Overview

Forests, People, Climate (FPC) is a collaborative of philanthropic donors, civil society, and community-based organizations seeking to halt and reverse tropical deforestation while supporting just, sustainable development. It focuses on equitable and enduring solutions that safeguard tropical forests and support those stewarding them, in particular Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Afro-descendants in tropical forest countries. The Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA) hosts FPC and coordinates with other grantmakers to ensure funding through the Forests, People, Climate initiative reaches those doing the work.

Job Description

The FPC Congo Basin strategy has been developed and vetted by a group of stakeholders and experts. The coordinator will help FPC take steps toward the implementation of this strategy, including coordinating grantmaking activities, support coordination of the strategy committee, engagement with partners and funder collaboration activities. The position will work closely with the FPC Congo Basin Strategy Lead. The Congo Basin Strategy Coordinator will report to the Congo Basin Lead and work closely with the FPC Secretariat.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the strategy and serve as representative, helping to raise FPC’s and Congo Basin profiles and its key partners.
• In strong alignment with the strategy lead, facilitate the strategy committee by coordinating regular engagement activities, updating the strategy implementation plan and clear and timely communication around decisions.
• Assist in monitoring the implementation of committee decisions, ensuring that recommended actions are followed through, and relevant stakeholders are engaged.
• Support the Development team in fundraising for the strategy, including strategy briefing meetings, connection with grantees and potential grantees and engaging with peer donors who support the collaborative.  Including being able to explain the strategy and provide progress reports.
• Work with the Engagement team in building trusted relationships with regrantors, grantees and partners critical to FPC’s success
• Support the Communications team in developing content, success stories and materials to raise the Congo Basin profile.
• Contribute to FPC-wide engagement efforts, including participation in team meetings, retreats, and collaborative planning spaces.
• Help organize and document strategy committee work, including scheduling, agenda preparation, note-taking, follow-up on action items and information relevant to the strategy implementation.
• Track the progress of strategy activities, support the consolidation of deliverables and updates, and help flag issues or delays for the Strategy Lead.
• Coordinate logistics and materials for strategy-related convenings, webinars, and other engagement moments, working in close partnership with the Engagement and Communications teams.
• Carry out additional tasks to support strategy-aligned funders and partners.
• Serve as Program Officer for strategy-related grants, working in close collaboration with regrantors and funders, as needed.

The ideal candidate will have 5 years’ experience in the philanthropy sector working on climate, rights and land use issues; proven experience working in and deep knowledge of countries of the Congo Basin including a close understanding of key environmental, political and social issues/trends including gender equity in the Congo Basin regarding land use, IPLC rights and agriculture; a record of effectively coordinating complex partnerships and/or processes, involving multiple institutions and individuals in a multicultural team setting and demonstrated capacity to work effectively with Indigenous, and local communities’ representative organizations, civil society organizations, governments, private sector, academic institutions and donor partners. Fluency at the professional level in written/oral French and English is required as is access to reliable internet and ability to travel/work outside of typical work hours to collaborate with colleagues globally.