PROGRAM MANAGER, Payments for Environmental Services (PES)

Program Manager, Payments for Environmental Services (PES) – Cameroon IDH Cameroon - Position based in IDH offices in Yaoundé. We are excited to be searching for a proactive and pragmatic Program Manager with an interest to join our team, and we hope it’s you! Your role. As PES Program Manager at IDH, you are responsible for the technical design, pilot implementation, monitoring and scaling of the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) program across Cameroon, working closely with a broad range of organisations, including companies from the cocoa and other agricultural sectors, public institutions, farmer organizations, civil society organisations and technical partners. This role will support the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) funded program which seeks to catalyse and de-risk private sector investment across agricultural commodity value chains, enabling them to become deforestation-free, low‑carbon, and climate‑resilient, while improving farmer incomes and livelihoods in Cameroon. By combining targeted technical assistance, catalytic seed capital, and performance-based PES incentives, IDH aims to support local enterprises and farmers to adopt sustainable practices, generate verified environmental outcomes, and build credible financial and impact track records. These, in turn, crowd in commercial finance and long-term private-sector demand for environmental services, reinforcing policy objectives and national climate commitments. Key Responsibilities: In close collaboration with the IDH Project Team and external partners, design the detailed technical and operational methodology for the PES schemes, including performance metrics, verification protocols, and payment modalities. Engage with companies from the cocoa and other agricultural sectors to co-design PES field projects on agriculture, savannah and forested land in Cameroon, which align with companies’ goals and CAFI’s requirements. Specifically, ensure inclusiveness of the project design and implementation by assessing the adherence of project design and implementation to Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and safeguarding. Oversee the technical implementation of the PES pilot projects in Cameroon, ensuring functional processes, robust monitoring and transparent ES payments. Align private sector PES payments with other financial incentives and technical assistance, in close coordination with the Investment Development Manager. In close collaboration with the MEL Advisor, design and manage a robust MRV system for environmental and social performance relevant to the field projects Ensure MRV data is reliable, spatially explicit (GIS/GPS), and compatible with private sector MRV systems and the CAFI results framework. Coordinate and support independent verification processes and audits required for performance-based payments. Prepare technical and donor reports on PES functionality, performance, and scaling potential, in compliance with CAFI reporting standards. Coordinate stakeholder engagement related to PES (government, private sector, farmers/communities, technical partners), ensuring transparency and accountability. Develop and document lessons learned, methodological guidance, and a long-term strategy for scaling the PES mechanism beyond the pilot phase. Who you are: You are a trusted and principled manager who operates effectively at the intersection of environmental performance, community engagement, and private sector commitments. You are comfortable translating complex requirements into clear, operational payment rules