Conservation International

is working with the Fijian Government to deliver the “Safeguarding Marine & Terrestrial Biodiversity in Fiji (SAMBIO)” project under the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The GEF SAMBIO project will be executed by the Fijian Government through the Ministry of Environment as the Executing Agency (EA) and Conservation International Foundation as the Implementing Agency (IA) to the GEF. The SAMBIO project is valued at US$7.2 million and will be delivered from 2022 to 2027.

The SAMBIO project will address biodiversity threats and their underlying causes through establishment of marine protected areas within a seascape approach, combined with strengthened management of terrestrial and freshwater KBAs within Fiji’s Viti Levu and Vanua Levu landscapes. The SAMBIO project aims to expand protection and better manage Fiji’s globally significant and locally economically and environmentally vital biodiversity advancing the formal network of marine and terrestrial protected areas, as well as improving the sustainable management of Fiji’s KBAs and IBAs within forest and freshwater ecosystems. In addition, the project will progress sustainable financing for protected areas, while delivering the legal and policy frameworks necessary for establishment and management of Fiji’s Protected Area network.

Based in Fiji, the GEF Technical Advisor will provide oversight duties to the project as an extension of the CI-GEF Agency. They will oversee all technical aspects of the project over the entire project cycle and provide guidance and technical oversight to the EA to ensure compliance with CI-GEF programmatic requirements, processes, and procedures.

The position will work to ensure project results meet project standards and project deliverables are completed on time and within budget. Key responsibilities and duties are outlined below.

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APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 21st October, 2022

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain productive working relationships with the government, key implementing partners together with CI-Fiji senior leadership. Participate in project meetings when necessary.

• Work closely with CI-GEF staff based outside of Fiji, including the Project and Grants Manager.

• Provide guidance to the Executing Agency (EA) for the organization of a project inception workshop. Review the agenda of the project inception workshop and participate in the workshop. Review the Inception workshop report prepared by the EA.

Provide guidance to the EA on how to prepare annual workplans and quarterly technical reports. Ensure the EA submits complete annual workplans and quarterly reports and conduct a review to check for consistency with overall project planning and annual budget.

Provide guidance to the EA on how to prepare a yearly Project Implementation Report (PIR). Ensure that the EA submits a complete PIR at the end of each fiscal year with the required information. Review PIR for completeness, quality, and consistency.

Coordinate with CI-GEF’s safeguard specialist to ensure that project complies with CI-GEF safeguard requirements

Participate in at least one supervision field visit per fiscal year and ensure EA prepares that/those field visit/s.

Provide technical review of terms of references and procurement documents for professional services procured by the EA.

Monitor any changes in leadership and staff within the EA and ensure the continuation of project activities throughout and after the transition process.

Participate in the Mid Term Review (that is the evaluation half-way project duration) and Terminal Evaluation inception meeting and final meeting. Ensure the EA participates in meetings, is available for interviews, and provides al project information to evaluation consultants. Represent CI-GEF in the project steering committee.

Participate in the hiring process, including review of job description and interview process of key project staff by the EA.

Provide guidance to the EA on the project close-out process

Ensure the EA shares all knowledge products and other project publications, communication materials, reports etc. throughout the life of the project.

Ensure the EA organizes a closing workshop/event in which project results are shared with key stakeholders. Review agenda and participate in event.

Key Job Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in natural resource and/or project level management or equivalent.

• 10 years related work experience in project management, including planning, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.

• Understanding of the economic and environmental issues facing developing countries and the local communities strongly preferred.

• Ability to diagnose problems and identify solutions.

• Strong organization, networking, and time management skills.

• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse works groups in a multicultural environment.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proficient in written and spoken English.

• Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under general supervision.

21st October, 2022.

Interested candidates are requested to submit a CV and Cover Letter to cifijigeneral@conservation.org no later than Please specify the position name you are applying for (GEF Technical Advisor) in the subject line of your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.