1. ARCOS
The Albertine Rift is a biogeographic region of the western African Rift Valley, covering the area in six countries: Eastern D.R. Congo, Western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Western Tanzania to Northern Zambia. The Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) or Societe de Conservation .du Rift Albertin (SCORA) in French was founded in 1995 with the mission "to enhance biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources of the Albertine Rift through the promotion of collaborative conservation action, awareness raising and biodiversity information exchange in the region."
ARCOS is the only conservation organisation established with a unique focus on biodiversity conservation at the regional level in the Albertine Rift. Its overall goal is to enhance conservation of critical ecosystems and biodiversity values in the Albertine Rift region and generate collaborative relations between the various conservation partners in the Albertine Rift.
ARCOS is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in the UK and Uganda, with a Regional Coordination Secretariat based in Kampala, Uganda. A international Board of Trustees comprising members from ,the Albertine Rift and other international professionals is responsible for overall management of ARCOS.
1. Overall Responsibilities of the Regional Coordinator
The Regional Coordinator is responsible for the strategic development and effective implementation of ARCOS Programme in the Albertine Rift region as well as contributing to overall management of the organization through participation in overall decision-making. The position requires competencies across a broad spectrum of subjects ranging from organizational management and financial planning to natural resource management strategies and policies.
The Regional Coordinator is the official representative of ARCOS in the region with partners and donors. S/he is accountable for all financial, personnel and administrative matters and is also responsible for ensuring coherence of activities in the region with ARCOS Strategic Plan. The Regional Coordinator will particularly be responsible for coordination of two programmes funded by The MacArthur Foundation for the next the years.
2. Main duties
The Regional Co-ordinator of ARCOS will focus particularly on the following:
a) Assume the operational management of all ARCOS activities in the region, office and staff and financial management and oversee the implementation of ARCOS policies and procedures.
b) Provide leadership in managing the Albertine Rift Regional Biodiversity Monitoring and Information System (ARBMIS) to ensure quality and timely production of ARCOS outreach materials and information services;
c) Develop liaison with governmental institutions, private sector, NGOs and community based initiatives and develop and implement appropriate strategies for capacity building and technical support.
d) Oversee the implementation of ongoing projects and follow up activities in a sustainable way to ensure that planned objectives are reached on time and effectively;
e) Develop and maintain long-term fund-raising strategies, develop project proposals and nurture relations with the donor community in and outside the region in liaison with ARCOS Coordination Bureau.
f) Plan, organise Albertine Rift Regional Forum and other meetings to enhance experience exchanges in the region and encourage debates on regional conservation and development issues;
g) Promote ARCOS profile within and outside the region, through the development and management of ARCOS Network, building and maintaining liaison with Friends of ARCOS, Partners, Supporters, Focal Points and other stakeholders.
3. Special requirements
- At least MSc in an appropriate subject;
- Experience in organisation management and development, networking, environmental conservation and project management would be highly desirable;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French;
- Experience in planning, reporting, the production of audience targeted documents, biodiversity conservation issues in the Albertine Rift and NGO development;
- Ability to identify priorities and opportunities for the sustainability of organisation programmes and activities in the region;
- Initiative, creativity and determination;
- Committed to NGO development and non-profit work and sound management of time and other allocated resources;
- Excellent skills of negotiation, networking, advocacy and lobbying, taking into consideration the specificity of the region;
- Preferably citizenship from the Albertine Rift region; and
- Ability to work long hours, to relocate, to travel or other action for the benefit of the project and ARCOS as may be required from time to time.
