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 set
minimum 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 the
international 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 GBF
2) Multistakeholder partnerships for biodiversity-based value chains
3) Mainstreaming ABS into economic, trade, and agricultural policies
4) Participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity-based value chains
Work in Kenya
The 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-arid
areas.
A. Responsibilities
The 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 institutions
reporting on the costs as part of the overall budget of the ABS Initiative
establishing and maintaining contacts and efficient working relations with the Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society ad business sectors
preparing ToRs for and overseeing the implementation of GIZ contracts for (Kenyan) experts and consultancies in consultation with the responsible team members of the ABS
Initiative and the relevant Kenyan partner institution
implementing daily operational aspects of all issues related to the project, including providing guidance for the administrative staff in GIZ Nairobi
ensuring in cooperation with the relevant GIZ staff that financial and other regulations
of GIZ are complied with
B. Tasks
The Technical Advisor:
coordinates and assists in preparing and conducting project activities as required for
implementing the work plan
assists international ABS advisers from GIZ in carrying out their work in Kenya
assists the ABS Initiative with all organisational and management issues related to the
activities in Kenya
exchanges 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 sectors
works on identifying the needs of Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society and business sectors in the context of the Kenyan ABS framework
assures the synchronising the project activities with related activities conducted by Kenyan partner institutions from the governmental, civil society and business sectors
contributes 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 ABS
Initiative
prepares and submits quarterly reports to the political partner
C. Profile
The Technical Advisor should have the following qualifications, competence and experiences:
Qualifications
The 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 law
Botany, zoology, biochemistry, pharmacology, ecology, geography
Politics, public administration
Professional experience
At least five years’ professional experience in a comparable position and
in at least three of the following areas:
working with or for governmental institutions in Kenya, preferably at the
county level
working on environmental and biodiversity topics
management of third-party funded projects
organisation of multi-stakeholder workshops and conferences
addressing target groups through specific publications and awareness raising activities
working with community-based organisations and grassroot groups
knowledge on drafting and implementing environmental law, e.g. related to the CBD, Nagoya Protocol, CITES
working in R&D based on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge for e.g. industrial, medicinal, cosmetic applications
Other knowledge, additional competences
strong communicative, networking and organisational competence
willingness to travel regularly in Kenya and also abroad, as determined necessary
fluent in English and Swahili, ideally some knowledge of German and French
good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, voice-over-IP, email, the
internet) 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 Assignment
The duration of the assignment will be until 31.08.2025.
E. Duty location
The duty location is Nairobi.
F. Submission of Application
Vacancy 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.