The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org/) is seeking an Associate to guide and implement the Equity, Poverty and Environment (EPE) initiative in Central Africa. Through policy analysis, outreach and capacity-building, EPE aims to reduce poverty and promote sound environmental management by ensuring equitable access to and fair distributions of environment goods and services. EPE is housed in WRI’s Institutions and Governance Program, which works with partners in civil society and government to improve the policies, procedures and performance of institutions with authority over matters that affect local livelihoods and the environment.

Many of the world’s poor are dependent on nature for their livelihoods. Poverty is often a direct result of peoples’ limited access to land and natural resources, few opportunities to generate wealth from local environments, the small share of profits they capture from natural commodities, and limited re-investments of environmental rents by the state. Access and benefit sharing are determined largely by public policies and government practices. EPE works with local policy analysts and public interest organizations to conduct research on, disseminate recommendations for and promote pro-poor distribution policies for environmental goods and service.

EPE’s work in Central Africa supports local development and sound environmental management by promoting policies and practices that increase benefit retention among rural populations from forest-based industries-from local enterprises and large-scale operations. In Cameroon, for example, the 1994 Forestry Code introduced a system that distributes half of the Annual Forestry Fee revenue from logging concessions to decentralized public authorities and villages. The revenues are split between the national government (50 percent), rural councils (40 percent), and the villages adjacent to concessions (10 percent). Further, the Forestry Code provides the rural poor with opportunities to establish community forests for local use and exploitation. Efforts are also underway in Cameroon and the sub-region to increase local retention among the poor from local forest-based industries, such as timber, charcoal, bushmeat and other forest products.

EPE has been active in Central Africa, principally Cameroon, but also in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for several years, collaborating with local researchers to conduct policy research on the policies and practice that affect the allocation of forest-based public revenues, and the distribution of private profits and market shares of local forest products. EPE works with government, especially with policy NGOs, legislators and the parliament, to reform specific distribution policies and laws, and to strengthen implementation and enforcement. The project also invests in capacity-building and strengthening key actors and institutions, including policy analysts, independent public interest organizations, lawmakers, and, in Cameroon, a new caucus of green legislators.

Over the next 2-3 years, EPE-Central Africa will continue working in Cameroon and further develop the initiative in DRC. The project will include a stronger focus on the distribution of market shares and profits from local forest-based industries (to balance EPE work on benefit sharing for forest-based public revenues), and specific attention to indigenous forest people (not just forest-dependent communities, in general). EPE will continue to partner with NGOs and legislators, and expand its work with local authorities, including provincial legislatures in DRC. EPE-Central Africa will also engage more deeply with sub-regional institutions, instruments, initiatives and investments, including COMIFAC, CEFDHAC and its recognized regional networks.

Responsibilities

•   Building on existing work, advance and implement EPE’s work in Central Africa.
• Design, carry out and supervise original policy research on poverty reduction and forest management in Central Africa.
• Lead, negotiate, manage and oversee EPE’s engagement with local actors and institutions in Central Africa.
• Track and participate in relevant policy debates and processes at national and sub-regional levels in Central Africa.
• Raise awareness among decision makers in Central Africa on EPE findings and their implications for achieving social, economic and environmental policy objectives.
• Lead EPE’s capacity-building and institutional strengthening in Central Africa.
• Build a close working relationship with WRI’s other initiatives in Central Africa and explore opportunities for joint work.
• Spend 25- 30 percent of time in Central Africa, principally in Cameroon and DRC.
• Prepare annual work plans and budgets for EPE-Central Africa, develop contracts and sub-grant agreement as needed, and lead grant management and reporting.
• Represent EPE in WRI internal collaborations and accountability processes.
• With support from EPE leader and IGP director, lead fundraising efforts for EPE-Central Africa, including maintaining existing relationships, building new contacts and drafting proposals.
• Lead outreach and communications for EPE-Central Africa.
• Other duties as required by the EPE leader and IGP director.

Qualifications

•  Successful track record working on environment and development issues in Central Africa.
• Fluent in written and spoken French and English.
• Demonstrated ability to assert initiative and leadership when appropriate.
• Ability to lead, supervise and work effectively in teams.
• Proven influence skills in the environmental and development policy arena at the national, sub-regional or global level.
• A strong, proven orientation to deliver real-world results.
• Masters or equivalent in political science, economic anthropology, human ecology or other relevant field.
• 5-8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated policy expertise in poverty reduction and forest management.
• Understanding of economic incentives and market-based approaches to achieve development and environment goals.
• Strong management, administrative and organizational skills.
• Excellent demonstrated research, writing and oral communication skills.