REC project in Armenia

May

The Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus Armenia (REC Caucasus) is seeking a dedicated and experienced National Project Coordinator to join our team in Armenia. This position will play a crucial role in implementing the “Promoting Green Deal Readiness in the Eastern Partnership Countries (PROGRESS)” project, which aims to foster climate-oriented, resilient, and green economic development across Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The successful candidate will support the execution of comprehensive capacity-building initiatives and impactful awareness-raising campaigns. Interested candidates with strong background in sustainable development, environmental management, or circular economy practices, possessing excellent communication skills in both English and Armenian, are encouraged to apply.

Terms of Reference

National Coordinator Armenia

“Promoting Green Deal Readiness in the Eastern Partnership Countries (PROGRESS)”

Regional Project

BACKGROUND:

Global: In December 2019, the European Union (EU) introduced the European Green Deal, a roadmap to transition the EU’s economy towards carbon neutrality. The industry is expected to make significant contributions to achieving these goals by adopting cleaner production methods, improving energy efficiency, and reducing waste and resource consumption. Agriculture is a crucial sector in the Green Deal, with the “Farm to Fork Strategy” aiming to hasten the shift to a sustainable food system. Globally, the food value chain estimated to contribute to 37% of global GHG emissions and 33% of degraded soils, making the agriculture sector a significant focus in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and environmental management. Demographic growth and climate change are increasing pressure on natural resources while on the other hand, more than one third of all food produced is lost/wasted. In developing countries, 40% of food losses occur at post-harvest and processing levels, while in industrialized countries, over 40% of losses happen at retail and consumer level (World Food Programme, 2021).

Regional: The European Green Deal plays a crucial role in shaping future climate and environmental policies within the EU and its impact is felt on economic relations with the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. Despite the efforts made by EaP countries to transform their economy and implement initiatives in key sectors such as agriculture and industry, there is still a challenge in demonstrating how climate-oriented, resilient and green economic development can be achieved in practice. To tackle this, EaP countries need to accelerate the introduction of smart agricultural practices and of decarbonisation measures in industry. There is a need to increase knowledge on green technologies, enhance strategic capacities, and gradually align regulatory frameworks with EU standards and European Green Deal requirements. This is particularly crucial for MD, UA and GE (EU candidate status), as well as for AM and AZ for which EU market orientation has become highly relevant.

Armenia: The agricultural sector in Armenia is expanding, with producers and distributors viewing the EU as a crucial export market based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which aims to enhance trade relations. The fruit processing industry is well established with several export-oriented businesses. However, high costs along the value chains hinder the competitiveness of Armenian products in the EU market. Fragmented land ownership and low trust in cooperatives also pose challenges. The government provides subsidies for horticulture, but these are not based on “green” criteria. The Food Safety Agency has a strong commitment to enhancing food safety and quality standards in the country, but it has limited inspection capacities to ensure their broad application across the sector.

Project: The project aims to support key stakeholders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia across selected sectors in transitioning towards climate-oriented, resilient, and green economic development. This will be achieved through comprehensive capacity-building initiatives and impactful awareness-raising campaigns.

In particular, in line with its institutional expertise, REC Caucasus is responsible for the adequate elaboration of concepts and implementation of regional knowledge exchange formats in EaP countries). REC Caucasus also conducts the implementation of business case/demonstration projects and awareness-raising campaigns at local and national levels in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The project focuses on three Outputs:

Output I A capacity-building program will be developed to improve these support structures, so that they can provide better services to farmers and businesses in implementing climate-oriented, resilient or green economic measures in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Output II, the project will support the design and the implementation of local awareness-raising campaigns with local advocacy groups and with national agencies to inform citizens about benefits of sustainable agro-products and climate-oriented, resilient and green economic development in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Output III aims to disseminate knowledge and regional learning experiences. A regional learning and knowledge dissemination strategy will be developed for EaP countries, taking into account digital options, language, gender-related aspects, and conflict-sensitivity. The strategy will involve regional exchange formats such as events, peer exchange, digital platforms, and study visits to share good practices, evidence, and learnings.

