contact Christophe Van Orshoven, Team Leader at the IPF: christophe.vanorshoven@efi.int.

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

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

• University degree in forestry or natural resource management, environmental sciences, economics, or a related and suitable field. MSc/MA or higher degree is an asset;
• Minimum of six (6) years of relevant working experience in forestry, forest sector or natural resource management, forest governance, or a related field, with extensive experience in West Africa, either through permanent residence in the region or frequent travelling;
• Knowledge of the Ivorian forest sector (classified forests and rural domain) and its main stakeholders (governments, donors, private sector, civil society and communities) as well as national regional and international timber markets;
• Demonstrated project management experience. Private sector experience in the forestry sector in Côte d'Ivoire or West Africa is an asset;
• Familiarity with forest management and forestry practices in natural forests or plantation forests, technical forestry training and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes. Knowledge and practical experience of cocoa-based agroforestry would be an asset;
• Ability to work on politically sensitive issues with different stakeholders: (local) governments, private sector, NGOs, CSOs and local communities;
• Knowledge of and practical experience in implementing gender approaches;
• Demonstrated ability of working in multi-disciplinary teams in multi-cultural environments;
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken French and English, and proven writing, reporting, presentational and communication skills.