
The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 30 member countries and around 130 member organisations. EFI undertakes policy support and forest research at pan-European and global level, with headquarters in Joensuu, Finland. EFI has several offices across Europe in Barcelona, Bonn and Rome, and under its International Partnerships Facility, project offices in Brussels and Kuala Lumpur.
The International Partnerships Facility (IPF) of EFI is a global centre of knowledge and expertise that supports policy and governance reforms to safeguard the world’s forests. It promotes sustainable forest and land use to help protect and restore forests and maximise their role in green economic growth, climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation. It also fosters legal, deforestation-free and sustainable commodity production and trade.
In Ghana, EFI will implement the EU Sustainable Forest and Cocoa Programme, which will support the implementation of Ghana’s sustainable cocoa and forest objectives, through:
- Strengthening institutional capacity of stakeholders to engage into sustainable cocoa production and trade and sustainable forest management; and
- Design and implementation of tools and processes that will support sustainable cocoa production and trade and enhance forest governance and restoration.
To contribute to the implementation of the programme, EFI is seeking a Forest Governance and Restoration Expert, based in Accra, Ghana.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Support to the VPA process and related governance reform processes, assisting parties in the full operationalisation of the FLEGT licensing scheme and the underlying Ghana timber legality assurance system.
- Support to forest and agroforestry restoration interventions in selected degraded landscapes to increase forest cover and support community and local level forest management.
The Expert will work closely with the EU Delegation and stakeholders including government (in particular the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission), forest operators, industry and civil society, and will provide support and expertise in the following areas:
- National FLEGT stakeholder platforms
- VPA implementation and operational FLEGT licensing
- Tree tenure policy reform and the review and consolidation of forest laws eHcMskA BIpnb
- Best practices for forest restoration approaches
- Implementation of forest restoration interventions in selected landscapes
- Technical and other analyses, guidance, briefings, lessons as needed.
Duty station and travel
The Expert will be based in Accra, Ghana, with occasional travel inside Ghana and to Europe.
Conditions of engagement
The Expert is expected to work ‘full-time’ (complete working weeks) over the contract period which will be 2 years.
The Expert must ensure that they have the right to live and work in Accra, Ghana from the commencement date of the contract. The Expert will be provided with office facilities and appropriate equipment and supplies to conduct their work. The Expert will be paid an hourly rate, which includes all personal costs necessary for implementing the tasks (e.g. organizing appropriate health insurance).
Interested candidates are requested to send (in English) a CV including copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas with a motivation letter by 8th April 2024, using our online application form.
For more information about the in-house consultant position, please contact Christophe Van Orshoven, Team Leader at the IPF: [email protected].
Information in relation to in-house consultant conditions of engagement are available by request from Ms. Niina Verkerk, email: [email protected].
EFI is an equal opportunity employer. All applications will be treated confidentially.
Job requirements
- University degree in natural resource management, forestry, or a related and suitable field. MSc/MA or higher degree is an asset.
- Minimum of eight (8) years relevant working experience on natural resource management, forestry or a related field, of which at least four 4 years in West Africa, either through permanent residence in the region or frequent travelling.
- Familiarity with forest governance and forest restoration issues in Ghana; FLEGT related experience is an asset.
- Ability to work on politically sensitive issues with different stakeholders (governments, industry, NGOs and communities) in Ghana.
- Demonstrated experience with project management, in particular managing grants and/or grant schemes of international donors/organisations.
- Demonstrated ability of working in multi-disciplinary teams in multi-cultural environments.
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken English and proven writing, reporting, presentational and communication skills.