Ref.
2025/CDMCEVS/12470
Job offer type
Field staff jobs
Type of contract
CDDU
Deadline date
2025/01/31 23:57
Duration
12 mois renouvelable (durée max. : 45 mois)
Scientific knowledge building and learning officer (M/W)
Département Développement durable - DD > Pôle Biodiversité
Published on : 2025/01/09
AMERICAS
FRANCE
FORT-DE-FRANCE AVEC DES DÉPLACEMENTS DANS LA RÉGION
Mission description
The Scientific knowledge building and learning officer will report directly to the Team Leader.
Based in Fort-de-France, Martinique, he/she will be responsible for monitoring scientific cooperation activities, managing and valorizing knowledge resulting from the project, especially for political decision-makers, as well as stakeholders networking within the framework of the project, in particular with regards to component 3 of the project.
The main tasks of the Scientific knowledge building and learning officer include:
Knowledge management and valorization:
o Develops a capitalization, valorization and dissemination strategy for knowledge resulting from the project, in line with the project team and the main technical and scientific partners;
o Ensures the implementation of the strategy, by mobilizing scientific, technical and institutional partners, and participating in the collection/analysis/consolidation of data required for capitalization, in collaboration with the project's monitoring-evaluation expert (interviews with key project stakeholders, capitalization workshops, etc.);
o Defines the content of knowledge capitalization and valorization deliverables (guides, infographics, videos...) and, if it is necessary to involve an external service provider, ensures the follow-up of the assignment;
o Disseminates the deliverables and ensures their appropriation during project events (e.g. capitalization workshops) and at external forums;
Implementation and monitoring of scientific cooperation activities
o In coordination with the Team Leader, draws up detailed plans for scientific cooperation activities under component 3 of the project, and ensures operational follow-up.
o Coordinates, with the support of the Grants Officer, a call for research projects within the framework of component 3, and monitors the scientific services provided (IRD especially).
o Identifies existing technical/scientific cooperation networks relating to sargassum management and updates the maps and resources that list them, in collaboration with the project's main partners.
o Identifies stakeholders' needs in terms of networks and communities of best practice;
o Identifies events and opportunities to support existing networks;
o In response to identified needs, designs activities and tools to encourage and support the exchange of experience within networks (networking, strengthening existing networks, facilitating communities of practice, etc.).
Communication
o Contributes to the project's communication strategy through the production of data and key messages related to the project;
o Contributes to the design and maintenance of internal and external communication tools.
o Supports the organization of major communication events (launch and closing events, side-events, booths, conferences, etc.).
All these tasks will be carried out in close coordination with the Team Leader and implementing partners.
Project or context description
CONTEXT
Expertise France is the public agency for the design and implementation of international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four priority areas:
• democratic, economic and financial governance;
• peace, stability and security;
• climate, biodiversity and sustainable development;
• health and human development.
In these areas, Expertise France engineers and implements capacity-building projects, mobilizes technical expertise and coordinates projects involving public expertise and private know-how.
With a volume of activity of 324 million euros and over 500 projects in its portfolio in around 100 countries, Expertise France's action is part of France's policy of solidarity, influence and economic diplomacy.
In the Caribbean, Expertise France is mainly involved in regional projects to support governments in fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity.
Launched in 2023 following the success of “Euroclima” in Latin America, the “Euroclima Caribbean” program contributes to the region's green transition through climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts as well as the protection and conservation of biological diversity in the Caribbean.
Expertise France also implements the “RESEMBID” program in the region, which promotes resilience, sustainable energy and marine biodiversity, as well as the “Green Overseas” program aiming to accelerate the energy transition and increase the climate resilience of overseas countries and territories.
Funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), the Sargassum regional management and coordination project aims to foster regional cooperation dynamics in the Caribbean and support small island developing states in structuring a framework for the management and valorisation of sargassum.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The aim of the project is to minimize and limit the negative impacts of stranded sargassum on local economies, communities and coastal ecosystems. To achieve this, the project consists of three main components and a cross-cutting component:
1. Strengthen regional cooperation in the Caribbean on sargassum planning and management approaches, contributing to the development of joint advocacy. This component aims to engage communities of practice and capitalize on the experiences and knowledge developed at all levels of the sargassum management chain: prediction and monitoring of sargassum drifts, collection methods, pretreatment and characterization of sargassum components, transport, storage, and their valorization into marketable products.
