Technical Specialist - Nrm Nature+) Project

Job Description :

The Technical Specialist-NRM will support the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and documentation of sustainable land use and forestry interventions that sequester carbon, restore degraded landscapes, generate verified carbon credits and enhance livelihoods. The Specialist will coordinate field planning, landscape restoration, nursery management and other natural resource management activities across project sites. He/she will provide technical training to staff and communities on sustainable forest restoration, including Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and silvicultural practices, while integrating nature-based livelihoods to strengthen community climate resilience.

Please Note: World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization with a mission centred on following Jesus Christ in service to the world´s most vulnerable children. Therefore, in all locations to the fullest extent legally permissible, the successful applicant will affirm our core documents, observe conduct compatible with Christian principles, serve at a high level of professional ethics, and strive to act in accordance with cultural sensitivities. Furthermore, regular attendance with team and office devotions, chapel, and prayer gatherings are expected in line with policies in the World Vision host location and its departments.

Technical Support- Field Implementation & Management

• In collaboration with KFS, provide technical support to Community Forest Associations (CFAs) to increase their capacity for production of high-quality seedlings at the project identified tree nurseries.
• Support the development and implementation of Tree Planting & Management Plans (TPMPs), seedling production plans for priority indigenous species and support identification and capacity-strengthening of target nurseries for material production.
• Provide technical support to project team on tree species selection, site-specific planting protocols and models, nursery management, agroforestry and other silvicultural interventions.
• Provide oversight to seedling production, quality assurance, site preparation, planting, and maintenance of restoration sites.
• Provide technical support in the development and/or review of Participatory Forest Management Plans (PFMPs) by collaborating with existing and/or new Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
• Collaborate with the MRV Specialist in designing and execution of forest inventory protocols, including establishment of Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs), tracking of the project's ecological impacts, monitoring carbon/biodiversity metrics and preparation of the project's technical reports.
• Collaborate with Community Restoration Officers (CROs) to provide supervision to community-based structures and effectively manage performance - to ensure ecosystem restoration and management objectives are met.
• Provide technical and logistical oversight related to the handling and transfer/transportation of planting materials from nurseries to targeted restoration sites, oversee site preparation and guide actual planting and maintenance in accordance with the TPMP.
• Collaborate with Community Restoration Officers to oversee nursery operations, seed sourcing, seedling quality control and monitoring of seedling survival rates.
• Collaborate with the MRV Specialist and other project staff to collect baseline data, monitor biomass growth, and measure carbon stocks.
• Support in the preparation of forest carbon inventories, analytical reports and Project Design Document (PDD)
• Ensure focused implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project's interventions on forest restoration, improved landscape management systems, and natural resource management initiatives.
• Identify and promote innovative nature-based livelihood programming approaches and interventions to achieve project objectives and suited to the particular conditions and needs of diverse client groups in the project implementation areas.

Quality Assurance - M &E, Reporting and Documentation

• Supervise and monitor project interventions in strict adherence to the project's monitoring protocols and standards.
• Participate in the development of Project Designs and Annual Operation Plans. (4D matrices, DIPs, Annual Budgets) and ensure budgetary utilization is within acceptable limits/range.
• Contextualize and use reporting guidelines to track and develop quality, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual and end of projects reports, key lessons and success stories in accordance with the guidelines and standardized tools.
• Identify and document best practices and successes of approaches & models as a result of the project interventions
• Provide technical inputs to the preparation and/or review of the project's technical reports and publications based on the project's forest carbon data and contribute to other publications associated with the project results.
• Support and monitor the implementation of annual work plan and project progress reports.

Capacity building

• Facilitate and support development of training modules and lead capacity-building workshops for local stakeholders, field staff, and partner NGOs on sustainable approaches to forest restoration.
• Collaborate with KFS and other stakeholders to ensure that key trainings meet the standard required to facilitate, provide knowledge and required skills set on ecosystem restoration/natural resource management and livelihood initiatives and practices.
• Work with the project team on developing community sensitization and information material, protocols and approaches for forest restoration and natural resource management interventions in their project contexts.
• Together with partners, the project team and stakeholders conduct regular reflection and learning events;

Advocacy, Engagement, Partnership and Networking

• Ensure representation of WV Kenya in key stakeholder forum/meetings at the County level.
• Actively participate in County level Sector Technical Working Groups and relevant to policy and planning forums for ecosystem restoration.
• Organize, track, and attend meetings with key stakeholders, and represent the project team at external meetings and conferences as needed;

KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE

Required Professional experience

• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in forest landscape restoration (FLR), silviculture, or agroforestry project management
• Strong grasp of climate-adaptive forestry, native species selection, soil health, and ecological monitoring
• Practical exposure to forest carbon inventories, biodiversity monitoring, or carbon certification standards (VCS, CCB, Gold Standard, REDD+)
• Knowledge of and experience in working with the Government and community structures
• Experience in implementation of integrated development programs with a focus on ecosystem restoration

Required Education & Certification

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Agroforestry, Climate Change, or a related field.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Proficiency in forest inventory data collection, growth and yield modelling and biomass estimation
• Proficiency in use of GIS tools like ArcGIS and QGIS.
• Strong communication skills to coordinate effectively with landowners, corporate partners, and multidisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with voluntary and compliance carbon markets and standards e.g. VCS, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo e.t.c