Location : Kabo, Republic of the Congo
Reports to : WCS Congo Program Coordinator
Start date : February 2021
Type of contract : 1-year fixed-term contract, renewable (4-year assignment)
Background of the ‘ organization :
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a private American nonprofit organization, established in 1895. Its mission is to conserve wildlife and wilderness by understanding critical problems, developing scientific solutions, and taking action. conservation that benefits nature and humanity. With over a century of experience, long-term engagements in dozens of landscapes, a presence in over 60 countries and experience in creating over 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has amassed the knowledge biological, cultural understanding and partnerships necessary to ensure that wild places and animal species thrive alongside local communities. By working with communities and local organizations,
North Congo Forest Landscape Project
The Northern Congo Forest Landscape Project (PPFNC) is an innovative and ambitious project that brings together the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) of the Republic of Congo, NGOs and the private sector. It is implemented to provide managers and users of forest areas in the North of Congo with decision-making tools in matters of biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management and the enhancement of natural resources. Funding for the project is provided by the French Development Agency (AFD), under the second debt reduction and development contract (C2D), and the French Global Environment Fund (FFEM).
WCS Congo Program Overview :
Over the past 25 years, WCS Congo has been the Government of Congo’s main conservation partner, providing the MEF with support for the management of wildlife and its habitat, in several national parks, reserves and buffer zones of protected areas. Within these sites, WCS develops and implements actions for the effective protection of wildlife, community management of natural resources, ecological monitoring, scientific research and environmental education.
The northern Congo forest is home to exceptional biodiversity that is still relatively little degraded. However, this territory is undergoing a certain development which should lead, over the next decades, to many changes such as the deployment of roads, urban expansion, the development of agro-industrial plantations, etc. It is therefore desirable that this development, which is beneficial for the regional economy, does not come at the expense of the biodiversity heritage.
Measures to preserve biodiversity have been put in place, within protected areas, but also through the establishment of Anti-Poaching Monitoring and Control Units (USLAB), within forest concessions located in the North. -Congo.
The PPFNC includes its interventions in 4 components, the first of which concerns biodiversity and aims to improve its management at the scale of the forest massif. This component is implemented by WCS and is partly part of the Partnership for the Management of Peripheral Ecosystems at Nouabale-Ndoki Park (PROGEPP), which was the subject of an agreement signed between the MEF, WCS and the CIB.
Job summary :
We are looking for a Technical Assistant to coordinate component 1 of the PPFNC, and support the PROGEPP Kabo, to guide and support the implementation of activities aimed at reconciling conservation issues. biodiversity, in particular surveillance and anti-poaching activities.
The selected candidate should have good experience in program management and coordination, and a strong interest in the links between conservation and development. It is a full time position.
Main tasks :
The Technical Assistant will have the following responsibilities, in close collaboration with the WCS Congo program management team and that of the PPFNC :
- Support the implementation of the new model of tripartite agreement in the IPC concessions supported by WCS and promote this new model in the priority USLABS of North Congo ;
- Ensure the establishment of annual work plans and technical reporting of PROGEPP and component 1 of the PPFNC ;
- Participate in the development of budgets and monitoring ;
- Ensure the administrative and logistical organization, planning and monitoring of the daily work of the field teams ;
- Coordinate the implementation of consultants’ missions (drafting of terms of reference, logistics planning, follow-up of deliverables, etc.) in particular for :
- Support ACFAP in setting up databases related to wildlife, bushmeat and SMART ;
- Support the development of anti-poaching strategies (LAB) at the scale of North Congo, and support its implementation for PROGEPP Kabo ;
- Support the organization of the training of agents in charge of the application of regulations related to the conservation of biodiversity ;
- Support the strengthening of collaboration between actors involved in the application of regulations at the Project landscape scale ;
- Support better knowledge of ecological corridors and biodiversity reservoirs and their integration into the policies of logging companies ;
- Support the coordination of PROGEPP Kabo in the technical implementation and monitoring of activities, particularly anti-poaching activities ;
- Coordinate the implementation of the activities of component 1 in consultation with the PMU of the PPFNC and in close collaboration with the Local Development TA based in Ouesso, particularly with regard to the identification of the beneficiaries of the Pilot Projects of component 2 (support for local development on the outskirts of protected areas).
Expériences / Formation :
a) Une expérience d’au moins 5 ans dans la gestion et la coordination de projets :
- Expérience opérationnelle de la conduite d’activités de conservation, de gestion de la faune et/ou d’application de la réglementation faunique ;
- Expérience du travail au sein d’équipes pluridisciplinaires et multiculturelles, capacité à atteindre les cibles et les objectifs de projets complexes ;
- Expérience de projets financés par des bailleurs de fonds ;
- La connaissance des procédures AFD sera considérée comme un plus.
b) Connaissance de la gestion technique, logistique et financière de projet (planification technique et financière, mise en œuvre, suivi et évaluation) ;
c) Capacité d’organisation et d’autonomie ;
d) Connaissance des questions portant sue la conservation en Afrique :
- Un master (ou un niveau d’enseignement supérieur) en conservation communautaire, développement international, gestion des ressources naturelles, ou toute autre expérience de terrain pertinente en matière de conservation ;
- Une expérience de travail en Afrique centrale sera considérée comme un avantage.
e) Excellentes aptitudes en communication écrite et orale :
- Bonne capacité de rédaction (e.a. rapports techniques, documents de vulgarisation) ;
- Maîtrise du français et de l’anglais ;
- Maîtrise du Pack Office.
Comment postuler :
Interested applicants who meet the above criteria are invited to submit their application (CV and cover letter with contacts of three references) to [email protected] .
Please indicate “ATSB PPFNC RECRUITMENT” in the subject line of your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews
Deadline for submission of applications : February 7, 2021
WCS is an equal opportunity employer that strives to recruit and support a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and are looking for future team members who share this same value.