Programme Officer – CFR in Andhra Pradesh | Centre for People's Forestry (CPF) | ₹6 LPA

Centre for People's Forestry (CPF)

Centre for People's Forestry has worked since 2002 with forest and rural communities across India. The organisation helps these communities gain rights over the forests and natural resources they live with, build steady livelihoods from them, and care for them in a way that lasts. Its work rests on access, control and management of natural resources staying in community hands. Much of that work runs through village institutions, civil society partners and government departments together. This role sits within CPF's Forest Rights Act programme, which supports Grama Sabhas to claim and manage Community Forest Rights.

Role

The Programme Officer (CFR) leads Forest Rights Act work on the ground in Seethampeta Mandal. You will guide project coordinators, field staff, community resource persons and partner organisations on how FRA is implemented, help Grama Sabhas prepare and follow up their Community Forest Rights claims, and work with government departments so recognised rights turn into working CFR management plans. You will also track how the programme is progressing and feed what is learnt back into the team's plans.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement annual and quarterly action plans for FRA work along with the project team.
• Provide technical guidance on FRA implementation to Project Coordinators, field staff, community resource persons and partner civil society organisations.
• Monitor the progress and quality of Community Forest Rights claims and ensure each one is followed up on time.
• Facilitate the preparation, verification and submission of CFR claims and the documents that go with them.
• Coordinate convergence with government schemes and programmes so recognised rights lead to real benefits.
• Review field data, check its quality and support updates to the MIS and programme database.
• Organise review meetings, workshops, exposure visits and learning events for communities, field teams and other stakeholders.
• Track programme indicators, milestones and budgets, and take corrective action where it is needed.
• Support baseline studies, assessments, evaluations and other programme research.
• Represent CPF in government meetings, consultations and forums on FRA and forest governance.
• Mentor field teams to strengthen community ownership, women's participation and inclusive decision making.
• Develop training materials, IEC material and resource material on FRA, CFR management and community forest governance.
• Document processes, innovations, challenges, case studies and learning from FRA work, and prepare donor reports and presentations.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Forestry, Development Studies, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Natural Resource Management or Rural Development.
• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in facilitating and implementing the Forest Rights Act.
• Experience strengthening Grama Sabhas and supporting them to function well.
• Experience facilitating Community Forest Rights management plans.
• Knowledge of PESA and of forest conservation.
• Ability to give technical guidance on FRA to civil society organisations and field teams.
• Experience coordinating with government departments on implementation.
• Ability to monitor programme progress, outcomes, indicators and budgets.
• Comfort with field data review, data quality checks and MIS or programme databases.
• Experience organising trainings, workshops, review meetings and exposure visits.
• Writing skills for case studies, documentation, donor reports and presentations.
• Willingness to be based in Seethampeta Mandal, Parvathipuram Manyam district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Ability to work with communities in a way that brings women and excluded groups into decision making.
• Understanding of donor requirements, organisational policy and statutory compliance in programme work.

Benefits

• Provident Fund, Gratuity and Health Insurance are part of the package.
• Direct work with Grama Sabhas and tribal communities on rights that change what a village controls.
• Regular contact with government departments, donors and civil society partners on forest governance.
• A place in an organisation that has worked with forest communities since 2002.
• Women and candidates from underprivileged backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

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