Africa Program Manager, Forest Campaigns

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is a 501(c)(3) independent, international, non-profit advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., with proven records of triggering and affecting systemic change to protect the Earth’s environment. For four decades, EIA has established unique methods to drive change – including pioneering the use of undercover investigative techniques to expose environmental crimes. These crimes include illegal trade in endangered wildlife, illegal logging and associated trade in illegal timber, human rights, and environmental violations in the extractives sector, and the trade in both climate-damaging and ozone layer-depleting gasses.

EIA’s Forest Campaigns document and expose illegal logging and associated trade as well as other commodities driving deforestation. Our campaigns strategically support frontline communities, and in particular, the resistance of Indigenous Peoples against forest offenders. We engage daily with civil society organizations engaged in forest governance reform around the world. EIA uses primary evidence obtained from in-depth investigations of illegal commodity trade flows to push for systemic policy shifts to stem the demand and funding for these illegal activities.

Position Description:

EIA-US is seeking an experienced and highly motivated program manager to assist with our forest campaigns in Africa and bring them to a new level. The Africa Program Manager will be responsible for the development and implementation of EIA’s cutting-edge strategies in Africa. On par with campaign responsibilities, the Africa Program Manager will lead the Africa Program Team and spearhead our media and communication strategy in the different priority areas of West, Central, and East Africa. The Africa Program Manager will work in close coordination with other members of the Forest Campaigns Team to help articulate EIA’s evidence-based, multi-continent, and impact-oriented theory of change. As a key member of the Forest Campaigns Team, the Africa Program Manager will dedicate their energy, creativity, and talents to halt forest crimes, combat deforestation and trigger changes in the global supply chains that define the fate of the African forests.

Main Activities and Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic direction of the Africa Program Team and provide policy guidance and analysis regarding key opportunities and developments;
• Manage, support, and develop a team of dedicated campaigners and experts to deliver key outcomes for priority work streams;
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with government officials, industry representatives, on-the-ground civil society organizations, and other stakeholders relevant to the Forest Team work;
• Contribute to investigations of forest related crimes, through the analysis of trade data as well as on the ground field studies, and write investigative campaign reports;
• Prepare and review campaign press releases, newsletters, blog posts, social media, and website content; and engage with the press on key campaign issues;
• Conduct analyses of forest, land, and agricultural policy; design policy reform strategies with civil society organizations in the region(s); and draft policy related documents as needed (letters, briefings, etc.); and,
• Oversee grants and programming; contributing to fundraising efforts, program reporting tasks and management of the Africa Program budget.

Essential Expertise and Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of experience in senior advocacy and campaigning role(s) at the national or international level;
• Four-year degree in a relevant field (graduate degree in environmental science or policy is preferred);
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills to enable the delivery of projects on time, and to budget and deliver clear objectives;
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively when confronted with difficult choices in a fast-paced environment;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, in particular, a collaborative and cooperative approach to work, as well as an ability to network and to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people, across a variety of settings;
• Experience working with journalists and media to advance international campaign objectives;
• Strong research and analytical skills; close attention to detail;
• Works productively with a high level of autonomy;
• Willingness to travel frequently; and,
• Fluency in English and French (additional languages are a plus). Professional fluency in English and French are required qualifications for this role.

Other Desirable Qualifications

• Experience managing a team;
• Professional experience in or related to Africa;
• Demonstrable experience in working with communities;
• Prior working experience or knowledge of the forest sector, timber supply chains, and/or agricultural commodities;
• Professional background in journalism, photojournalism, or documentary filmmaking; and,
• Experience with database, trade network analysis, or other relevant analytical software programs.

Commitment to DEI and decolonization

EIA strives to integrate values of equity and fairness, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability into our work, which includes bringing an intentional racial justice analysis to our programmatic work and organizational structure and decolonizing our work to challenge systems of oppression and amplify the voices of indigenous people and Local Communities.

We are seeking candidates who have a commitment to engage in this ongoing process and work with us to create a just and inclusive work environment and world.

EIA is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. All employment at EIA is decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and organizational needs.