Senior Consultant- Natural Resource Sustainability and Climate Resilience

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About the Organization

ChildFund India is a child-focused development organization, working in 123 districts across 14 states. Through our programs, we reach to children from the most marginalized communities with support from community leaders, local administrators and organizations and the government. Annually, we reach to at least 4.7 million children and their families through holistic, innovative and sustainable interventions. These interventions, based on health, nutrition, education, livelihood, gender and child protection, are created alongside communities and other stakeholders to ensure sustainability and longevity of programs. Largely, we work towards ensuring that children thrive in safe and conducive environment and are enabled to break free of the vicious cycle of generational poverty.

Job Description

The Senior Consultant will closely work with ChildFund India Kendrapada team members and coordinate and collaborate with communities, panchayats, appropriate government line departments, academia and civil society agencies working in the same sectors. The Senior Consultant to provide technical guidance, strategic support, and coordination assistance to ChildFund India in implementing the project in targeted project areas in Mahakalpada Block of Kendrapada District, Odisha.

Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with ChildFund’s Safeguarding Policy.

Job Responsibilities

Develop a Detailed Agroforestry Layout Plan for a Panchayat Land and ensure Implementation

• Assess the local climate, discuss with local Krishi Vigyan Kendra, agriculture department and panchayat and prepare a most appropriate and sustainable agroforestry design for a 6-acre panchayat plot. Include planting and maintenance strategies for microclimate-friendly native fruit tree species of Kendrapada with sustainable land, water, fertilizer, and pest management plans.
• Deliver a detailed Layout design with bill of quantities (number of plants, per-unit cost, total cost). Carbon offset potential estimates for 3, 5, 10, and 20 years. Draft an Income generation plan through panchayat led auctioning of non-timber fruit products.
• Capacity building for staff and panchayat and ensure phased implementation roadmap starting 2026.

Conduct Desk Review and Stakeholder Consultations and provide a Concise Sectoral Analysis Report

• Meet with key government officials and subject experts in water, agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction sectors. Identify and document key local challenges these sectors face due to environmental degradation and climate change. Analysis of sectoral contribution to climate change and impacts, documentation of gaps and recommendations in localizing India’s NDC, biodiversity, climate adaptation and voluntary carbon credit agendas.

Develop a facilitator’s guidebook for youth and communities on locally appropriate, climate-smart, sustainable resource management and agriculture.

• In line with India’s climate missions, consult with appropriate line departments and local communities, collect and compile the scientific and locally proven technologies and processes promoting environmental and climate risk informed land, water, agriculture, forestry and biodiversity conservation and management including key evidence-based practices on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Develop a simple guidebook in English and Odia for youth and community members on locally appropriate practices and technologies that promote environmental care and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The guidebook should cover land (soil), water, agriculture, farm forestry, biodiversity, and the use of nature-based solutions in disaster risk reduction, risk insurance, and risk transfer. Document evidence-based, locally appropriate demonstration models on sustainable soil management, integrated farm planning, water stress management, rainwater harvesting, farm ponds, SRI, biochar, mushroom cultivation, use of climate-resilient seeds, and 3–4 sample agroforestry models for 1–2 acres and hectares with native species lists and other relevant practices.

School Garden Support

• Conduct school visits and assist schools in selecting an appropriate mix of plant species for school gardens, including localized herbs, shrubs, and trees. Provide 3–4 school garden models with details on land size, plant types and names, management plans, and budgets.
  • Develop simple IEC material on school gardens, explaining how they contribute to carbon offsetting, children’s nutritional needs, and local biodiversity promotion. Include information on soil health, its importance, factors affecting soil health in Kendrapada, soil health parameters, and the significance of soil testing with recommendations.

Mapping and compilation of government schemes and subsidies available in Kendrapda

• For promoting climate-smart resource conservation and management and green skilling in land, water, agriculture, farm forestry and biodiversity sectors.
• List of government approved native tree species promoted for farm forestry in Kendrapda.

Capacity Building & Monitoring

• Staff training and stakeholder engagement. Liaising with government departments in districts and state, NGOs, and partners. Monitoring and evaluation of implementation progress. Monthly and final reporting and alignment with project objectives. Need based technical support to Pune based field team and if any additional tasks as assigned by thematic specialist.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

• Education: Postgraduate degree or Doctorate in Agroforestry, Horticulture, Agronomy, Climate-Smart Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Carbon Credit, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum 7–8 years of experience in agroforestry/horticulture and microclimate-based climate change adaptation within natural resource management, including land, water, forests, biodiversity, agriculture and cropping systems, energy, climate and carbon management, and community livelihoods. Proven experience in policy development, training, and capacity-building at state or national level.
• Skills and Abilities: Demonstrated ability to coordinate with government departments, NGOs, and multi-stakeholder platforms. Excellent research, analytical, communication, and report-writing skills. Language proficiency (speaking and writing) in English and Odiya, Hindi (desirable).
• Knowledge: Strong knowledge and understanding of the thematic area including understanding of environmental degradation and its impact on natural resources, environmental residuals, and climate change impacts on local ecosystems, development and disasters. In-depth knowledge of international, national, state, and local policies, plans, and programs related to environmental care, climate change mitigation, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and climate risk informed planning and preparedness plan for water and agriculture sectors. Familiarity with the use of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation in child-sensitive development and risk reduction contexts.

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