The GCF Knuckles project focuses on both up- and down-stream areas of the Knuckles region for overcoming barriers and constraints that land users face when adapting to climate change by a) assisting people to adopt improved natural resource management, principally in the upstream catchment area while addressing efficient use of irrigation water and food security downstream (Component 1); b) setting in place sustainable financing to enable people to invest in catchment protection and sustainable land use (Component 2); and c) providing institutional support to develop appropriate governance mechanisms, information systems, and rural advisory services capable of delivering appropriate land use options across the project area (Component 3).
ICRAF plays a prominent role in Component 2 and 3; out of 18 key activities listed in the proposal, ICRAF is directly responsible for six coming under these two Components whilst supporting the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land & Irrigation (MoLLI) in the execution of other activities falling into all three components. Capacity building related to human resources of relevant institutions and rural advisory services is an integral element in all activities executed by ICRAF. In includes but not limited to training on green value chain upgrade, payment for ecosystem services and sustainable land management aspects with the identification of knowledge gaps.
Despite initial delay in the implementation, the project activities at present are on a fast track and therefore, capacity building is also to be attended without any interruption. Having very limited staff working full-time in the GCF project activities, ICRAF requires additional human resource support to meet the needs in stakeholder capacity building. Officially, the project spans only up to February 2026 although a no-cost extension is sought till the end of 2028. On that ground, having a competent person onboard as a consultant in capacity development is proposed to assist the project management in such aspects. This position will involve in engaging with implementing agencies to assist in identifying sustainable land management practices under different contexts and their knowledge gaps, looking for potential educational & skill development agencies which could support for knowledge upgrade of needy implementing agencies, reviewing existing training materials available at relevant agencies for their potential use, dealing with suitable agencies for generating training materials & their use and ultimately, assuring ICRAF delivering required outputs for effective project implementation.
The person recruited for this position will operate from the ICRAF Country Office in Colombo and also, need to travel to the project area on demand. Also, the person requires to have both theoretical and practical knowledge in agricultural and environmental sectors, as well as landscape approaches. Additionally, the person should possess strong language competency in both English & Sinhalese, particularly in writing & communication, skills in developing study materials and connect to broad networks in project operation.