Job Advertisement

Position Title: Carbon Project Officer
Location: Lilongwe
Country: Malawi
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various areas including emergency response, health, Agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS began its operations in Malawi in 1997, working closely with the Episcopal Conference of Malawi. Currently, CRS Malawi implements programs related to food security, emergency response, nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and Capacity Building, funded by both public and private donors across the eight Dioceses of Malawi.

Job Overview:
The Carbon Project Officer will play a crucial role in the Restore Africa project, which aims to restore landscapes and livelihoods in Malawi. This project is a collaborative effort involving multiple partners and is designed to improve livelihoods, food security, and resilience to Climate Change by restoring ecosystem services and enhancing agricultural and Forest Management. The officer will be responsible for coordinating carbon-related work, ensuring compliance with various standards, and providing Technical Support to partners. The position requires a proactive approach to managing carbon projects, with a focus on quality assurance and the development of community mechanisms for carbon benefit sharing. The officer will also be involved in identifying new carbon project opportunities and maintaining an understanding of relevant regulatory policies and market trends.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Carbon Project Officer will have a wide range of responsibilities, including: coordinating with the Program Coordination Unit and implementing partners to provide technical support in alignment with project requirements; liaising with the Environment Affairs Department to facilitate the carbon registration process; leading documentation and reporting of technical aspects of the carbon project; providing technical support and training to partner staff; designing community mechanisms for carbon benefit sharing; ensuring compliance with carbon project implementation and reporting obligations; and identifying opportunities for new carbon projects. The officer will also be expected to maintain an understanding of national and international trends in carbon markets and contribute to the overall success of the Restore Africa project.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or a related field. A solid understanding of voluntary carbon market standards and methodologies for quantifying GHG emissions reductions, particularly in relation to Agriculture, Forest, and other Land Uses (AFOLU), is essential. Additionally, a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience in carbon project Design, monitoring, or auditing is required. Candidates should have excellent knowledge of afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry projects, and community-based natural Resource Management, as well as experience with quantitative data gathering and Analysis. Proficiency in MS Office applications is also necessary.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or a related field is required for this position. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred, as it may enhance the candidate's qualifications and understanding of the complexities involved in carbon project management.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience in carbon project design, monitoring, or auditing. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry projects, as well as experience in community-based natural resource management. Familiarity with project planning tools and methodologies is also beneficial.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and Chichewa is required for this position. Strong communication skills in both languages will be essential for effective collaboration with partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The Carbon Project Officer position may require travel up to 50% of the time. The role does not involve supervisory responsibilities but requires strong relationship management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders. The position is full-time and is focused on supporting the Restore Africa project, which aims to improve resilience to climate shocks for smallholder farmers and communities in Malawi.