NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND POLICY MANAGER

(This is a two-year contract position based in WWF-SA Braamfontein Offices, Johannesburg)

WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWFs mission is to stop the degradation of the Earths natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the worlds biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is for nature, for you.

Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

Background:

WWF has made it a strategic priority to secure the Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs), the 10% of the land area of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho that supplies 50% of South Africa’s surface water resources. The ecosystems in these highly biodiverse, complex landscapes provide a range of ecosystem services. WWF’s goal is to secure these landscapes using a range of enabling, implementation and adaptive mechanisms designed to strengthen the functioning of these ecosystems and improve the water and food security of local and downstream communities.

Government is a key role player for civil society to partner with to secure SWSAs, though the policies it develops and the legal mandates it holds to sustainably and equitably manage SWSA’s and water resources. It is therefore important for WWF to engage, work with, and develop meaningful relations and partnerships with relevant national, and provincial government departments on securing SWSAs and the mechanisms required to do this.

The WWF Freshwater team has a rich history of productive engagement with various government entities, especially the Department of Water and Sanitation and associated mandated water resource management institutions, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), SANBI, SANParks among other regional provincial bodies as well. By building relationships and providing support to strategic government partners, WWF has helped promote the SWSA concept by advancing policy, legislation and planning, strengthening human capacity and leveraging resources. Most notably, WWF has built a strong relationship with the DFFE Directorate of Water Sources and Wetlands Conservation, and has worked closely with it to develop a framework of mechanisms that can be applied to support securing SWSAs.

Recently, with the advent of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)and in particular the 30x30 target, SWSAs are gaining additional attention as a priority for achieving this ambitious target. Action plans are being co-developed between NGOs and government to chart a course for achieving this GBF target.

• Master’s Degree in water resource management/public resource management or similar.
• At least 10 years of professional experience.
• Extensive experience working with government, the water sector, and the private sector on water resource management issues, with a good understanding of government water policies.
• A good understanding of the SWSAs and the work being done to secure them.
• Ability to work collaboratively and facilitate solutions focused engagements in a multidisciplinary and diverse working environment.
• Strong convening and partnership development skills.
• A sound understanding of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Negotiation and diplomacy skills and ability to engage at senior management level.
• Established networks at senior management and strategic levels within the water and environmental sectors – particularly in government departments.
• Technical capacity to translate water stewardship approaches into water-related policies/strategies/action plans for various levels of government.
• Ability to critically review water-related policies and legislation.
• Strategy development expertise as well as knowledge of key issues in water resource management, water stewardship and sustainability crucial for productive government engagements.
• Project management experience.
• Some knowledge and experience of protected area declaration and ‘other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) would be beneficial.
• Sound knowledge of water stewardship approached and principles.
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial attitude, with ability to initiate new working relations and self-manage areas of work critical to the achievement of deliverables.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, presentation and communications skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Computer literacy essential (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Driver’s license.

Responsibilities:

Support WWFs Freshwater Portfolio

• Feed the work & experience of WWF team members in the different SWSAs into national policy and decision making relevant to securing SWSAs, bridging what WWF is doing locally with what needs to be shared nationally.
• Serve as a national integrator of any provincial/regional freshwater policy work the WWF Freshwater team are involved in.
• Engage in the GBF 30x30 SWSA task team, and support the development and implementation of a plan to protect 50% of the SWSA by 2030.

Engage government:

• Develop strategic relationships with influential government and government-linked role-players in sectors relevant to securing SWSAs and improving water security in South Africa.
• Provide a point of strategic contact for national government entities around SWSAs.
• Engage Catchment Management Agencies around strategic issues such as land and water resource management of SWSAs, water stewardship practices, water use efficiency etc. and advocate for their inclusion in Catchment Management Strategies.
• Actively engage relevant government departments, portfolio committees and other strategic partners in order to advance the prioritisation of SWSAs in policy, legislation and planning – including but not limited to the revised National Water Act, National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, and the integration and mainstreaming of the “Mechanisms Framework to Secure SWSAs” into plans, strategies and policies.
• Provide support to the DFFE Directorate of Water Sources and Wetlands Conservation on strategic matters, and the development and implementation of a national SWSA programme of work.
• Manage the development and implementation of memorandums with relevant government departments that contribute towards securing SWSAs.
• Engage with national government departments in Pretoria and attend strategic national water events.
• Identify and address government policy levers, enabling conditions and inhibiting factors that can influence achievement of the WWF Freshwater Portfolio outcome and targets.

Engage Corporates:

• Engage with corporate head offices in Gauteng on corporate water stewardship opportunities. This will include:
  • Attending the Strategic Water Partnership Network (SWPN) meetings.
  • Promoting WWF developed freshwater tools and approaches at a national level, such as the Water Risk and Biodiversity Risk Filter Suite, water stewardship, Water Source Partnerships etc.
  • Contributing towards the implementation and continuous improvement of the Journey of Water Campaign.
  • Developing funding proposals alongside government and other stakeholders, to raise financing for the national SWSA programme of work.