Posted on December, 14 2024

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realisation that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge. Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.

What we do

We are an independent conservation organisation, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.

Locations: Nairobi or Yaoundé

1 MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

To lead, oversee and coordinate WWF’s strategic partnerships, engagements, and policy efforts in Africa by supporting the development and implementation of regional, country, and landscape policy and advocacy strategies, monitoring progress, assessing impact and identifying, piloting and scaling innovative approaches as needed. To lead on the development of strong relationships with key institutional partners and influence key policy decisions that deliver on the regional and country strategies. To support the Africa Regional Office and WWF Africa Country Offices to develop cutting edge policy interventions, grow internal capacity, develop and maintain strategic partnerships, and ensure the effective integration of policy into WWF’s conservation work at all scales for durable and inclusive conservation impact.

2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS

The Head, Policy & Partnerships, Africa coordinates WWF’s policy activities in the region and leads on the development and implementation of WWF's policy and partnerships work in Africa. In particular, s/he will be responsible for:

● the coordination of WWF's policy activities and agenda

● providing leadership, strategic insights and information on major policy agendas, including horizon scanning of future trends

● supporting and building the policy engagement capacity of country offices, landscapes, and the regional team

● representing WWF in key regional and international fora

● developing and maintaining strategic partnerships

● management of the WWF Africa policy and partnership team

3 MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

● Coordination of WWF's policy activities and agenda

o Works closely with Regional Heads for Communications, Finance, and People, Culture & Organisational Development to ensure that policy and partnership plans are in line with operational plans and long-term institutional and staffing requirements

o Collaborates with the practice leads and actively contributes to the practice communities

o Works closely with regional colleagues in the Conservation, Program Quality and Resource Acquisition, and Operations shared services centre to deliver effective policy and partnership solutions for conservation impact at scale.

o Leads policy engagement and partnership with partners and stakeholders in non-WWF presence countries in Africa;

● Leadership on major policy agendas

o Provides strategic guidance to the WWF offices in Africa, and distils policy engagement insights and experiences for use in national, regional and

global policy and advocacy work

o Provides high level guidance and analysis on major policy agendas and distils and prioritise information for effective policy engagement

● Building policy engagement capacity

o Ensures that all country offices and landscapes and regional programmes in the region have effective policy and partnership plans in place, deliver impact at scale and are effectively contributing to relevant Global Impact Goals and the new Global Conservation Strategy/Roadmap 2030

o Supports the Africa Regional Directors in their role as spokespersons for WWF in Africa

o Builds capacity of selected country offices and trans-boundary programmes to lead relationships with key regional and pan-African institutions

● Representing WWF in key regional and international fora, in support of WWF’s policy and partnerships engagement in Africa

o Elevates the voice of Africa in the global policy messaging within the WWF network in Africa and elevates the voice of Africa in regional, pan-African, and global policy processes and events fora

o Leads WWF policy and advocacy engagement with key pan-African and regional policy processes (e.g. the UN Sustainable Development Goals, UNGA, CBD, UNFCCC, RAMSAR, CITES, and FOCAC)

● Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships, in support of WWF’s policy and partnerships engagement in Africa

o Prioritises, develops, maintains and leverages relationships with key institutional partners to deliver conservation impact at scale

o Leads WWF’s relationship with key regional and pan-African institutions, including the African Development Bank, African Union Commission, UNECA, AUDA-NEPAD, AMCEN and selected RECs (COMESA, EAC, SADC, ECOWAS, ECCAS, COMIFAC)

o Ensures that priority partnerships are functioning effectively and are underpinned by:

▪ A clear understanding of the areas of mutual interest

▪ A work plan with ambitious but realistic conservation objectives

▪ The necessary skills and capacity to service the relationship and work plans

o Coordinates and aligns WWF expert input into institutional partnership opportunities i.e. UNEP and PSP

o Networks with key government and private sector institutions to grow key stakeholders/partners toward influencing conservation impact at scale

● Provides effective leadership and line management of the WWF Africa policy and partnership team

● Performs other relevant duties at the request of the Director Conservation Impact, Africa.

4 PROFILE

Required Qualifications.

● Appropriate university qualification in international relations and development, environmental policy or related fields. Post graduate qualifications (e.g.Masters or PHD level) is an advantage;

● At least 10 years of experience and a demonstrated successful track record in high level international and regional policy and advocacy work in Africa.

Required Skills and Competencies.

● A demonstrated track record of high level engagement with key international, pan African, and regional institutions (e.g. AUC, African Development Bank, AUDA NEPAD, UNECA; RECs) as well as regional; pan-African and global policy processes (e.g. SDG; UNGA; UNFCCC; CBD; UNGA; UNCCD; RAMSAR; CITES)

● Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain effective relations with high level office bearers within key institutions

● Strong background in diplomacy and strategic sense and ability to think on their feet in pressure situations

● Ability to drive strategic relations through to conservation delivery

● Strong management and leadership skills with a high degree of accountability;

● Experience working in a Matrix and Network organisation and the ability to lead without formal authority,

● Demonstrated ability to interact with and influence senior management staff in Country Offices and relevant staff in different functional areas for effective collaborations;

● Highly analytical and strategic skills with the ability to see the big picture and context;

● Deep understanding of African conservation and development issues; ● Sound knowledge of the policy environment relevant to Africa;

● Strong advocacy and lobbying skills;

● Strong oral and written communication skills in both English and French; ● Passion and commitment for conservation and sustainable development

● Embraces the WWF mission and values of the organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

5 WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal.

Works closely with the regional Heads of communications, impact, programme support and inclusive conservation, as well as other regional and network colleagues, the Regional Directors for Congo Basin and East and Southern Africa, Country Office leadership and management teams, WWF International Secretariat (GPAT; PSP) and wider WWF network offices. Ensures regular communication and teamwork with WWF International’s global policy teams and Practices to ensure alignment within the region.

External.

Key institutional partners, donors, governments and other partner organizations, as appropriate.

HOW TO APPLY

Only one single document can be uploaded through our platform. Upload your covering letter and CV as one file. We will not accept applications without CV and Covering Letter.

Deadline for applications: by 5 January 2025

Work permit restrictions may apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce. WWF promotes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In the administration of its employment policies and practices, WWF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, matriculation, political affiliation.