Chad: Wildlife and Pastoralism Monitoring Coordinator

Aug 7, 2022 | African Parks
View Original

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 19 national parks and protected areas in 11 countries covering over 14.1 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In 2020 with the support of the European Union ECOFAC Program, African Parks and the Chadian Government launched a four-year pilot project based in the Aouk. This vast area covers approximately 60,000 km² of southeastern Chad and borders both the Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan, and takes its name from one of the major tributaries of the Chari River, the Bahr Aouk. Large tracks of this area are devoid of permanent human settlements. Existing sedentary populations are highly localized and predominantly involved in agriculture. Nomadic transhumant pastoralism is an important seasonal activity that has significant effects on the ecosystems of the Aouk.

The project aims to design and implement an Early Warning System focused on large scale poaching, which significantly impacts protected areas in both Chad and the CAR. It is also working to establish a strategy for landscape connectivity and wildlife rehabilitation, linking the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem to the northern CAR complex of protected areas. Despite operating in a challenging area, the project has already developed what is unprecedented capacity to examine issues related to wildlife in an area where very limited information has ever been available.

Job Overview

African Parks – Chad is looking for a Monitoring Coordinator for the Aouk project. The Coordinator will be responsible for developing and leading the projects efforts to monitor wildlife and pastoral activities and impacts.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, she/he will provide strategic, technical and operational support to the Project Management Unit to achieve the project’s conservation goals, with a particular emphasis on developing the capacity of project staff and ensuring effective delivery.

In particular, she/he will design qualitative and quantitative methodologies for research and monitoring that will be used to support the adaptive implementation of the Aouk 5-years Business Plan. In close collaboration with the Project Heads of Unit (Biodiversity; Community Engagement; Law Enforcement and Intelligence), he/she will also lead and/or provide oversight on their implementation in the field.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead implementation of the Aouk project’s program to research and monitor wildlife and pastoral activities:
    • Evaluate existing systems to ensure alignment with Aouk project’s objectives and priorities;
    • Develop appropriate monitoring and research methodologies;
    • Organize and supervise the implementation of the project’s research and monitoring systems, including for: i) wildlife, including large carnivores (camera traps, aerial surveys, recce, community surveys, collaring); ii) vegetation and wetlands (FIRMS, recce, aerial surveys); iii) pastoral activities and impacts (surveys, aerial surveys); and iv) human-wildlife conflicts (community surveys);
    • Hold primary responsibility for effective management of all data collected through the project’s research and monitoring systems (processing, analysis, archiving) and production of associated reports and maps;
    • Develop, organize and supervise the implementation of a training plan for staff involved with research and monitoring systems (trackers, rangers, animators and technicians);
    • Manage and provide technical support to project staff on software used by the Aouk project, including Earthmate, EarthRanger, GeoSuite, CyberTracker, ArcGis Survey 123, QGis, ArcGis Online etc.;
    • Supervise the management of research and monitoring equipment (GPS, smartphone, camera traps, binoculars, etc.).
  • Provide targeted technical assistance to the Project Law Enforcement and Intelligence Unit to support implementation of the Early Warning System and management of the control room;
  • Work with Project Manager and Heads of Department on the identification of research needs and opportunities to partner with other organizations and research institutions on projects;
  • Work with Project Manager and partners on the development and implementation of strategy for landscape connectivity and wildlife rehabilitation. Additional Responsibilities:
  • Compile internal project reporting and contribute to reports for donor(s);
  • Liaise with colleagues working in the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem (African Parks) to share information and take advantage of synergies in objectives related to wildlife conservation and pastoralism management;
  • Develop concept notes to enable effective fundraising;
  • Provide inputs to update the 5 Year Business Plan of Aouk;
  • Perform any other cognate duties as and when assigned.

Education and Experience

  • A post-graduate degree in conservation biology or other related field of study;
  • At least three years of experience working in conservation research project(s), preferably in Africa;
  • Previous experience working in a remote setting with regular field missions;
  • “Tech savvy” person, very good command of GIS and R softwares, demonstrable experience in wildlife camera-trapping surveys is an advantage;
  • Excellent analytical, oral and written communications skills in French, professional working proficiency in English; capacity to interact in Arabic is an advantage;
  • Strong capacity to manage time and competing priorities;
  • Strong initiative, perseverance, and resilience;
  • Team player that brings out the best in a multicultural team.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter for the attention of the Aouk Project Manager by Friday, 12th August 2022 to rh.tchad@africanparks.org. Please mention the position name in the subject line of the email. We thank you for your interest in working for African Parks