Coordinator for the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative

Religions for Peace is the world's largest and most representative multi-religious coalition with 90 national and 6 regional Interreligious Councils, together with Women of Faith Networks and Interfaith Youth Networks at local, national, regional and global levels.

Headquartered in New York and accredited to the United Nations (through ECOSOC and DGC), the Religions for Peace movement is dedicated and committed to catalysing multi-religious collaboration and action, as part of global and multilateral efforts to secure peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. Under its Strategic Priority of Nurturing a Sustainable Environment, Religions for Peace unites people of all faiths to end tropical deforestation and empower the Indigenous Peoples that serve as their guardians, as a core partner of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI). IRI is an international, multi-faith alliance that is bringing moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to halt and reverse tropical deforestation and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and forest communities. Currently, IRI is being implemented at the global level and in five priority countries – Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, and Peru. IRI is a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-convened partnership that is being supported by Religions for Peace, the World Council of Churches, and other partners.

Religions for Peace is seeking an experienced professional to serve as a Coordinator/Consultant for the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative and Climate Change, tasked with coordinating and strengthening the overall country implementation processes of IRI, by the International Secretariat of Religions for Peace, and advising on integrating IRI efforts in broader climate change related work.

The Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager of IRI at UNEP, and the Associate Secretary General at Religions for Peace to support IRI country programme implementation. In that capacity, s/he will work closely with the IRI country programmes and host organisations to ensure timely delivery of reporting and contractual obligations and support to activities detailed in IRI country programme work plans, while ensuring the IRI work features, informs and is strengthened by intersections with global climate change efforts.

Responsibilities

IRI Country Programme Implementation and Reporting

· Serve as a focal point at Religions for Peace for IRI country programme reporting and finance, and overall support with the delivery of annual work plans;

· Ensure alignment and harmonisation of Religions for Peace financial and narrative reporting with UNEP, participating in regular calls to provide updates and make any necessary revisions;

· Ensure IRI and linkages with climate change related efforts are featured at relevant Religions for Peace and partner organisations global consultations, and relevant events and meetings;

· Coordinate global webinars, trainings and side events for Religions for Peace leaders and networks, including based on IRI educational materials, resources and training materials;

· Support UNEP with outreach and correspondence to relevant religious leaders, faith-based organisations, as well as civil society and intergovernmental entities;

Finance and Administration

· Liaise with relevant staff of Religions for Peace to ensure timely payment of salaries and processing of cash advance requests;

· Support UNEP with any ongoing administrative, financial and logistical needs for the implementation of the IRI country programmes and/or global events;

· Ensure that all financial reports include invoices and receipts that are properly ordered and checked in relation to the total reported expenditure.

· Provide guidance and support to all IRI country programmes to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and financial reporting between Religions for Peace and in-country host organisations

· Provide IRI country programmes’ staff with guidance and feedback on Religions for Peace financial and narrative reporting, including through guidelines, workshops and trainings;

· Provide IRI country programmes with templates that facilitate Religions for Peace financial reporting, including (i) annual budgets (with detailed activity lines), (ii) cash advance request forms, and (iii) tools that allow for the tracking of country program expenditures, ensuring harmonization of structure and form across all programmes;

· Support and track timely financial reporting from each IRI country programme, including providing review and feedback on all reports;

Advocacy and Knowledge Management

· Work with UNEP to coordinate statements and calls to action by Religions for Peace on issues relating to forests, climate change and the rights of Indigenous Peoples;

· Liaise with the Religions for Peace communications department to ensure IRI stories, achievements and communications assets are profiled and circulated through relevant faith-based networks and Religions for Peace channels (website, social media channels, newsletters, etc.).

· Integrate IRI into Religions for Peace’s environment work and leverage it to further strengthen its Strategic Priority of Nurturing a Sustainable Environment;

Support for IRI Country Implementation and Capacity-Building

· Support and track timely narrative reporting from each IRI country programme, including providing review and feedback on all reports, including monthly progress updates, quarterly narrative reports, and annual reports, clearly linking with climate change efforts;

· Support the engagement of the Religions for Peace Women of Faith Networks and the Interfaith Youth Networks in IRI and climate change;

· Assist in developing key indicators for the country programmes and ensure relevant data are collected, analysed and reported.

Required Qualifications and Experience

§ Minimum 5 years’ experience in project management (including budget management, monitoring and reporting);

§ Strong writing, analytical, communication and diplomatic skills;

§ Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Spanish is desirable. Working knowledge of French or Bahasa would be an asset;

§ Experience in mobilising and coordinating liaison and resources with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental actors;

§ Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural and international environment, and establish harmonious and effective working relationships;

§ Ability to multitask to ensure timely and efficient delivery in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines within a small team;

§ Advanced graduate degree.

Application Instructions

Please send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and any salary requirements at email address. Please put “IRI Coordinator” in your subject line to expedite processing.

The deadline for submission of application is May 30, 2023.

No phone calls please. Only suitable candidates will be contacted.