Kenya Forest Service is a State Corporation established by an Act of Parliament for management and conservation of all types of forests. The Service seeks to recruit a person well skilled in community development and livelihoods improvement to work in the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Project.
Natural Resource Management (NRM) is a project funded by the Government of Kenya through a World Bank credit facility. The project is being implemented by three agencies: Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), the National Irrigation Board (NIB), and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
The development objective of the project is to enhance institutional capacity of the Government to improve governance and management of water and forest resources in a sustainable and participatory manner.
One of the long-term aims of the project is to improve livelihoods of communities participating in the co-management of water and forests resources. This will be done by assisting the government to mainstream environment and NRM issues in the economic growth, development and poverty reduction processes by strengthening public sector governance and management of the country’s forest resources.
The project implementation is designed to be mainstreamed in each of the statutory institutions such that both the water sector and forest sector are supported to promote the adoption of new biophysical and institutional approaches to water and forest resource management respectively.
It emphasizes catchment management approach which requires a multisectoral approach to implement the sector reforms in water sector and forest sector where the principle of ecosystem management and enhancement of the role of forests in catchment management is envisaged.
Kenya Forest Service is now seeking to recruit a qualified person to occupy the position of Social Development Specialist.
Job Title: Social Development Specialist
KFS/NRM/01/09
Overall responsibilities
To provide technical guidance, promote knowledge sharing and conduct capacity building to facilitate the implementation of social safeguard activities for the NRM Project. The social safeguard activities are elaborated in the Indigenous People Planning Framework and the Resettlement Policy Framework designed for the NRM Project.
This position will be based at KFS Headquarters with frequent travelling to the NRM Project sites in the field.
Specific tasks
Natural Resource Management (NRM) is a project funded by the Government of Kenya through a World Bank credit facility. The project is being implemented by three agencies: Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), the National Irrigation Board (NIB), and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
The development objective of the project is to enhance institutional capacity of the Government to improve governance and management of water and forest resources in a sustainable and participatory manner.
One of the long-term aims of the project is to improve livelihoods of communities participating in the co-management of water and forests resources. This will be done by assisting the government to mainstream environment and NRM issues in the economic growth, development and poverty reduction processes by strengthening public sector governance and management of the country’s forest resources.
The project implementation is designed to be mainstreamed in each of the statutory institutions such that both the water sector and forest sector are supported to promote the adoption of new biophysical and institutional approaches to water and forest resource management respectively.
It emphasizes catchment management approach which requires a multisectoral approach to implement the sector reforms in water sector and forest sector where the principle of ecosystem management and enhancement of the role of forests in catchment management is envisaged.
Kenya Forest Service is now seeking to recruit a qualified person to occupy the position of Social Development Specialist.
Job Title: Social Development Specialist
KFS/NRM/01/09
Overall responsibilities
To provide technical guidance, promote knowledge sharing and conduct capacity building to facilitate the implementation of social safeguard activities for the NRM Project. The social safeguard activities are elaborated in the Indigenous People Planning Framework and the Resettlement Policy Framework designed for the NRM Project.
This position will be based at KFS Headquarters with frequent travelling to the NRM Project sites in the field.
Specific tasks
- Provide technical advice to KFS on social development aspects
- Assist KFS in elaborating social development strategy and community development operations manuals;
- Support the selection of priority sectors, projects and target groups and establishment of selection and eligibility criteria for partners and identification of social mobilization and capital development strategies and plans
- Support KFS to effectively liaise with partners in order to ensure sustainable involvement in the formulation and implementation of social development aspects;
- Assist in the analysis of socio-economic infrastructure, updating and tracking of socio-economic data, including resource utilization patterns for CDD. In addition, assist in conducting review of existing initiatives, documenting and disseminating lessons learned and best practices in social development aspects;
- Support in-depth review of community project proposals and assess their relevance to the overall social development strategy;
- Participate in the design and implementation of a monitoring system for social development aspects, comprising the monitoring of activities, results, impact and sustainability of the operations;
- Participate in the assessment of the institutional competence on social development aspects and support the development and implementation of a routine training program and awareness campaigns to upgrade competence
- Support the preparation, implementation and review of social safeguard plans and assess the robustness of the consultation process required for their preparation and implementation. In addition, participate in review and clearance of project documents for compliance with safeguards policies
- Prepare clear and concise reports in line with the requirements of any applicable law, the Service, government and financing agencies for specific operations, projects and programmes
- Lead in the development and implementation of a routine training program on livelihoods improvement options and social aspects for KFS and Community Forest Associations
Objectives of the assignment
- To strengthen the Kenya Forest Service capacity to manage forest resources in a participatory manner and contribute to livelihood improvements of communities depending on forests.
- To guide the implementation of all the social aspects relating to the purpose of the NRM Project. This will include implementing the safeguards issues, undertaking an analysis and study of livelihood profiles of the project target communities, and assisting in the development of local development plans for the targeted areas.
- To support the strengthening of the institutional capacity to handle social development aspects.
- To help mainstream the social development aspects of NRM project at the implementing agencies level
Time Frame
- The assignment will be on a fulltime basis renewable after an initial period of 1 year.
Qualifications and Experience
Suitable candidates MUST have the following minimum qualifications:
Suitable candidates MUST have the following minimum qualifications:
- A masters degree in social sciences, e.g. sociology, anthropology, economics, development or human geography or other related fields
- Have 5 years relevant experience in design and management of community-based participatory social service delivery schemes;
- Detailed and up-to-date knowledge of Kenya’s natural resource management institutions, civil society and NGO environment, legal framework and regulation.
- Ability to think strategically and conduct dialogue on social development policies and priorities, while maintaining a strong sense of realism with regards to in-country conditions and competing demands for resources
- Knowledge of donor-assisted models of community development;
- Strong computer skills: word processing and spreadsheet software experience;
- High level of team competence and professional initiative;
- Demonstrated practical field experience in the forestry sector or relevant natural resource sector.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
The Human Resource Manager,
Kenya Forest Service,
P.O. Box 30513-00100 Nairobi.
www.kenyaforestservice.org
