In the context of the 2024 annual work plan of the AFF-UNREDD partnership project on “Strengthening REDD+ implementation in Africa: capitalizing on lessons learned for an evolving environment” AFF is recruiting one regional expert to moderate an online Community of Practice (CoP) on “Unlocking sustainable solutions for effective REDD+ Result Based Payments in Africa”.
The CoP will be hosted on a conducive Howspace platform and will involve both webinar series and web-based interactions. The online moderator is expected to encourage / engage and guide stakeholders to attend the webinar series and the web-based discussions and share their knowledge, experiences and best practices on REDD+ process and REDD+ finance. At the end of each session, the moderator will synthesize views, lessons and recommendations to be posted on the CoP’s Howspace, easily accessible to all community members.
The CoP is expected to catalyze a good understanding of REDD+ finance types and sources, as well as a better knowledge of the result-based financing architecture including carbon markets and associated standards. The event will also provide a platform for sharing of knowledge products tailored to better address specific capacity needs of African countries.
SCOPE OF WORK
The key tasks of this assignment are as follows:
- in collaboration with AFF and UN-REDD, develop a concept note and elaborate a programme for the CoP, including topics for the online discussion forum;
- Promote the CoP, identify a wide range of stakeholders and start engaging them on the “Howspace” platform at least one week before the webinar sessions;
- Work with AFF Secretariat and UN-REDD to tailor discussion topics in line with the thematic area of the CoP as well as the project outcomes.
- Identify and engage a broad range of stakeholders including relevant networks, individuals, and institutions with specific expertise and experiences on REDD+ process and REDD+ finance, then invite them to participate to enrich the online discussion;
- Develop, in collaboration with AFF, UN-REDD and selected resource persons, daily presentations on the selected topics to guide the online discussion;
- Actively guide the discussion to ensure it remains focused on the agenda, address all discussion questions and at the end of each session, draft and post a daily summary note.
- Daily tasks of the CoP’s moderator, to be done during the 2 to 3 hours daily webinar sessions starting from the 25th March 2024 for 2 weeks include:
- Welcome participants to the virtual discussion;
- Introduce the topic, prepare, and deliver presentations and/or facilitate their delivery by identified guest speakers and drive discussions to address any open/pending issues.
- Provide encouragement/energizer to drive the discussion when no contributions have been posted, by posing/fielding questions, contacting members directly through the platform, posting complementary content such as documents, websites, and text.
VIII) Propose and discuss with the CoP members plausible approaches and a strategy to sustain interactions on the platform after the two-weeks’ webinar series
IX) Continue the moderation of the discussions among community’s members on the web based Howspace at least two weeks after the end of the webinar series guided by the proposed sustainability strategy.
X) Document key issues raised, and actions proposed from the CoP members.
DELIVERABLES
This assignment is expected to deliver the following:
- Useful resources for the e-discussion uploaded and shared regularly.
- Daily summaries of the e-discussions
- A strategy and action plan to sustain interactions and peer-to-peer learning among the community after the webinar sessions.
- final report of the assignment to be submitted one week after the end of the COP sessions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
The online discussion moderators must have the following qualifications and skills:
- At least a master’s degree in forestry or natural resource management with experience in climate change and climate finance, a PhD will be an added advantage.
- At least five years’ working experience in sustainable forest management in the context of climate change as well as in climate and forest finance;
- Have proven writing skills with experience in writing technical reports and the like, on topics related to sustainable forest management, climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of French is an additional advantage.
- Experience in moderating CoPs, climate negotiation, multi-stakeholders’ participatory actions or events are desirable.
DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The work is expected to take one (1) calendar month, commencing on 18 March 2024. The online regional facilitator will work from own location but be in close consultation with relevant staff at the AFF Secretariat while keeping to an agreed delivery schedule.
DEADLINES
- Applications must be received by the AFF Secretariat on or before 14 March 2024.
- Consultancy activities must begin no later than 18 March 2024.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email your application to AFF, attaching: (a) A cover letter stating how you meet the above qualifications and experience requirements; (b) An updated CV. Indicate the subject line: “Consultancy: Online regional facilitator for a Community of Practice on Unlocking sustainable solutions for effective REDD+ Result Based Payments in Africa”” to d.gitonga@cifor-icraf.org with a copy to m.avana@cifor-icraf.org, exec.sec@afforum.org. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
For more information, download the Terms of Reference or visit www.afforum.org
