Project Assistant consulting services

The Project Assistant will provide consulting services to support the delivery of GRID-Arendal’s ongoing work related to the MAMI WATA project, Enhancing Marine Management in West Africa through Training and Application. The ocean area of the Abidjan Convention encompasses 22 countries and a number of important biodiversity and fishing areas. Despite progress towards good ocean governance, its marine environment remains under threat, with limited management capacities and expertise identified as a reason. Working with the Abidjan Convention Secretariat, the project will strengthen expertise and cooperation, increasing individual and institutional capacity and knowledge transfer for improved marine management in support of NBSAPs and the CBD PoWPA, focusing on State of the Marine Environment (SoME) Assessments. Pilot projects (in Benin and Togo) will generate hands-on capacity building opportunities and inspiration for upscaling and replication.

The Project Assistant will provide consulting services to support the delivery of GRID-Arendal’s ongoing work related to the MAMI WATA project, Enhancing Marine Management in West Africa through Training and Application. The ocean area of the Abidjan Convention encompasses 22 countries and a number of important biodiversity and fishing areas. Despite progress towards good ocean governance, its marine environment remains under threat, with limited management capacities and expertise identified as a reason. Working with the Abidjan Convention Secretariat, the project will strengthen expertise and cooperation, increasing individual and institutional capacity and knowledge transfer for improved marine management in support of NBSAPs and the CBD PoWPA, focusing on State of the Marine Environment (SoME) Assessments. Pilot projects (in Benin and Togo) will generate hands-on capacity building opportunities and inspiration for upscaling and replication. Activities will be embedded into a framework facilitating exchange and cooperation with and between regional and national institutions.

Principal Responsibilities/tasks

Under the supervision of the MAMI WATA project manager, the Consultant shall provide the following services, referred to as the Assignment:

a. Support the project’s activities planning and implementation;

b. Collaborate with programme-/project managers at GRID-Arendal and the Abidjan Convention Secretariat on performance reporting;

c. Provide the liaison of other project colleagues and work packages with the pilot projects;

d. Keep an oversight on pilot project workplans and progress against that;

e. Liaise with relevant parties on the interpretation of the activities/services scheduled in the Programme of Work and various planning instruments;

f. Represent, in consultation with the project manager, all aspects of the project administration, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, perform other related duties as assigned;

g. Draft concept notes;

h. Contribute to the communication of the projects information to governments;

i. Contribute to the project’s communication team at the Abidjan office;

j. Translate information and documents in French and English;

k. Administrative work: organize workshops, travel, logistics and communication.

The above activities will be implemented in collaboration with GRID-Arendal, as well as national partners. The position requires the ability to perform the duties described above in an independent manner, with limited supervision and assistance from support staff.

Professional qualifications

• A Bachelors or equivalent degree in environmental sciences, natural resources management, sustainable development or related field;

• At least 3 years' experience in the areas of intergrated ocean governance and state of the marine environment reporting;

• A strong record of implementing and facilitating large, complex international projects with multiple partners and stakeholders

• Strong relationship with the Abidjan Convention executive secretariat, signatories and focal points.

• Excellent writing and communication skills in both French and English

The foundation GRID-Arendal intends to enter into a consultancy agreement with Alison Amoussou to be a project assistant in the MAMI WATA project. Alison Amoussou has been working as a project assistant in the MAMI WATA project from since February 2018; she has provided consultancy services for the MAMI WATA project very satisfactorily. Alison understands the project’s needs, processes and team, and has been a highly recognized member of the team up to now. She also speaks fluent French.

The competition is published as a letter of intent as the GRID-Arendal Foundation considers Alison Amoussou to be the only supplier of this expertise.