Programme Officer, Landscape Governance

BACKGROUND:

IUCN’s Kenya Country Programme supports priorities defined under Kenya’s National Development Plan, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, National Climate Change Strategy, Agriculture and Water Sector Development Strategies and Marine and Fisheries Action Plans, Blue Economy Policies and Strategies, IUCN 20-year vision (2026-2045), IUCN programme 2026-2028 as well as relevant multi-lateral environmental agreements. Our 2026-2030 strategic goals include sustainable land and landscapes management, conservation of critical natural habitats, Integrated water resources management, capacity building for climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable urban resilience and coastal and ocean resilience (COR) building.
Under the Land Systems Programme, IUCN’s Kenya is currently implementing a project called “BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITY CONSERVANCIES FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, RESILIENCE, LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT AND PEACE/SECURITY IN CHURO-KIRISIA-MUKOGODO- OLDONYIRO-NDOTO-MATHEWS RANGES-SABARWAWA ECOSYSTEMS IN NORTHERN KENYA – in short form “REPLAN”. This is a 4-year project (2026 – 2029) with the overall objective of enhancing the resilience of communities across the four micro-landscapes (Melako-Shurr, Mathews-Ndoto Ranges, Mukogodo–Naibunga-Oldonyiro and Ruko-Kaptuya-Mukutan) through identification and scaling-up livelihoods and biodiversity conservation innovations. The project consists of four components:
•Component 1: Improved biodiversity and ecosystems conservation across the four micro-landscapes.
•Component 2: Improve livelihoods and resilience of communities.
•Component 3: Strengthened multi-stakeholder coordination and dedicated mainstreaming of human rights, gender and security across the micro-landscapes and beyond. Inclusive natural resources governance in the project landscapes and advocacy strengthened.
•Component 4: Project management, Coordination and Acceleration of Impact.

The REPLAN project is part of NaturAfrica programme which is an EU International Partnerships (INTPA) initiative to support biodiversity conservation in Africa by taking an innovative people-centred approach. By structuring support around landscapes that are crucial for conservation and human development and target these areas to boost job creation and improve security and livelihoods while also protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
The Programme Officer, Landscape Governance will drive the implementation of component 3 of the REPLAN project. He/she will serve as a member of the Country Land Systems Team that helps set strategic directions and define priorities for IUCN’s broader engagement on Land Systems issues at the country level and, accordingly, works with the other members of the team in developing the Land Systems Programme portfolio; strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation; and learning, innovation and knowledge generation at the overall Programme level. This position reports directly to the Chief of Party.

The Programme Officer, Landscape Governance will be based in either in Isiolo or Laikipia County, Kenya with frequent travel in other project and programme sites.

Implementation and portfolio management;
Coordination, planning, budgeting, management and oversight of REPLAN project’s component 3;
Day-to-day coordination of projects implementation and activities delivery to ensure the highest quality of outputs and outcomes as well as guarantee that activities are implemented in line with project workplans and budgets;
Support and coordinate implementing partners and consultancies with focus on natural resources governance and ecosystems management to ensure effective delivery of their tasks;
Support national Land Systems team on technical reporting and on the development of annual reports;
Participate in the development of the Kenya Land Systems projects portfolio.

External engagement and communication;
In consultation with CoP, ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant country fora and facilitate discussions on relevant land systems emerging issues to position IUCN as a reference in the country;
Provide evidence-based support and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues on emerging issues and policy debates;
Communication of lessons learnt to key decision-makers and other stakeholders within the country, region and globally as appropriate, including via the web, print and media;
In collaboration with the Senior Officer-Natural Resources Management, identify and manage potential risks associated with IUCN’s public positions in the country and design strategies to mitigate the risks that have been identified;
Act as a focal point for facilitating and supporting the involvement of IUCN Commissions, Members and other members of the Secretariat in the development and implementation of programmatic activities.

Programme development and resource mobilization;
As appropriate, contribute to the fundraising activities including development of concepts and projects proposals. This will involve establishing, maintaining and nurturing good relationships with donors, funding agencies and other technical partners so as to ensure the financial viability of the Land Systems programme in Kenya;

Monitoring and Evaluation;
Contribute to the development and implementation of the project and Kenya Land Systems Monitoring and Evaluation Framework;
Support REPLAN project and Land System Programme monitoring and evaluation;
In collaboration with the Senior Officer-Natural Resources Management ensure IUCN work is accountable to donors and other stakeholders through the establishment and management of effective accountability mechanisms and processes;
Provide leadership to use data for project decision making, for the implementation of management actions based on the findings of monitoring, and to ensure that feedback from stakeholders inform programme development;
Lead landscapes governance reporting processes and requirements.

Other responsibilities;
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.