OSS: Recrutment of a Coordinator for The Research for Development Programme

The OSS is an international organisation based in Tunis, it helps its member states, the Circum Saharan countries, the regional member institutions, and the political institutions of the region to anticipate and adapt to the environmental mutations. It supports them in the implementation of the three multilateral agreements on the environment issued from Rio: convention on the struggle against desertification, convention on the biodiversity and convention on the climatic changes.

The successful applicant will be under the supervision of the Executive Secretary, and part of the OSS coordination team. He/she will have as major tasks to:

• provide a technical support to the OSS major programmes (Water and Environment), by integrating the socio economic components and adaptation to the climatic change;
• implement the strategy 2010 and support the elaboration of the new OSS strategy 2010-2020.

He/she will be in charge of the elaboration of the orientation and the programming of the Research for Development Programme, where he/she will:

• implement and finalise the current projects;
• identify and develop new development research projects for the mobilisation of finances.

Under the supervision of the Executive Secretary and in close collaboration with the programmes Environment and Water, he/she will:

• coordinate the Research for Development Programme and the development of its prospective components and relevant to African research;
• assist OSS in the definition of its new strategy in collaboration with the organisation's team;
• mobilise new financing for the implementation of these activities and the development of the new strategy;
• develop the interactions between the activities of the Environment and Water programmes;
• ensure the financial and administrative follow up of the programme, elaborate the annual activities reports and the presentations to the OSS Executive board, and directors;
• contribute to the timely organisation of communication events and organisation of the OSS internal seminars and side events.

The Research for Development Programme aims at the emergence and the mobilisation of an African scientific community in the field of natural resources management in the Circum Sahara region. The holder of the post will propose an implementation strategy of these objectives including networking activities and the elaboration of adequate partnerships in the region.

He/she will apply on the field the information on the stakes related to the three conventions, he/she will follow within the Development Research Programmes the evolution of their implementation and ensure the relation with the link with the OSS work.

He/she will be in charge of the OSS "Introductive Notes" collection which provides information/strategic scientific techniques for the decision makers, useful to the OSS Water and Environment programmes activities.

He/she will organise - within the programmes - the prospective work so as to anticipate the strategic subjects for both Water and Environment programmes; he/she will receive the trainees and will follow the research work in agreement with the Water and Environment coordinators and with the Executive Secretary.

He/she will be in charge of the organisation and coordination of the OSS internal seminars.

Qualifications

• University degree (doctorate or equivalent, teaching profession) in the field of natural resources management, sustainable development with a good knowledge on the socio economic aspects and the Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Additional knowledge on water resources will be an added advantage;
• at least 5 years working experience in a research institutions, universities and research - development organisations, in developing countries/in the follow up of research-development-cooperation projects related to rural development/environment. An experience in team management will be in extra;
• skills in writing, management of scientific knowledge, communication and dissemination;
• have a good public relations, diplomacy, ability to work in team and adapt to a multicultural environment;
• must be bilingual; French and English are the working languages of OSS. Knowledge of Arabic will be an adding advantage.

Applications must include a cover letter, detailed CV and testimonials. Applications be sent to:
Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel
Bd du leader Yasser Arafat, BP 31, 1080 Tunis

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The envelope must include the words "DO NOT OPEN - OPENING OF POST: COORDINATOR (TRICE) RESEARCH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME."

Deadline for application

30^th September, 2008

The successful candidate will be based at the Secretariat of the OSS in Tunis, Tunisia. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.