The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers.
The Rainforest Alliance’s Climate Program works to conserve biodiversity and enhance livelihoods by supporting sustainable land management practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Climate Program is cross-programmatic, involving activities of the sustainable forestry, agriculture and tourism programs of the Rainforest Alliance. The two principal foci are carbon forestry and agroforestry offset projects and the sustainable production of commodity crops for biofuels. The Climate Initiative works with a wide range of stakeholders, from small producers to large corporations to governments.
Position Summary:
The REDD+ Advisor will contribute to strengthening the policies, legal framework and institutional capacity required to facilitate the implementation of Mexico’s national REDD+ and Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS) strategies, and advise on the financial mechanisms and systems necessary to support Mexico’s REDD+ activities.
Project:
The Climate Program seeks a REDD+ Advisor for an anticipated USAID-funded program in Mexico, M-REDD (Mexico – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). The five-year program will support Mexico’s REDD-readiness process by establishing and/or strengthening policy, institutional and technical capacity building, financing and other core aspects required to ensure the successful implementation of REDD+ in Mexico. The program will operate at the national, regional and project levels, and will engage a diverse group of stakeholders, including governmental agencies, private sector companies, civil society and indigenous groups. The program will complement and expand upon the Rainforest Alliance’s existing projects and programs in Mexico.
Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic guidance and policy expertise to national government agencies, leading to the development and implementation of Mexico’s national and subnational REDD+ strategies;
- Contribute to the development of credible and transparent institutional, economic, legal and regulatory REDD+ structures, with a particular emphasis on land tenure and property rights;
- Ensure the robust inclusion of Social and Environmental Safeguards within Mexico’s REDD+ strategies and activities;
- Facilitate the active participation of key stakeholders – particularly indigenous groups and forest-dependent communities – in the development and execution of REDD+ strategies;
- Develop, implement, and scale financing mechanisms to ensure transparent financing and equitable benefits sharing amongst indigenous peoples and local communities;
- Manage relationships with, and coordinate amongst, project partners, national government agencies, civil society groups, other key stakeholders to achieve the project objectives;
- Author/contribute to publications which disseminate lessons learned from the project;
- Prepare periodic work plans and reports for internal use;
- Communicate and coordinate with Rainforest Alliance staff, organizational wide;
- Participate in periodic site visits to assess the implementation of REDD+ strategies and programs; and
- Other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Advance degree in Forestry, Ecology, Environmental Science, Policy, Environmental Economics or related discipline;
- Minimum 7 years of experience working in forests and climate change, particularly related to financial and incentive PES or REDD+ mechanisms, with at least 3 years of experience in Mexico;
- Fluency in Spanish and English;
- Proven experience developing/implementing Social and Environmental Safeguards for forest carbon projects;
- Demonstrated success shaping natural resources policy and influencing policy and regulatory environments;
- Strong working knowledge of UNFCCC policies, REDD+ and PES schemes, and voluntary carbon markets
- Strong working knowledge of Mexico’s forest sector and climate change policies;
- High level of knowledge of both local-level stakeholders and regional organizations working in forest management and forest carbon;
- High level of familiarity with regional and international development and forestry market trends, programs, organizations and funders in the forestry and conservation arena in Mexico, with experience with carbon markets and REDD a plus;
- High level of organizational and managerial ability;
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- Excellent writing, editing, public presentation and strategic thinking skills critical;
- Knowledge of, and commitment to, environmental issues and sustainability practices;
- Knowledge of non-profit operations preferred;
- Strong computer skills (MS Office and internet); and
- Willingness and ability to travel 40 percent of the time.
Salary:
Commensurate with experience.
Notes:
Only candidates authorized to work in Mexico will be considered.
Application:
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to climate@ra.org. Please use the following format in the subject line: first name and last name, job title of position you are applying for.
The Rainforest Alliance is an equal opportunity employer
