Vacancy – National Technical Advisor

Supported by:
Vacancy – National Technical Advisor
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is owned by the Federal Republic of
Germany and works worldwide in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and
international education. GIZ provides viable, forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and
social development in a globalized world. Our corporate objective is to improve people’s lives on a sustainable
basis. The 5-year GIZ project – Marine Spatial Management and Governance (MariSMaG) of the Benguela Current
Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) – supports the Benguela Current Commission (BCC), its member states Angola,
Namibia and South Africa, and other stakeholders and key players in the maritime sector to enable sustainable
ocean development planning for an enhanced sustainable management and governance of the BCLME’s marine
biodiversity and natural resources. This will be achieved by developing capacities at various levels to implement
and institutionalise Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). The project will also support the BCC member states in
identifying and describing the BCLME’s “Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs)”. Assessing
the EBSAs’ vulnerabilities is an important layer of information that will be considered in the MSP
implementation. The project includes developing management and governance strategies, policies as well as
legal and institutional frameworks which relate to and are conducive for EBSAs and MSP, and supports the
partners in implementing measures for their application and coming-into-force.
The project requires a National Technical Advisor for South Africa for the duration of the project (until 04/2020)
as specified below to commence work as soon as possible. GIZ and BCC welcome applications from qualified
candidates with South African nationality. The position will be located in Cape Town, South Africa, and will be
hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
Responsibilities
- facilitate and support BCMariSMaG project implementation at the national and transboundary level in
direct partnership with the South African partner institutions, other stakeholders and key players, and the
regional BCC structures
- provide professional strategic, policy and technical advice to the South African partner institutions and
cooperate with other stakeholders and key players in relation to EBSAs and MSP
- support the development and maintenance of an enabling networking and cooperation environment for
the successful implementation of the project and to the benefit of its clients
- support innovation, knowledge management and communication of innovations, benefits, project
experiences and results to a broad target group
Tasks:
Facilitate and support project implementation in South Africa
- coordinate and oversee the implementation of project activities in direct partnership and coordination with
the South African partner institutions, other stakeholders and key players, and the regional BCC structures
Professional strategic, policy and technical advisory services
- advise the South African partner institutions in identifying and meeting EBSA and MSP related capacity
development needs at individual, institutional and systemic levels
- advise the South African partner institutions in developing and implementing EBSA and MSP related
management and governance concepts and strategies, and in achieving institutional, policy and legal
reforms required at a high level of accomplishment
Management and coordination
- design and establish the M&E system for the project in South Africa, and develop and organise quality
assurance measures for the project implementation and suggests necessary changes and improvements
- support the development and implementation of the project’s annual operational plans and activities for
South Africa in partnership with the counterparts
- identify needs for external support and advice, and select and supervise consultants and consultancy firms
in the course of carrying out project activities in consultation with the project’s team leader and the project
implementation team, including performance evaluation
- design, prepare, implement and evaluate workshops, seminars, policy dialogues and other events
Networking, cooperation and negotiating
- support cooperation and regular dialogue with national and regional partners, relevant organisations, nongovernmental agencies, local communities, individuals and other (development) partners in the project
environment in South Africa
- represent the project in relevant meetings and conferences at the national and regional levels and facilitate
- coordination and integration where appropriate beneficial to the achievement of the project’s objectives
- negotiate skilfully in tough situations
- win concessions without damaging relationships
Knowledge management and communication
- ensure knowledge management and transfer by compiling, processing and actively sharing information on
and knowledge about capacity development needs, management and governance strategies, and
institutional, policy and legal implications in relation to EBSAs and MSP
- support the development of ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, manuals
and procedures
- draw up presentation documents and formulate appropriate input for reports required by the donor, GIZ’s
offices in Germany, Namibia and South Africa, and the project implementation team
- assist with research activities and studies on political, technical and legal issues which benefit the project
and its clients
- support the development and implementation of a communication and public awareness strategy
- carry out PR work, and monitor communication and interaction through analysis of media
Qualifications, experience and competencies
- Post-graduate degree (Masters/MSc) in (marine) natural resource management, spatial/development
planning, economics, politics, law, or a relevant social or natural science
- At least 5 years’ professional experience in integrated and cross-sectorial management and governance of
(marine) natural resources and/or in spatial/development planning, with at least 3 years’ professional
experience in a comparable position
- Solid and demonstrated understanding of the management, governance and capacity development aspects
of the field of natural resources and/or spatial/development planning
- Proven track-record and working experience in the management and implementation of multi-stakeholder
projects
- Good personal network within and across the South African government structure, related ministries with a
stake in the marine environment, and with other (development) partners
- Proven communication skills and visionary person who inspires and motivates people and entire units or
organizations to jointly reach a compelling and inspiring vision via a common purpose
- Proven capacity to establish working relationships and work and communicate with medium to high-level
government and non-government organisations from the (maritime) private sector, local (coastal)
communities and the civil society
- Very good negotiation skills to negotiate skilfully with a variety of different stakeholders
- High composure qualities and political savvy capacities
- Proven capacity as diversity manager and as a team player and team builder who creates a climate in which
people want to do their best, and who empowers others and invites input from each person and shares
ownership and visibility
- Experience in M&E of projects, and in preparing project technical reports
- Finely tuned organizational skills and ability to work on one’s own initiative
- Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed
- Ability to handle stress and stay cool under pressure
- High tolerance level of frustration
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- Willingness to travel regularly in the region
Closing date for applications: 8 May 2015
Candidates should submit detailed CV’s and motivation letter to: [email protected], attention
Head of Unit-HR, Dorothey Taaibosch.
Only the short-listed candidates will be informed after interviews.