The International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN and the European Regional Office

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network – a democratic membership union with more than 1,400 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 17,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

The IUCN European Regional Office in Brussels, provides vital linkages for IUCN (its Members, National Committees, scientific Commissions and the global Secretariat) to key EU institutions, governments, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, the private sector (including land users and managers, financing institutions and businesses) and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and related national and regional biodiversity plans; mainstream biodiversity within policy processes; and promote nature-based solutions to social, environmental and economic challenges.

Through its programme on Nature-Based Solutions, the IUCN European Regional Office provides valuable knowledge and capacity building for their development and upscaling, demonstrating the importance of restoring and conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and their services to address global challenges such as adaptation to climate change, natural hazards and disasters (flooding, avalanches, tsunamis), health, water and food security.

Upscaling Nature Based Solutions

Europe faces enormous challenges, such as mitigating climate change, enhancing resilience to natural disasters, ensuring safe and nutritious food to more than 500 million people, safeguarding water and air quality, protecting biodiversity, strengthening the economy, and dealing with increasing urbanization and human health issues.

Using nature to respond to some of the most pressing challenges of our time can be cost-effective, help safeguard the environment and halt biodiversity loss, and provide numerous economic and social benefits. IUCN engages with policy makers, scientists, planners, practitioners, land owners, businesses, the finance sector and civil society to promote Nature-based Solutions to highlight success stories and best practices that will inspire action new partnerships to protect and restore ecosystems across Europe, and to mobilise investment in natural capital and mainstreaming the values of nature across sectors.

One of the key focus areas of the IUCN European Programme is to collaborate closely with cities for the implementation of Nature -based Solutions. Urban landscapes are the everyday environment for the majority of the global population, with more than 75 per cent of Europeans living in these areas. The continuous increase in the number and size of urban regions, and the ensuing transformation of landscapes, pose great challenges for reducing the rate of biodiversity loss and ensuring human welfare. IUCN is committed to mobilising the biodiversity conservation expertise of its large network to help cities, local and regional authorities raise awareness for the value of nature and incorporate Nature-based Solutions within their planning and policies and to develop new partnerships for action.

The IUCN European Regional Office is involved in various projects that promote and implement Nature-based Solutions across ecosystems, gather evidence on the services that nature provides for people and economy, while creating regenerative business and development opportunities. In these projects, IUCN leads activities on governance and policy, knowledge generation, stakeholder engagement and dialogues, and capacity building.
IUCN EURO is looking for a highly motivated Nature-based Solutions Governance Officer to join our Nature-based Solutions Team. The successful candidate will be instrumental in supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions knowledge, practice and governance in Europe.

Tasks

Under the supervision of Senior Nature Based Solutions Officer, the Nature Based Solutions Governance Officer will contribute to the implementation of projects as well as other activities to upscale Nature-based Solutions in Europe and perform the following tasks:

• Support the delivery of several European projects on Nature-based Solutions, liaising with project partners and drawing on IUCNs knowledge network to provide inputs for achieving deliverables as required;
• Support the development of new project ideas and support fundraising efforts to help IUCN expand its engagement with cities, subnational and national governments, business and civil society for Nature-based Solutions, and strengthen IUCNs involvement in related networks and initiatives in Europe;
• Lead the development of promotional and communication materials, such as webstories, presentations, project brochures and webinars, that help raise awareness on the value of nature-based solutions for specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• Develop and maintain collaboration with IUCN Members, experts and partners across Europe and represent IUCN at external events;
• Support the facilitation of stakeholders’ workshops and dialogues on transversal themes of relevance to Nature-based Solutions;
• Organisation and assistance with the preparation of events and workshops
• Follow closely EU policy developments related to Nature-based Solutions;
• Support the development of an evidence base of examples and best practices related to Nature based Solutions;
• Assist with the technical reporting and administrative management of projects.