The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SEYCCAT) advertises for a CEO
April 18, 2016
The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) is seeking the services of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to manage SeyCCAT’s operations in Seychelles.
The CEO shall be responsible for the general and active management of the affairs of SeyCCAT, subject to the supervision and control by SeyCCAT’s Board of Directors. Ideally the board would like to recruit a Seychellois for this post but will be accepting all applications for consideration. The Board is looking for a competent individual with good managerial and communication skills, savvy of the Seychelles environment and conservation efforts with ideally a financial and/or business background.
SeyCCAT is responsible for managing the proceeds of the recently completed approximately US$22 M debt swap. At this point, SeyCCAT will receive US$432K per year (over 20 years), of which US$281K per year SeyCCAT will distribute, via an open and transparent call for proposals. The remaining $151K per year will be placed into an endowment, with an expected ending value of US$6.7 M, after 20 years. The endowment will then fund work starting in the 21st year (after the cash flow from the debt swap ends).
Projects eligible to be financed by SeyCCAT include:
- Funding for marine protected areas and biodiversity replenishment zones, minimum of 30% and 15% of EEZ respectively
- Coral and mangrove restoration projects
- Develop and/or reform fisheries, coastal zone management, and marine policies
- Economic diversification for affected users (sustainable fisheries, sustainable tourism projects)
- Social resiliency to climate change in coastal communities
Editor’s Note
SeyCCAT was created via legislation in November 2015. With both government and civil society entities eligible to receive funding. SeyCCAT is a grant making entity, not an implementing entity. SeyCCAT aims to grow the funds under management in the coming years.
The mission of the trust is to administer the assets of SeyCCAT, intended to provide a sustainable flow of funds which supplements existing and future funds from any sources to enable SeyCCAT to support the long-term management and expansion of the Seychelles system of protected areas and other activities which contribute substantially to the conservation, protection and maintenance of biodiversity and the adaptation to the climate change as identified through consultations with stakeholders; and perform exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes for the benefit of the public.
The trust has a nine-person Board, with government having four Board seats, represented by Minister of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, and Head of the Island Development Corporation, and Civil Society having 5 Board seats, represented by The Nature Conservancy, Seychelles Tourism and Hospitality Association, Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nature Seychelles, and Seychelles Islands Foundation. The CEO will be hired by the Board and answer to the Board. The Minister of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy is currently the Chair of the Board, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change is Vice-Chair, and The Nature Conservancy serves as Treasurer.
For the full terms of reference, please email Ms. Helena Sims (helena.sims@tnc.org).