Cameroon: Head of Wildlife Crime Program

May 23, 2016 | World Wildlife Fund for Nature
View Original

WWF, active in almost 100 countries, has been working in the Congo Basin in Central Africa for more than 20 years, with a focus on forest conservation through developing and managing protected areas, while promoting sustainable forestry practices and community conservation. WWF’s and IUCN’s wildlife trade Programme, wildlife trade monitory network (TRAFFIC), has also been working on wildlife trade-related priority issues in the region. One of the greatest current threats to Congo Basin ecosystems is poaching and illegal transnational trade in wildlife, currently ranked as the 5th largest transnational illicit trade worldwide, after counterfeiting, drugs, people, and oil. Over the past two years, WWF & TRAFFIC ran a global illegal wildlife trade campaign, which included a Central Africa strand. As a result of this work, WWF and TRAFFIC are currently starting a global Wildlife Crime Programme (WCP).

Major Functions
This position will be responsible for developing and delivering the Central Africa strand of the WWF and TRAFFIC WCP, securing high level political and corporate commitments as well as programmatic impact delivery. The primary functions of this role are to develop and lead implementation of a political, partners and corporate engagement strategy (40%) and to coordinate the overall programme in the Central Africa region (60%).

Major Duties and Responsibilities

  • Develop, coordinate and lead implementation of the Central Africa strand of the WWF / TRAFFIC wildlife crime programme, including working with regional and international communicators to use communications effectively and strategically;
  • Support the implementation of negotiation, lobbying and outreach strategies of the programme, engage key external stakeholders;
  • Support Country Offices and TRAFFIC Central Africa to engage more effectively with their government, the corporate sector and the public, provides capacity development and programmatic oversight to teams;
  • Identify and develop strategic partnerships and alliances around wildlife crime in Central Africa with key players, particularly in key donor countries or demand countries for illegal wildlife trade, to ensure effective achievement of programme objectives;
  • Advise and oversee the development of a comprehensive system for the gathering and knowledge-sharing of information and developments relating to illicit trade (seizures, prosecutions etc);
  • Ensure rapid WWF/TRAFFIC reaction time to emergencies and positive events, ensuring full WWF/TRAFFIC networks are strategically utilised to further programme objectives.
  • Ensure that the Central African work is fully integrated with and supports the global WWF/TRAFFIC WCP.

Profile

Required Qualifications and Competencies:

  • At least 10 years experience in national and/or regional/international policy advocacy, including high level political negotiations, preferably within a Central African context;
  • Minimum bachelors’ degree;
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver high level policy outcomes;
  • Strong working knowledge of political and policy making processes within Central Africa;
  • Proven track record in successfully developing, leading, and managing projects in the field of wildlife conservation or law enforcement,
  • A good working knowledge of both English and French is required;
  • Frequent travels within the region, occasionally to remote locations, is required.
  • Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging. Desired Skills and Competencies:
  • Demonstrable negotiation/advocacy skills with government or private sector
  • Knowledge and previous working experience in illegal trade and enforcement issues preferred;
  • Strong ability to initiate, build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders;
  • Ability to identify and strategically capitalise on policy opportunities;
  • Excellent organizational skills with ability to prioritize;
  • Strong technical skills, ability to develop and co-ordinate conservation programmes and projects, and to work effectively with a wide variety of partners and disciplines.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.

Working Relationships:

Internal: Provides support and guidance to the GHoA Communication Officer. Supports country offices in Cameroon, Gabon, DRC and Central Africa Republic to strengthen their capacity in implementing WCP. Works closely with the WWF-Regional Office for Africa- Yaoundé Hub and TRAFFIC teams in charge of wildlife protection, representatives from WWF and TRAFFIC in Central Africa, representatives from WWF and TRAFFIC offices throughout the network, with a functional-line management to the Head of WCP Programme at WWF International. Supports country offices in Cameroon, Gabon, DRC and Central Africa Republic to strengthen their capacity in implementing WCP.

External: Will interact regularly with a network of contacts in governments and key partners.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.