The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) was first launched in 2013 by CIFOR with core partners including UNEP, the World Bank, and the Government of Germany. Meaningful engagement of youth and other typically marginalized stakeholders was a cornerstone of GLF’s operation from the beginning.
Today, the GLF is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on sustainable land use, dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement.
Building on a decade of successful conferencing during which we achieved the mainstreaming of the landscape approach the GLF has evolved to five innovation areas each set up to contribute to strengthening and enabling decentralized local action towards ecosystem restoration. These include: 1) Creating a Digital Knowledge Commons (having reached a billion people in 185 countries); 2) Pioneering Youth Leadership (60,000, 160 countries); 3) GLF Learning Program (Landscape Academy (18,000 learners); 4) GLF Investment Case, sustainable finance, and value chains, and 5) GLFx and GLF Communities of Practice. GLFx, is our program to decentralize the Forum to create community led GLF chapters, and communities of practice, that are designed to carry out restoration and other activities (including advocacy) on the ground while creating a learning hub at the national and subnational level.
GLF is supported by its Charter Members, 31 leading sustainable development organisations who invest in and co-create activities on the GLF platform and offer opportunities for intergenerational learning and exchange.
GLF is a place where a farmer can inform action, pathways, and policies; where international organizations can learn from the private sector and vice versa; and where CEOs, community leaders, communicators and scientists can share, learn, connect, and act together.
From building the investment case for sustainable landscapes, to conserving and restoring peatlands, to supporting restoration in Africa, GLF has been at the cutting edge in hosting and facilitating all manner of discussions to accelerate positive action for people, for the environment, and for the achievement of global climate and SDGs. The Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) is a partnership for young landscape leaders currently coordinated by the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), the International Forestry Students Association (IFSA) and the Global AgroEcology Alliance (GAEA). YIL exists to unite and empower youth (aged 18-35 years) from diverse backgrounds around the world to have a voice, learn and affect positive change in their landscapes and livelihoods. YIL accomplishes this through a focus on leadership training, capacity building, community building, mentorship and fostering intergenerational dialogue.
Duties and responsibilities
The Youth Coordinator leads the Global Landscapes Forum Youth team to successfully design, plan and deliver programs or activities for young people, providing strategic direction and supporting the growth of the Youth In Landscapes Initiative network while maintaining alignment to GLF goals and strategy. While doing so, the Youth Coordinator maintains key connections with the Youth in Landscapes Initiative Steering Committee (YIL SC) and ensures that the YIL Network supports, and benefits from, GLF activities, leading to a sustainable growth of the Initiative.
Considering the importance of integrating young people in different aspects of the GLF work, the Youth Coordinator is responsible for ensuring meaningful youth engagement across all other GLF innovations: Digital Knowledge of Commons, GLFx, Learning, and Sustainable Finance, working very closely with GLF managers and other innovation Coordinators. The Youth Coordinator also facilitates that the Youth Network plays a key role in the GLF at different levels: from volunteering, to speaking, designing a program or restoring an ecosystem.
Key responsibilities include the following:
Strategy Development and Implementation
- Identify multi-year strategies and frameworks for integrating youth across GLF programs and activities, in close coordination with the GLF Secretariat, YIL Steering Committee and partners.
- Work closely with learning and GLFx teams on capacity development opportunities, ensuring GLF address the needs of the youth network, and supporting the growth of the YIL.
- Ensure co-production of knowledge with the YIL network to feed into the broader Knowledge of Commons Strategy, and support processes for knowledge sharing, ensuring youth activities are demand-driven and informed by consultations.
- Work in close collaboration with the Knowledge Management and M&E Officer, to ensure monitoring of youth processes and measuring of successes.
- Strategically guide the GLF Youth team and the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) Steering Committee into setting up short and long-term objectives, and into testing innovative program ideas for high-impact and growth.
Resource Mobilisation and Management
- Secure resources (in-kind and financial) for activities by mainstreaming youth in resource mobilization efforts, including within funding proposals, budgets, and emerging partnerships.
- Prepare and manage an annual budget upwards of EURO 100,000 Ca, ensuring expenses are meaningful and objective-based.
Team Management
- Effectively lead the GLF youth team to design, implement, and successfully deliver activities within a dynamic, fast-paced environment and in coordination with the broader GLF team.
- Recruit and manage the GLF Youth team, ensuring a creative, high-performing, and positive team environment. This includes, but might not be limited to: the Youth in Landscapes Network Intern(s), Youth Assistant Coordinator, Youth Communication Consultant, Youth Landscape News writer and Restoration Stewards consultants.
Partnership, Engagement and Growth
- Coordinate and facilitate the development of an annual GLF Youth Engagement Plan in coordination with the GLF team and Youth in Landscapes Initiative Steering Committee (YIL SC)
- Develop, lead and maintain relationships with, both new and existing, strategic partners and donors to ensure the GLF youth program is recognized, amplified and supported by partners.
- Ensure the continued growth and membership of the GLF youth network regionally, strengthening relationships with regional partners, members, YIL SC focal points.
- Engage in strategic networking and speaking opportunities with other youth organizations and international institutions representing the Youth in Landscapes Initiative and the Global Landscapes Forum.
- Collaborate with representatives from CIFOR-ICRAF, Charter Members, YIL SC focal points, and prominent initiatives, such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, to ensure the growth and participation of the GLF Youth network at a regional and global level.
- Facilitate the development and signing of the new Youth in Landscapes Initiative – CIFOR/GLF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- Undergraduate degree with at least 3 years of experience (work or volunteer) or advanced degree with at least 2 year of experience, preferably in disciplines that are relevant to one or more of the GLF themes and sustainable development goals;
- Ability to produce high quality written content;
- Prior experience with youth networks and communities relating to sustainable Landscapes is an advantage;
- Experience in planning, implementing and evaluating complex projects;
- Prior experience with grant writing or fundraising is an asset;
- Prior experience in managing a team and a budget is an asset;
- Prior work experience globally or, particularly in the Global South, is an asset;
- Fluency in English is essential, other languages (esp. French, Spanish, Portuguese) an advantage.
Personal attributes and competencies
- Self-motivated, resourceful and energetic;
- Able to find creative solutions;
- Able to strategize at both macro and micro levels;
- A team player with outstanding interpersonal and intercultural communications skills;
- Outstanding diplomatic and negotiation skills;
- Proven ability to work well under pressure is key.
Terms and conditions
- This is a full-time consultancy position.
- Period of the consultancy is expected to be June 2022 – May 2023. Work locations: home-based, preferably in CEST time zone. To apply, please visit our career site at: http://www.cifor.org/careers To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org and www.worldagroforestry.org CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.
Application process
The application deadline is 30 Jun-2022
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.