Dear IFSA World!

Would you like to become more involved with what happens in IFSA? A new opportunity is here – you can now apply to become an IFSA Official for the 2019-2020 period!

We are on the search for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual who will serve IFSA in the capacity of the Head of the IFSA UNCBD Sub-Commission. The term of this position is a 2-year contract and the appointee will be in charge of the commission until IFSS 2021. Applicants must be IFSA members.

As you may know, the Convention on Biological Diversity was concluded as an integral part of the preparatory process for the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the “Earth Summit”. The objectives of this Convention are the Conservation of Biological Diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding. As forests hold 80% of the terrestrial biodiversity, IFSA has an outspoken stake in promoting youth participation within the CBD and CBD-related topics. The UNCBD Sub-Commission is situated under the International Policy Commission (IPC).

Being part of this IFSA commission gives you a unique chance to acquire a sophisticated knowledge of the political landscape in the environmental sector. It provides the opportunity to improve your team working skills and helps you to develop advanced professional skills in negotiating, event management and strategic planning. Above all though, this position brings you close to the topic of youth involvement and biodiversity as a topic in relation to forests.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The pivotal duty of the IFSA Head of Sub-Commission UNCBD is to coordinate IFSA’s engagement in the upcoming UN CBD COP 15, which to be held in November 2020 in Yunnan, China. This means the position holder needs to liaise with other youth organisations, most of all the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Global Biodiversity Youth Network (GYBN). Furthermore, she/he is required to communicate Conventions’ updates and opportunities to IFSA members as well as to organise respective delegations. Furthermore, a collaboration with the IFSA Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sub-commission is expected due to the suiting topic of the International Day of Forests.

Collaboration (Relationships):

  • Head of International Policy Commission (IPC)
  • Co-commissions and commissioners
  • IFSA President
  • IFSA External Councilor
  • Global Biodiversity Youth Network (GYBN)

Desired Skills and Attributes:

  • Knowledge on the Aichi Targets and the post-2020 biodiversity framework
  • Very good sense of long-term strategic planning
  • Creating maximum impact from little resources
  • Team-working skills

Useful Resources: 

https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/

https://www.gybn.org/

How to apply:
In order to apply, you must send in

  1. a letter from your Local Committee (LC) President verifying that you are a member of the LC,
  2. a Curriculum Vitae / Resume (2 pages max.) and
  3. a motivation letter and strategy for the position (not more than 1 page, font size 12).

Important note: All files must be sent as individual PDF files.

In addition to these, you are required to send in:

 

  • A three (3)-minute video about your motivation and the strategy for the position

either as a file or as a ling leading to the video.

Your letter of motivation must answer:

  • Why do you think that this position is important for IFSA?
  • Why would you want to become an official for this position?
  • How would you achieve this positions main tasks?
  • Do you think you have the right skills for this position? What are they?
  • What international events are relevant for your position, and will you be able to attend them?
  • What would your key goals for the year be?
  • Why do you think that this position is important for IFSA? How much time will you be able to commit to carrying out this position’s tasks?
  • What, from your understanding of the role (and in case of Liaison Officers, the understanding of the partnership) do you think your work will be focused on?

All applications must be sent to: council@ifsa.net

All applications must use the subject: CBD Sub-Commission

Only complete applications will be considered. Any application not meeting the requirements and instructions listed above will be disqualified.

DEADLINE: 16th -1- 2020 – 23:59 CET