Kenya Fresh Water Lead at Nature Conservancy

We work with local communities, governments and organizations to conserve Africa’s important places. Africa is special. Its wild lands and waters are home to incredible numbers and diversity of species living close to people. For most rural Africans, connection to place takes on unique meaning, more so than anywhere else on Earth because their daily existence depends on the productivity of their natural resources. Challenges in Africa Some 60 percent of Africa’s lands and waters – community property, in a sense – are managed by the people who live on them. These people are undoubtedly the most vulnerable on Earth. A continuing threat is their lack of control over the communal lands and waters they depend on for survival. And as the people struggle, so too does the wildlife that relies on the same resources. An absence of strong institutions and governance further compounds these challenges. Therefore, our work in Africa is focused on perfecting and exporting the best examples of community-led conservation across the continent’s vast shared lands and waters. These examples are ones that provide tangible benefits to people. Conservation has to pay to be successful.

Summary

The Kenya Freshwater Lead is a core member of an accelerating effort that advances freshwater biodiversity conservation, water resource management, and improved livelihoods across critical freshwater ecosystems of Kenya. They will work with government and non-governmental stakeholders to chart the course for improved freshwater conservation in Kenya, and help ensure the financial resources are available to make sure this conservation benefits people and nature for the long-term. The Kenya Freshwater Lead will report to the Kenya Program Director and will be based at the TNC office in Nairobi Kenya

Key responsibilities and scope for this position are:

• Take a leadership role in the growing Kenya freshwater program of work and lead the development and implementation of annual Kenya freshwater protection workplans and budgets.


• Coordinate multi-disciplinary staff to complete a freshwater ecosystem values assessment to support protection of Kenya’s freshwater biodiversity and critical ecosystem services..


• Work with communities, government, and civil society in priority freshwater ecosystem areas to engage productively, using the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, in freshwater ecosystem protection and water funds planning and action.


• Support the development of funding proposals for enhanced, expanded or new protections to freshwater ecosystems to meet the long-term needs of freshwater ecosystems and local communities.


• Evaluate and recommend appropriate policy mechanisms for improving the conservation status of priority freshwater ecosystems in Kenya.


• Support the Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape project to sustainably intenstify agricultural practices while protecting environmental flows in theEwaso Ng’iro River


• Support TNC’s efforts to provide sustainable alternatives for energy generation and irrigation in the Tana River Basin.


• Develop and manage technical contracts related to freshwater ecosystems (e.g. hydrology, species data, water quality, economics) with external partners.


• Build cooperation from outside partners including NGOs, governments, and private sector to accomplish program goals.


• The position will involve frequent domestic and occasional international travel

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree in natural resources management, conservation, business, law or another related field of study and 5 years of related work experience in conservation practice , policy , fundraising or other related experience.


• Experience in developing supportive and collaborative partnerships with other non-profits, community groups and/or government agencies.


• Program management experience, including setting objectives, managing and reporting on performance.


• Experience in developing and managing multiple projects and timelines.


• Should also have working knowledge of hydrology, freshwater ecology, and spatial analysis.


• Experience negotiating.


• Excellent communication skills and political savvy, including English written and oral delivery and critical analytical thinking.


• Knowledge of key actors and current trends, threats to freshwater biodiversity in Kenya, and practices related to management and protection at a national scale.


• Passion for building enduring capacity through partnerships

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