RTI is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and multidisciplinary services
Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.
SG&R’s Environment portfolio has delivered innovative, locally driven, evidence-based solutions in local and institutional capacity building in natural resource governance and environmental policy, countering wildlife and environmental crime, forest and protected area management, sustainable landscapes, climate change and resilience, livelihood development, and economic growth.
Project Description
The USAID Landscape Conservation in Western Tanzania (LCWT) project is designed to build upon and magnify nearly 25 years’ experience in Tanzania to protect endangered chimpanzee populations and their habitats, while empowering local communities in the Gombe-Masito-Ugalla (GMU) ecosystem. The GMU ecosystem contains over 90% of Tanzania’s estimated 2,200 chimpanzees that are facing increasing threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation from illegal logging, settlement expansion, and conversion of habitat for economic/agricultural purposes.
As a subcontractor to the Jane Goodall Institute on LCWT, RTI International is providing support to improve mechanisms at the local government level in place to appropriately cover costs of natural resource management (NRM) monitoring and interventions. A 2019 Political Economy Analysis conducted by RTI identified the lack of allocation of financial resources by Local Government Authorities (LGAs) as a major barrier to the sustainability of NRM management activities promoted by the project.
Position Description
RTI is seeking a District NRM Financing Advocacy Consultant to provide technical guidance and facilitation support to district-level governments in Kigoma, Uvinza, Nsimbo and Tanganyika DC districts to develop NRM financing guidelines. These guidelines will outline the types of investments that the districts will support with the funds they receive from various sources, including fines and national budgets, and set a minimum earmark of own-sourced funds to be re-invested in NRM activities.
The Consultant will report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and the RTI/LCWT Project Manager, and the anticipated period of performance is from late April through early July, 2022.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Work closely with LCWT staff to design a facilitation process to work with District Economy, Works and Environment (EW) committees to develop district-level guidelines for financing NRM activities.
- Develop plans for sensitizing the district EWE committees and other district officials about the important contributions NRM makes to district own-source funding, and the need for investment to preserve this source of funds for future activities.
- Pilot sensitization activities and facilitation process in Kigoma by engaging appropriate District committees (e.g. Finance and Administration; EWE Committee) and other stakeholders (e.g. Tuungane, TFS, TAWA, TANAPA, village leaders) to develop district NRM financing guidelines.
- Update the facilitation process based on any lessons learned from the Kigoma workshop and roll out the workshops in Uvinza, Nsimbo, and Tanganyika DC.
- As necessary, support the LCWT staff and district officials to move the NRM financing guidelines through the relevant approval process. This may require contact by phone or in person meetings to encourage the process along.
- Produce NRM guideline development workshop notes and drafted NRM strategies for each district.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree and 10 years of experience, Master’s degree and 8 years of experience, PhD and 4 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of local public sector financing systems in Tanzania.
- Five years substantive experience working with local government counterparts and engaging in district-level advocacy.
- Experience writing facilitation plans and technical reports.
- Demonstrated skill facilitating policy development and dialogue between LGAs and key community leaders and civil society stakeholders.
- Preferred experience in supporting natural resource management policies and initiatives.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken Kiswahili required; proficiency in written and spoken English preferred.
The application deadline is April 25, 2022
No applicant will ever be asked for any payment either to secure a role with RTI International or as a follow-up to having been awarded a position with RTI International. If anyone ever approaches you asking for any such payment, please immediately email ethics@rti.org.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/DA/
To Apply:
Submit your CV and over letter to nmcclure@rti.org. RTI is an equal opportunity employer. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