The Project Coordinator will work under the direction of the REC C Regional Director, and will closely collaborate with Country Coordination and Implementation Group (CCIG) Programme Partners, GIZ and the National Government Counterparts to assist with the organization and implementation of project activities in Armenia and at regional level.

The Main duties include:

Implement activities and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP I.1): Outreach support for implementation and replication of climate-oriented, resilient and green economic practices in agriculture or industry by public or private local support structures,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP I.2): Support to replication/scaling of climate-oriented, resilient and green economic practices in agriculture or industry to farmers and businesses with public or private local support structures,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP II.1): Design of local awareness-raising campaigns with local advocacy groups to inform about benefits of sustainable agro-products and climate-oriented, resilient and green economic development,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP II.2): Implementation of local awareness-raising campaigns with local advocacy groups,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP II.3): Design of national awareness-raising campaigns with national agencies to inform about benefits of sustainable agro-products and climate-oriented, resilient and green economic development,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP II.4): Implementation of national awareness-raising campaigns with national agencies,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP III.1): Elaboration of regional knowledge dissemination strategy and formats for EaP countries,

Implement and ensure deliverables under Work package (WP III.2): Organization of regional exchange formats to share good practices and evidence/learnings,

Support detailed planning of project activities at the national level, including identification, assessment and selection of national experts,

Coordinate activities carried out by national experts, including review of reports/deliverables to ensure quality and timely delivery,

Implement action based financial planning for implementation of project activities,

Liaise with stakeholders and national focal points on smooth implementation of the project,

Provide inputs for overview of the project progress implementation in the country, including work plans of activities with dates and locations as well as regular reports on implemented activities.

Implement other necessary duties and activities deriving from the project implementation and necessary to achieve project results.

Profile	The assignment is intended for a National Project Coordinator with proven competence and track record of achievement in the area of sustainable development and/or environmental management, circular policies, practices, and/or management. He/she shall have demonstrated experience in planning and implementation of training and capacity building initiatives, development and implementation of pilot projects and in design of local awareness-raising campaigns with local advocacy groups, sustainable agro-products and climate-oriented, resilient and green economic development. She/he should pose a team player and demonstrate ability to work by his/her own initiative. She/he must have excellent oral communication and drafting skills, in both English and Armenian.
Required Competencies
Core Values	Demonstrates integrity by modeling REC Caucasus values and ethical standards. Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of REC Caucasus, particularly in promoting the Green agenda and Circular economy policies and practices. Treats people and institutions fairly and without favoritism.
Core Competencies	Proven results orientation and accountable for contributing individually and as par to the national team towards their achievement; Proven analytical capacity; Ability for planning and establishing priorities, steering and monitoring the work of others and delegating and assuming responsibility where appropriate; Resource-fullness, initiative and maturity of judgments; and Excellent computer/information system skills.
Management and Leadership Competencies	Strong results orientation; Effective problem solver; Demonstrated capacity-development and facilitation skills; Consistently approaches work with energy and positive-constructive attitude; and Flexible and responsive with a client-orientation.
Minimum Organizational Requirements
Education	Master’s degree o r equivalent advanced university degree with specialization in relevant environmental, engineering, business management degree.
Experience	Minimum of 7 years of practical experience relevant to environmental or sustainable development, climate-oriented resilience building, and green economic practices in agriculture or industry in Armenia. Experience in designing local awareness-raising campaigns with local advocacy groups. Knowledge of the environmental, climate-resilient, and green industry sector in Armenia, including representative structures, stakeholders, and the operating environment and challenges of enterprises, particularly farmers and SMEs. Track record of achievement as a project coordinator or manager, Excellent communication, advocacy, drafting, and facilitation skills. Prior knowledge of and experience in applying green/circular methods in agriculture and understanding value chains in enterprises is a strong asset.
Languages	Fluency in written and oral Armenian and English, excellent communication skills.

How to Apply:

Please submit your application, including a detailed CV and cover letter, to inforeccaucasus@gmail.com by 04 June 2024.

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