CAR: Community Conservation and Livelihoods Coordinator

Feb 6, 2021 | Wildlife Conservation Society
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The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources. The Sudano-Sahel Region presents unparalleled opportunities for WCS to play a direct role in saving some of the last remaining intact wildernesses on the planet and to contribute significantly to the security of people and wildlife. The savannas, forests, and wetlands of the region support key populations of endangered elephant, northern giraffe, lion, eland, chimpanzee, gorilla, bongo, and the second largest antelope migration on the planet. Hundreds of bird species occur in the area, including the shoebill and the crowned crane. Communities also depend on the land for their livelihoods through pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. WCS has a significant presence in the Sudano-Sahel region, with a strong conservation history and proven success in protected area management. WCS currently has conservation initiatives in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, CAR, South Sudan, with new program activities developing in Ethiopia. We work actively to support protected area management and wildlife law enforcement, local livelihoods, develop conservation-security partnerships, enhance anti-trafficking activities, and to implement our policy and scientific programs.



CAR Program Overview:


WCS has recently launched a CAR program in partnership with the government of Central African Republic (CAR). This is a multi-faceted long term program entailing park management, law enforcement and community engagement within the Bamingui-Bangoran and Manovo-Gouda St Floris National Parks in Northeaster CAR.

Job Summary:

The Community Conservation and Livelihoods Coordinator will be responsible for developing activities aimed at community conservation, including income-generating activities, capacity-building, environmental awareness, and conservation management tools such as conservancies or conservation agreements.

Job Location:


This is a full-time position, based in the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park with frequent travels and activities throughout the Northeastern Protected Areas Complex.

Duties and responsibilities:


Community management

  • Organize, arrange, and facilitate local meetings, workshops, and other participatory processes with various stakeholders including but not limited to communities, local authorities, WCS staff, and other relevant partners to integrate community concerns into conservation and natural resource management as well as into the land use planning processes.
  • Develop strategies to integrate and implement community-related and socio-economic aspects of the overall program.
  • Coordinate and oversee the WCS community conservation outreach teams.
  • Develop and implement conservation tools associated with community management such as Conservation agreements or Conservancies.

Socio-economic aspects

  • Compile reports, bibliographic reviews, and socio-economic analysis previously carried out in the Northeast of CAR to support the program management.
  • Conduct research, data collection and baseline data analysis on community-level socioeconomic factors, community relations, people-wildlife interactions, and traditional land-use patterns in the region.
  • Develop and implement monitoring systems for the community conservation components of the CAR landscape program.
  • Lead proposals for the development of income-generating activities for reducing impacts on the Northeastern Protected Areas.

Capacity building

  • Provide training, mentoring, and advise for the WCS CAR Program staff and assist in training and mentoring of national staff in socio-economic data collection, analysis, community relations and livelihoods, community engagement and community awareness/outreach methods.
  • Promote capacity-building in local communities, local authorities, local associations, subcontractors and staff.
  • Work with consultants and the WCS team to implement and monitor a community livelihoods program (including the small grants program) linked with conservation, natural resource management, conflict resolution, and climate change resilience.

Environmental Education

  • Work with international, national and local staff and organizations to raise awareness on wildlife conservation, sustainable natural resource management, and conflict resolution, and to address particular land-use management issues.
  • Work closely with management team and advise on development priorities to frame WCS interventions in health, human rights, education, among other crucial components.

Strategies and work plans

  • As a senior member of the WCS CAR Program Team, participate in strategy meetings and required tasks to help ensure the program operations.
  • Work with the WCS CAR staff and Director to ensure high levels of effectiveness and efficiency in work plans, reporting, and budgeting, logistics, and accountability.

Qualification Requirements

  • Master’s degree (or higher education level) in community conservation and natural resource management, wildlife management or a closely related field; as well as technical knowledge of socio-economic research methodologies.
  • Proven experience with international organizations in Africa (5+ years) in community-based conservation and natural resource management. 
  • Efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done; can work on multiple tasks at multiple levels and switch between them; can foresee and plan around obstacles.
  • Advanced knowledge and understanding of logistics and financial management for projects (planning, budgets, implementation, monitoring and evaluation).
  • Proven experience in capacity building of partners.
  • Commitment to wildlife conservation.
  • Proven experience in assessing, mapping, and quantifying the social values of ecosystem services.
  • Proven managerial and team-building skills.
  • French and English language fluency required, familiarity with languages and culture of CAR will be an advantage.  
  • Proven ability and comfortable with living and working in a multicultural environment in isolated areas, under difficult field conditions.  


Preferred Qualifications:
 

Significant work experience in CAR, knowledge of Central Africa and Sudano-Sahel region environmental and political issues, and strong reputation in the CAR environment community.

Application Process:

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications should apply by emailing an application letter and CV including names and contact information of three references to:  :  rca@wcs.org by 14th February 2021 deadline. Please include “CAR Community Conservation and Livelihoods Coordinator” in the subject line of your email. 

In addition, please note that all candidates must also apply online via the WCS career portal at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers
 

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.

The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.