Project Manager, GEF8 Sustainable Land Management (SLM)
IUCN
Operations
Pretoria, South Africa · South Africa
Posted on Apr 2, 2026
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Provide overall technical leadership and ensure high-quality delivery of all project components and outputs.
Facilitate alignment with national and regional programmes, initiatives, and restoration projects.
Lead and manage the GEF 8 SLM Project Management Unit (PMU), including staff, consultants, and contractors.
Coordinate with implementing partners, government agencies, and regional service providers for effective collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Plan, implement, and monitor project outcomes, outputs, and activities in line with approved frameworks, work plans, and budgets.
Support resource mobilization efforts in the region and promote the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) standards.
Oversee implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework and lead knowledge management and reporting processes.
Facilitate project reviews and evaluations, including Mid-Term and Terminal Evaluations, and ensure timely submission of reports.
Provide strategic financial oversight, ensuring proper expenditure management, compliance, and value for money.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership, Project Management, and Administration;
Ensure integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, youth engagement, social inclusion, and climate resilience.
Ensure the technical quality and relevance of project interventions to national and regional priorities.
Ensure project activities are aligned with GEF results-based management frameworks and the Theory of Change.
Facilitate coordination among implementing partners, government agencies, and stakeholders to ensure coherent implementation and reporting.
Coordination, Partnerships and Resource mobilisation;
Serve as the primary liaison with implementing partners, government institutions, community-based organisations, private sector stakeholders, and regional LDN structures and related initiatives such as the Ramsar Convention and UNCCD.
Strengthen multi-stakeholder platforms to promote knowledge sharing, policy coherence, and joint planning.
Represent IUCN in relevant national, regional, and thematic platforms to strengthen visibility, build partnerships, and share lessons learned.
Support other GEF initiatives in the region through technical inputs and knowledge sharing.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Knowledge Management;
Ensure effective dissemination of knowledge products and project results at national, regional, and global levels.
Support capacity building of project staff and partners on M&E and knowledge management systems.
Ensure consistency and quality in data collection, analysis, and reporting to support adaptive management and continuous learning.
Financial and Administrative Oversight;
Monitor financial performance regularly to ensure cost-efficiency, value for money, and timely identification of variances or financial risks.
Ensure financial management aligns with GEF, IUCN, and implementing/executing agency policies and procedures.
Outputs Expected;
Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates assigned programme/projects.
Provides thorough, well-reasoned written contributions, e.g., background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
Develops and maintains effective working relationships.
Promulgate coherent policies, and consistent adherence to these by clients. Efficient use of resources.
Provide overall technical leadership and ensure high-quality delivery of all project components and outputs.
Facilitate alignment with national and regional programmes, initiatives, and restoration projects.
Lead and manage the GEF 8 SLM Project Management Unit (PMU), including staff, consultants, and contractors.
Coordinate with implementing partners, government agencies, and regional service providers for effective collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Plan, implement, and monitor project outcomes, outputs, and activities in line with approved frameworks, work plans, and budgets.
Support resource mobilization efforts in the region and promote the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) standards.
Oversee implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework and lead knowledge management and reporting processes.
Facilitate project reviews and evaluations, including Mid-Term and Terminal Evaluations, and ensure timely submission of reports.
Provide strategic financial oversight, ensuring proper expenditure management, compliance, and value for money.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership, Project Management, and Administration;
Ensure integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, youth engagement, social inclusion, and climate resilience.
Ensure the technical quality and relevance of project interventions to national and regional priorities.
Ensure project activities are aligned with GEF results-based management frameworks and the Theory of Change.
Facilitate coordination among implementing partners, government agencies, and stakeholders to ensure coherent implementation and reporting.
Coordination, Partnerships and Resource mobilisation;
Serve as the primary liaison with implementing partners, government institutions, community-based organisations, private sector stakeholders, and regional LDN structures and related initiatives such as the Ramsar Convention and UNCCD.
Strengthen multi-stakeholder platforms to promote knowledge sharing, policy coherence, and joint planning.
Represent IUCN in relevant national, regional, and thematic platforms to strengthen visibility, build partnerships, and share lessons learned.
Support other GEF initiatives in the region through technical inputs and knowledge sharing.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Knowledge Management;
Ensure effective dissemination of knowledge products and project results at national, regional, and global levels.
Support capacity building of project staff and partners on M&E and knowledge management systems.
Ensure consistency and quality in data collection, analysis, and reporting to support adaptive management and continuous learning.
Financial and Administrative Oversight;
Monitor financial performance regularly to ensure cost-efficiency, value for money, and timely identification of variances or financial risks.
Ensure financial management aligns with GEF, IUCN, and implementing/executing agency policies and procedures.
Outputs Expected;
Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates assigned programme/projects.
Provides thorough, well-reasoned written contributions, e.g., background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
Develops and maintains effective working relationships.
Promulgate coherent policies, and consistent adherence to these by clients. Efficient use of resources.
