Background
Climate change is real and is occurring at an alarming rate. Due to this, the livelihood of mountain people is gradually influenced. Studies have shown that if the local communities are convinced in managing forests in reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), there will be a mutual benefit between the carbon emitters and the communities which keeps and regenerates forests as carbon sink. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand this phenomenon, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities. We support regional member countries through partnership with regional partner institutions, facilitate the exchange of experience, lessons learnt, and serve as a regional knowledge hub. We strengthen networking among regional and global centres of excellence. Overall, we are working to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations and to sustain vital ecosystem services for the billions of people living downstream -- now, and for the future.
Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) Project
The REDD Initiative of ICIMOD seeks to engage the civil society organisation, national, and local partners and other stakeholders in Nepal in a consultative process, to design and set up of a governance and payment mechanism for Nepal’s Community Forest Management under Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) as advanced by the Conference of the Parties (CoP) 13 of UNFCCC and that aimed to address the issues of the forestry sector raised by developing countries. Funding forest management to avoid deforestation and for forest conservation under REDD could be an effective policy mechanism for reducing emissions. However, effective mechanisms to work for the benefit of both the buyer (from the industrial base) and the seller (community groups practicing forestation and forest protection from developing countries) are not available. In order to come up with possible mechanism a pilot project will be implemented in three project sites in Nepal. The project will demonstrate the feasibility of REDD payment mechanism in community forest management by involving local communities including marginalized groups so that deforestation and forest degradation can be reduced by linking sustainable forest management practice with economic incentive. A policy mechanism that can safeguard the local community rights will be developed. Further, the pilot project addresses the current issues surrounding REDD policy from a community perspective. The lessons learnt from this project can have implications for replication in other parts of the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region and beyond where communities are playing an effective role in managing their forests. This initiative is funded under NORAD: International Climate and Forest Initiative Funding Scheme - Civil Society – 2009. The initiative has been jointly developed by ICIMOD and its partners FECOFUN and ANSAB. This process has been built upon a knowledge base that was gained in the earlier phase of ICIMOD’s work on REDD in India and Nepal.
Specific duties and responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, ECES, and strategic direction of the project steering committee, the REDD project coordinator will administer and coordinate the REDD Initiative, and work as a team member in the Community and Livelihood Forestry (CLF) Action Area of ECES programme. Phase-I of this project will run for 12 months, and will seek to develop a follow-up project through a consultative process. Specifically, the Project coordinator will:
- Initiate, coordinate, support and monitor the overall project activities implemented in collaboration with the partners;
- Manage close coordination of activities among the partners and other similar institutions implementing REDD process within Nepal;
- Liaise with the focal Ministries in developing National payment mechanism in close collaboration with ICIMOD’s interdisciplinary team;
- Take responsibility to initiate, manage, and coordinate various project activities, as well as preparing the project reports, and project proposal;
- Assume the responsibility of Head of the REDD Project Management Unit (PMU) and carry out responsibilities for approval and maintenance of the funds and dispersing it to ANSAB and FECOFUN on behalf of ICIMOD;
- Quarterly, report the project progress to the steering committee;
- In collaboration with the project accountant, follow ICIMOD rules for overall management, financial aspect monitoring and facilitate project auditing;
- Ensure that project fund transferred to the partners to implement specific activities are effectively used for the purpose;
- Organise routine meetings of steering committee and project partners and act as member secretary of the steering committee;
- Enable and support dissemination of results and research findings to targeted partners at the national level, and other stakeholders;
- Work as a team player within ICIMOD and in PMU to seek support from other relevant partners to promote the REDD process; and
- Work closely with the interdisciplinary team at ICIMOD and maintain professional collaboration with colleagues from partners institutions
Requirements
A degree in environmental economics or environmental management with a specific focus on governance issues. At least 6 years of work experience in a relevant field (minimum 3 years at management level) in the HKH region and a wide knowledge on the relevant topics are required. Candidates should demonstrate:
- Ability to work independently and deliver quality outputs within agreed tight deadlines.
- Excellent written and spoken English and Nepali.
- A strong aptitude and ability to communicate both informally (interpersonal skills and networking) and formally (presentations).
- Ability to prepare written communications (newsletters).
- Willingness to travel and work non-traditional hours as required.
- Project management experience (development and implementation of work plans, financial and technical management of contracts, supervision of consultants, liaison with relevant stakeholders, etc.).
- Previous experience in one or more of the following fields: forestry, governance, climate change or energy with a specific mountain focus.
- Experience in project development and resource mobilization.
- Experience working in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
- This position carries considerable responsibility and autonomy and requires good organisational capacity, good interpersonal and networking skills and a willingness and ability to work as part of a team.
Starting Date: 1 October 2025 or as early as possible
Remuneration: Salaries and benefits will commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Applications together with complete curriculum vitae and the names and contact addresses of three referees should be sent to the following address not later than 7 September 2025.
HRD Officer
ICIMOD
GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu
Nepal
Tel: 977-1-5003222
Fax: 977-1-5003299 / 5003277
e-mail: [email protected]
ICIMOD is committed to gender equity and has a strong interest in recruiting women. Only short listed candidates will be notified.