Programme Officer - Climate Adaptation and Natural Resource Management

1. POSITION VACANT: Programme Officer - Climate Adaptation and Natural Resource Management SWISSAID India, Pune, Maharashtra.

2. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

SWISSAID, one of Switzerland’s leading development organizations, is an international non-profit, working in nine countries across the world. The organization has no religious or political affiliations.

SWISSAID has been active in India for more than five decades and is currently focused on two themes Small Scale Farming and Gender Equality. SWISSAID collaborates with local civil society organisations to co-create projects which address the challenges faced by the marginalised groups. SWISSAID addresses gender-based discrimination by giving it a central place in the Small-Scale farming Programme and by designing separate projects addressing gender-based violence.

SWISSAID has initiated a project on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Maharashtra. This project seeks to empower vulnerable communities in Maharashtra, India, through participatory vulnerability assessments and climate change adaptation and risk reduction planning (CAPs). The project builds capacities of village community-based organizations (CBOs) and elected members of Gram Panchayats and helps communities to implement CAP through leveraging government schemes and programmes.

For more information about SWISSAID, please visit:  https://www.swissaid.ch/en/home.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Senior Programme Officer/ Country Representative, SWISSAID is looking to recruit a Programme Officer Climate Adaptation and Natural Resource Management (PO-CA-NRM) to manage this project and develop the project portfolio.

Scope of Position

(1) Accompaniment and monitoring of projects and partnerships

(2) Engagement with Government and other stakeholders

(3) Knowledge Management

(4) Public Relation, information work

Key Job Responsibilities:

(A) Accompaniment and Monitoring of Projects and Partnerships to Achieve Agreed Results
(1) Develop project proposals (in the SWISSAID template) together with partner organizations taking into consideration the needs of the communities and the outcomes of the Country Programme Plan;

(2) Develop detailed annual project implementation plans, contracts and budgets, review budget vs expenditure and monitor project activities and enforce deadlines;

(3) Periodically visit the partners to assess the project progress, identify the challenges being faced implementation and make available the necessary support to address the same;

(4) Assess the thematic and organizational capacity of partner and organize capacity-building of partner organizations  ;

(5) Identify experts who can develop the Climate adaptation planning module, conduct training, and provide handholding support to partner staff to conduct participatory vulnerability assessment and develop climate adaptation and risk reduction plans (CAP);

(6) Facilitate the integration of tools to capture the gendered impacts of Climate Change and suggest processes to actively involve women in identifying adaptation solutions;

(7) Review the community mobilization process and provide suggestions for improvement;

(8) Prepare a Synthesis Document on CAP together with partners;

(9) Review partners plan to implement the climate adaptation activities and make the necessary support available;

(10) Draft six monthly and annual reports and review the finance reports;

(11) Work closely with the M and E Officer and partners to develop and implement Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation System;    

(12) Inform/ consult with the Senior Programme Officer/ CR in the event of significant modifications in project content and budget or serious problems in a project;
(13) Any other task delegated by SPO/CR.

(B) Engagement with Government and Other Stakeholders
(1) Develop linkages with government and non-government organisations working in the region to build climate resilient livelihoods to enhance project impact;

(2) Provide inputs to partners to help them finalize the district level convergence strategies to implement the Climate adaptation and risk reduction plans;

(3) Participate in sensitization of key stakeholders about climate and its impact on the vulnerable communities;

(4) Foster and participate in networks on thematic priorities of the SWISSAID country program.

(C) Knowledge Management

(1) Proactively participate in Community of Practice on Agroecology and Climate Change and develop knowledge products based on SWISSAIDs work;

(2) Keep updated about the latest developments in climate change;

(3) Compile synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt.

(D) Public Relation and Information Work
(1) Mobilise resources to scale up the Climate Adaptation Planning project;

(2) Contribute with project ideas, concept notes and studies to build the project portfolio on Agroecology and Natural Resource Management for Climate Resilience and Inclusive food System;

(3 Manage the donor funded projects and prepare high quality donor reports;

(4) Draft fund raising and communication materials on SWISSAID and its program in the country for information and fundraising work.

This listing of responsibilities is indicative and not exhaustive.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification and Experience
(1) Applicants must be graduates with a post graduate degree in Social Sciences, or Economics, or Agriculture, or equivalent, from a reputed university;
(2) Applicants must have a minimum of 10 years of experience of working in the development sector, in the field of Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resource Management or Livelihoods, of which at least three years must be with a grassroot development organization;
(3) Demonstrated experience and track record of strengthening small farmers’ livelihoods through work on soil and water conservation, promoting ecological farming, encouraging diversification, water management, and marketing of agricultural and forest produce;
(4) Experience in participatory natural resource management planning with communities focussing on gender, social inclusion, and youth;
(5) Experience of facilitating strong people’s institutions and linking and leveraging resources from government programmes;
(6) Experience with work in Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment, Climate Risk Mitigation with communities (e.g. on early warning), Weather, Water and Climate Services, and Water Management in rural areas is Desirable.

Skills and Competencies

(1) Understanding of climate change concepts and strategies;
(2) Good understanding of key challenges being faced by small farmers in India, as well as government policies and programmes to improve livelihoods and support climate change adaptation;
(3) Experience of district planning process and channelizing funds to the most vulnerable for climate adaptation/ sustainable livelihood/natural resource management;
(4) 3 years of experience in project management preferably in the field of climate change adaptation or sustainable livelihoods;
(5) Strong commitment towards addressing gender discrimination and working with marginalized communities;
(6) An ability to develop strong, positive relationships internally with team members and externally with Stakeholders, Funders, Social Networks and other organizations;
(7) Proven track record of accompaniment of grassroots development projects;
(8) Excellent analytical, conceptual and writing skills;
(9) Experience of monitoring and evaluation;
(10) Fluency in written and spoken English and Hindi;
(11) Willingness to travel extensively;
(12) Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross remuneration budgeted for the position is attractive and shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience, and salary history, of the selected candidate.

6. LOCATION: Pune, Maharashtra

7. DURATION OF CONTRACT: This is a full-time position, and the selected candidate shall be offered an initial contract for a period of two years.

8. LOCATION: Pune, Maharashtra

9. REFERENCE: PO-CA-NRM-SWISSAID

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply at the earliest by or before June 18, 2025. Due to the urgency for filling the vacancy, SAMS will commence screening and interviewing early applicants aligned with the position specs, almost immediately.

SWISSAID is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are encouraged from candidates irrespective of age, gender identity, disability, caste, religion, or economic background.