Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, Indigenous People’s organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Our Human Rights in Conservation Team is part of the IUCN Secretariat and leads IUCN’s global thematic work on Indigenous Peoples, combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, championing rights-based approaches to enhance inclusive conservation within Indigenous territories and advocating for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Our work actively supports the empowerment, leadership, and conservation efforts of IUCN’s Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) Members, as well as other influential Indigenous partners such as the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB).

The team works as a delocalised team across several IUCN duty stations with the staff divided between its Washington D.C. Office and Gland-based Headquarters. The incumbent will support the team in tasks related to the communications related to the PODONG Indigenous Peoples Initiative. PODONG Indigenous Peoples Initiative

The Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative is a global initiative that aims to recognize and support Indigenous peoples’ contributions to the conservation of biodiversity and climate solutions through their indigenous knowledge systems, while ensuring their full and effective leadership and access to adequate resources for the implementation and achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The initiative is co-led and co-designed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), IUCN’s Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation Members (IPOs) and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), who all have signed an agreement to jointly develop and implement the initiative.

Concretely, the PODONG Indigenous Initiative directly addresses the biodiversity and climate challenges mentioned above. Moreover, IUCN IPO Members and IIFB have directly requested to work more closely with IUCN as a trusted partner in accelerating resource mobilisation for IPs and Local Communities (LCs), through the co-design, co-leadership and co-delivery of biodiversity and climate solutions. This is why since July 2023; we have been working with those IP partners to ensure that action is taken on our institutional commitment along these lines.

The initiative’s ultimate outcome is to maintain, enhance and restore the integrity, connectivity and resilience of globally significant biodiversity located within Indigenous territories. This is achieved through four, mutually supportive pillars, fully co-designed and co-led by Indigenous leaders, that aim to increase inclusive, gender-responsive, and fully financed, Indigenous-led in situ conservation action.

Under the PODONG IP Initiative this specific role will be dedicated to increase the visibility and influence of Indigenous Peoples – particularly women and girls – in global biodiversity and climate fora, focusing specifically on developing the PODONG communication strategy, including a communication plan and branding, taking into account gender considerations.

Specific areas of work under PODONG include:
• Primarily role is technical lead for the PODONG Indigenous Peoples Initiative.
• Responsible for the overall technical execution of PODONG as agreed with the HRCT’s Senior Program Manager on Indigenous Peoples and Conservation and guided by the already GAC approved PODONG workplan.
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of IUCN tasks under PODONG, specifically on the following Ultimate Outcomes, Intermediate outcomes and Immediate outcomes as approved by GAC in the PODONG workplan:

ULTIMATE OUTCOME: enhanced global biodiversity by guiding the implementation of CBD Article 8(j) through the integration of Indigenous knowledge and practices – directly contributing to achieving the KM-GBF, by 2030 and 2050.

INTERMEDIATE OUTCOME: enhanced biodiversity outcomes via scaled-up Indigenous-led conservation actions on the ground by 2050.
– Immediate Outcome: enhanced biodiversity outcomes via scaled-up Indigenous-led conservation actions on the ground by 2050.
– Immediate Outcome: advanced inclusive policies and governance for environmental stewardship and community ownership.
– Immediate Outcome: effective implementation of Indigenous-led initiatives on biodiversity conservation.

INTERMEDIATE OUTCOME: increased IPs leaders’ impact, especially women and youth, at global biodiversity spaces by 2030.
– Immediate Outcome: Strengthened leadership and advocacy skills of indigenous leaders, especially women and youth, on biodiversity conservation (scaling up IUCN’s Stewarding the Earth Campaign).
-Immediate Outcome: Increased visibility and influence of Indigenous Peoples – particularly women and girls – in global biodiversity fora through the IUCN Stewarding the Earth Campaign.

INTERMEDIATE OUTCOME: Increased IPs leaders’ impact, especially women and youth, at global biodiversity spaces by 2030.
-Immediate Outcome: Co-designed and co-developed direct IPs financing mechanism, with specific provisions for the participation of Indigenous women and girls.
-Immediate Outcome: enhanced capacities and reinforced support for Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations in resource mobilization and finance access.

• Prepare technical reports to be submitted to GAC for project review and approval.
• Laise with the IUCN Monitoring and Evaluation Unit to ensure timely and quality delivery of PODONG M&E tasks and reports.
• Maintain strong relationships with IPLC leaders engaged in PODONG in Tanzania, Nepal, Guatemala and Panama, and ensure timely and quality execution of their PODONG workplan on the ground.
• Maintain a strong relationship with IIFB and IUCN IPO Members as key partners of PODONG.
• Actively participate and maintain IUCN’s active role in the PODONG Project Management Unit in coordination and collaboration with IIFB.
• Actively participate in IUCN’s PODONG weekly coordination meetings with HRCT’s Senior Program Manager on Indigenous Peoples and Conservation, the Gender and the Outreach & Communication staff, and the Resilience Program Manager of the Climate Chance and Energy Transition Team.
• Participate in the bi-monthly HRC Team meetings.

COMPETENCIES

1. Commitment and vision, characterized by a commitment to a rights-based approach (particularly Indigenous Peoples’ rights), nature conservation, and sustainable development; and ability to provide direction and guidance around a programme of work.

2. Integrity, maturity, and trust, as characterized by: Integrity as evidenced by behaviour, communication style and way of handling ambiguous or difficult situations. Demonstrated commitment to working within teams diverse in gender, nationality and background to achieve results. A well-developed sense of self-awareness with an ability to proactively manage one’s own strengths and weaknesses and understand how this influences the performance and motivation of other colleagues.

3. Professional competencies, characterized by: A clear proven track record as a competent and established leader on Indigenous Peoples rights with an established legitimacy from Indigenous Peoples’ networks. Strong track record of building trust-based relationship with and among a range of stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples Organisations and communities, government regulatory authorities and executive agencies, civic leaders, private sector, media and other organisations. Understanding of how Multilateral Environmental and Human Rights Agreements interfaces with national policy and the role different stakeholders in national policy implementation. Ability and commitment to act in accordance with the core values of integrity, respect for diversity and professionalism as spelled out in IUCN’s Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics. Ability to communicate analytical and technical concepts, evidence and outcomes in a manner that is accessible to non-expert audiences. Strong interpersonal skills.

4. Commitment to accountable and high-quality delivery. A clear and unambiguous work ethic that understands the necessity of, and demonstrates willingness to adhere to, institutional procedures and standards. A clear sense of institutional propriety with respect to accountability and transparency at both the individual and team level. Enthusiasm for and commitment to understanding and contributing to tangible, equitable and durable change processes in the field of Indigenous Peoples, conservation and sustainable development.

5. Sound judgment and decision making, characterized by: Experience in identifying key issues in a complex situation, and consulting, gathering, and analysing relevant information before proposing and implementing decisive actions or recommendations. Well-organized and logical in thought and action. Ability to anticipate, assess and account for political and reputational risk associated with contested or divergent technical issues.