2. Assist small island states of the Caribbean (Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) to implement integrated sargassum management and valorisation operations. In partnership with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), this component aims to strengthen the capacities of public and private actors in sargassum management operations. This component will enable the definition and deployment of a roadmap for the management of collection operations, through training and equipment of the personnel involved. It will also allow the development of early warning mechanisms for coastal communities and coordination with transporters, as well as the development of suitable pretreatment systems, and biomass storage at secure sites. To support private actors in the structuring of sargassum value chains, the project will launch a call for projects in the 4 targeted islands.
3. Support regional scientific cooperation to maximise global understanding of the sargassum phenomenon and feed into the framing of research-based public policies. The project will deploy a collective expertise network to bring together a group of scientists and experts from different Caribbean research centres to mobilize all knowledge and build scientific consensus on the complex issues around sargassum. In addition, the project will launch a call for research projects to strengthen regional dynamics around scientific cooperation and the implementation of concrete solutions adapted to the Caribbean context.
The project also includes a cross-cutting gender outcome, aiming to integrate gender into the integrative management operations of sargassum.
The main implementing partners for the project will be:
• The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States: a direct grant will be awarded to the OECS for the implementation of certain activities under Component 2 and Component 1, focusing on strengthening public policy on sargassum, governance and the technical and equipment capacities of public actors working on sargassum.
• Private or public-private actors involved in the sargassum management/valorisation sector on the 4 islands supported under Component 2 of the project. They will receive grants via a Call for Projects for the development of sustainable economic models for the management and valorisation of sargassum.
• The Research and Development Institute (IRD), which will provide a summary of scientific knowledge to date on sargassum (Collective Scientific Expertise mechanism) and producing science-based recommendations for political decision-makers.
• The laboratories and research centres of the various research hubs in the Caribbean and Central America, which will receive grants following a Call for research projects under the Component 3.
THE PROJECT TEAM
Situation/position: Operations Department – Sustainable Development Department – Biodiversity Division
A specific team will be deployed in Fort-de-France and Saint Lucia. It will consist of:
• In Fort-de-France, Martinique:
o Team Leader in charge of the project technical and operational management
o Sargassum value chain manager (Component 2)
o Grants Officer
o Scientific knowledge building and learning officer
o Administrative and Financial officer or manager
• In Saint Lucia:
o Sargassum project officer to the OECS
• Short term expertise based in the Caribbean:
o An expert in Environmental and Social Risk Management
o A MEAL expert (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning)
o A Gender expert
Required profile
Education
- University degree in environment, life sciences, science popularization or equivalent. A Master's degree would be an asset.
Experience
- At least 5 years' professional experience in the fields of the environment, the development sector and/or international cooperation, political science or equivalent;
- Successful experience in knowledge production, scientific popularization and communication;
- Experience in scientific project management would be an asset;
- Experience in facilitating stakeholder networks or communities, particularly with regards to dialogue between scientific and technical stakeholders and political decision-makers;
- Proven experience in multi-country, multi-stakeholder projects or programs;
- Experience in cooperation projects/programs in the Caribbean is an asset.
Skills
- Knowledge of the Sargassum issue in the area is an asset.
- Excellent writing skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills;
- Strong capacity for autonomy and adaptation; responsiveness and flexibility;
- Ability to work fluently in English and French (written and spoken); fluency in Spanish is an asset;
- Proficiency in social networking (LinkedIn, Twitter);
- Proficiency in communication and design software (Canva) appreciated;
- Proficiency in or interest in WordPress software.
Additional information
Position based in Fort-de France in Martinique
Frequent travel to the main countries of intervention (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).
Expected starting date: April 2025
The successful candidate must be in possession of a visa or residence permit authorising him or her to work in Martinique (except European Union nationals).
Expertise France is committed to equal opportunities and strongly encourages applications from women.
NB: Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.
Deadline for application : 2025/01/31 23:57
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.