ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture Feed the Future Hinga Wunguke Activity (Deadline: 15 February 2024)

Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity

Environmental Advisor

1. About CNFA

CNFA is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to stimulating economic growth in the agricultural sector and improving livelihoods by cultivating entrepreneurship. CNFA specializes in fostering private sector investments in training, innovative technologies and marketing as a means to increase the overall competitiveness of agricultural value chains and rural development, to increase people’s incomes, to develop skills in the rural workforce, and to facilitate exports.

2. Program Description USAID Feed the Future Hinga Wunguke Activity The purpose of the USAID Feed the Future Hinga Wunguke Activity (Hinga Wunguke) is to support increased agriculture productivity and income, access to finance and markets, and access and consumption of nutritious food products in Rwanda, while increasing the resilience of the agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. To achieve this goal, the Activity will sustainably increase agricultural productivity, increase access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses, improve producers’ nutrition and market outcomes, and strengthen the enabling environment to foster market-driven outcomes in agriculture.

The Hinga Wunguke Zone of Influence includes the following target districts: Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Gakenke, Burera, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Karongi, Nyamasheke, and Nyamagabe.

3. Position Description

Reporting to the MEL Director, the Environmental Advisor will ensure environmental compliance with USAID (in particular 22 CFR 216) and GoR environmental regulations, and adherence with the relevant IEE. S/he will also be responsible for conducting environmental reviews and ensuring environmental compliance for all grantees. S/he will also advise grantees and Hinga Wunguke partners on environmentally friendly and climate-smart practices that mitigate negative environmental impacts and/or increase resilience. The Environmental Advisor is based in Kigali.

4. Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties of the Environmental Advisor include, but are not limited to:

Overall Environmental Compliance for MEL and Reporting:

• Lead the implementation and periodically update the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) in accordance with USAID rules and regulations and CNFA guidelines.
• Advise the MEL team and lead assessments, data collection and reporting on the environmental impact of project activities.
• Provide regular updates to Chief of Party (COP), DCOP, and Component Leads on the environmental implications of project activities.
• Update, train staff on, and administer environmental review forms and mitigation plans for project-use, and as required by USAID or GOR regulations.
• Conduct environmental training and ensure relevant records, reports, and audits are effectively implemented and reported.
• Contribute to periodic report preparation and participate and assist in the project’s workshops and seminars as needed.
• Ensure project’s activities are in compliance with the relevant PERSUAP, IEE, EMMP and USAID and GOR environmental regulations.

Environmental Compliance for Grants and Technical Contracts:

• Work closely with the Partnership and Investment Team to lead all tasks related to environmental compliance for grants and technical assistance contracts.
• Provide input related to climate-smart and/or environmental mitigation measures during the design of Hinga Wunguke partnerships.
• Conduct environmental screening for grantees using an environmental review form and environmental review report.
• Develop grant-specific environmental mitigation and monitoring plans (EMMPs) as needed and provide support to the grantee with implementation of measures.
• Review existing environmental compliance templates and update as needed, based on practical experience and/or guidance from USAID.
• Participate in USAID and GoR trainings on environmental compliance requirements.
• Train Hinga Wunguke staff on USAID environmental compliance requirements so that other team members are equipped to carry out grant-related environmental compliance tasks.
• Other environmental support to Hinga Wunguke partnerships, as needed.

Other Technical Assistance:

• Contribute technical guidance to the design and implementation of activities related to agricultural production, climate smart agriculture techniques, improved access to agro-inputs, etc.
• Facilitate capacity building support for private sector actors on climate-smart agriculture and environmental compliance in collaboration with Component Teams.
• Develop a climate risk adaptation/management plan as part of the EMMP showing how the climate change risks to the activity will be addressed.
• Responsible for leading or contributing to training on safe use of pesticides and other agrochemicals.
• Undertake other assignments or tasks at the request of the MEL Director or COP.

5. Qualifications

• At least a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Natural Resources Management, Agronomy, or related field is required. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years working in natural resource management for the bachelor’s degree holder and minimum of 2 years for the Masters’ degree holder, climate-smart agriculture, environmental compliance, or a combination of the above on donor-funded projects or in the private sector.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proven knowledge of USAID regulations regarding environmental monitoring and mitigation is preferred, including proficiency in 22 CFR 216.
• Experience advising on environmental compliance and/or environmental mitigation measures for private sector businesses or donor-funded activities.
• Experience with climate risk management strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience advising on environmental compliance measures for grants programming is preferred.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills in English required; Kinyarwanda and French considered an asset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and comply with deadlines.

Application and Job location

All interested and qualified candidates can send their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates, copy of an Identity card and references) documents to  hingawunguke@cnfarwanda.org   not later than 15 December 2023 at 11 PM GMT.  Please quote the job title in the subject line of the email submission and label your CV with your name and applied-for position.

Only candidates selected for interview will be notified.