Forestry and Natural Resource Management Officer at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

COOPI started its operations in North-East Nigeria in July 2014 to carry out a rapid evaluation of the most relevant constraints suffered by the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by the food crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin. The COOPI Nigeria Field Office is located in Sokoto State, in order to cover intervention LGAs in Sokoto State and to provide direct assistance to the IDPs and their hosting communities, through a multi-sectorial program covering Food Security, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social protection, Early Recovery, and Livelihoods, Nutrition and Child Protection interventions. COOPI's capacity to respond to the humanitarian situation in the country is confirmed by its experience in providing humanitarian aid in more than 27 other Countries around the World, in over 50 years of operations.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Forestry and Natural Resource Management Officer

Location: Potiskum, Yobe
Employment Type: Full-time
Project / Programme: Resilience and Social Cohesion (peace) in NE, Nigeria - Potiskum
Contract duration: TBA
Reports to / Supervised: Program Manager
Starting Date: ASAP

Overall Responsibilities

• Promote sustainable management of forests, land, and water resources to improve livelihoods and environmental stability.
• Mitigate conflicts linked to natural resource competition (e.g., farmer-herder clashes, deforestation disputes).
• Strengthen community resilience by integrating climate-smart NRM practices into peacebuilding efforts.
• Support reforestation, agroforestry, and land restoration initiatives to combat desertification and degradation.
• Facilitate dialogue among stakeholders (farmers, herders, local authorities) for equitable resource access.

Main Tasks and Duties

• Conduct assessments of forest cover, land degradation, and water resources in Potiskum and surrounding areas.
• Develop and implement community-based NRM plans (e.g., afforestation, soil conservation, sustainable firewood collection).
• Promote climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry to enhance food security and biodiversity.
• Train communities on sustainable charcoal production, alternative energy sources, and fuel-efficient stoves to reduce deforestation.

Capacity Building:

• Train local farmers, women, and youth groups on sustainable land use, tree planting, and conservation.
• Raise awareness on environmental protection, deforestation risks, and climate change adaptation.
• Strengthen community forest management committees (CFMCs) and water user associations for participatory governance.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support in Development and implementation of robust M&E frameworks to measure program impact.
• Analyze data to inform program adaptations and report on progress against indicators

Proposal Development:

• Contribute to the development of proposals for funding, ensuring the inclusion of cash-based interventions and livelihood components.
• Collaborate with the program development team to align proposals with donor priorities.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Engage with humanitarian actors, government agencies, and local authorities for coordinated response.
• Participate in cash working groups and sector meetings to advocate for CFF approaches.
• Collaborate with NGOs, government agencies (e.g., Ministry of Environment, Yobe State Afforestation Program), and UN bodies (FAO, UNDP) on NRM initiatives.

Gender and Inclusion:

• Ensure gender and youth inclusion in all NRM and peacebuilding activities.
• Ensure that project activities are gender-sensitive and inclusive, addressing the needs of all beneficiary groups.
• Integrate gender and inclusion strategies into program planning and implementation.

Reporting:

• Monitor and report on project progress, challenges, and impacts related to forestry and NRM.
• Prepare timely and accurate reports on ........... activities for COOPI, WFP, and other stakeholders.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for organizational knowledge.

Networking and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Leverage partnerships to enhance program reach and impact.

Knowledge Sharing:

• Facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and learning within COOPI and the broader humanitarian community.
• Organize workshops and learning events to share insights from the program.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of developments in cash programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• This Terms of Reference outlines the key responsibilities and expectations for the .........................under the WFP/BMZ-funded project.
• The role is pivotal in ensuring that COOPI delivers high-quality cash assistance to support the resilience and recovery of displaced populations in Northeast Nigeria.

Key Deliverables

• NRM assessments and action plans for target communities.
• Trained communities on sustainable forestry, agroforestry, and conflict-sensitive NRM.
• Established community-based NRM committees with conflict-resolution mechanisms.
• Reforestation / restoration projects (e.g., tree nurseries, degraded land rehabilitation).
• Reports on conflict trends related to natural resources and mitigation strategies.

Desired Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years experience in forestry or land restoration projects.
• Knowledge of climate change adaptation, desertification control, and agroforestry.
• Strong facilitation, mediation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of GIS and remote sensing is an advantage.
• Strong communication and community engagement skills.
• Language Requirements: Spoken and written fluency in English.

Application Closing Date
13th June, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Applications shall be reviewed on a rolling basis, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.