DRC: Consultant for Law Enforcement Activities in Salonga National Park

Jun 28, 2016 | World Wildlife Fund for Nature
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WWF-DRC has entered into a partnership agreement with ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) for the co-management of Salonga National Park in central west DRC. Salonga is Africa’s largest forest protected area and second largest in the world after the Amazon. Salonga is also a World Heritage Site and is one of the most important areas of intact forest in the world and home to forest elephant and bonobo, both under severe threat.

Salonga is only accessible by light aircraft and on the many rivers that characterize Salonga. There is presently a rapidly developing Park HQ at Monkoto with new offices, workshops and housing for the 50 plus staff based there. In the park itself there are 6 sectors each requiring the construction of Station Posts with basic facilities and communications systems.

This is a very exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of conservation in one of the most important parks in Africa; it is also one of the most challenging in terms of logistics and its relative isolation.

The WWF/ICCN partnership is seeking a very capable individual who appreciates the challenges of working in a remote African National Park and can find appropriate solutions that keep the field staff operational and therefore better able to protect the parks resources. 

Location:

The position is based at Monkoto, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Duration: One (1) year.

Main responsibilities:

Law Enforcement Advisor will assist the Park Manager and park staffs implement a law enforcement strategy for protecting and managing this large conservation initiative in the Salonga National Park and surrounding landscape.

In this respect his/her core assignment will focus on:

  • Working with park staff develops a law enforcement strategy that provides protection to the 36,000 sq km Salonga National Park.
  • Assessing the capacity of the 250 ‘Ecoguards’ and establish a recruitment process to expand the field force to up to 500 if required.
  • Developing or outsource in-house training courses for the Ecoguards to cover the full range of skills and activities required of the field force...
  • Manage and supervise radio communications throughout the park.
  • Working with colleagues, make full use of SMART to monitor patrols and activities within the park.
  • Working with the detachment of the Congolese Army who is assigned to support the Ecoguards with anti-poaching operations. (The Ecoguards are comfortable in the forest but lack the necessary military skills while the opposite is true of the army).

Profile:

Required qualifications:

  • At least 5 years of field experience in law enforcement (anti-corruption, anti-poaching, wildlife law) or/and protected area management, preferably in tropical forests.
  • Proven capacity development skills with experience in developing training resources and delivering training are required.
  • Ability to work in remote areas and under difficult conditions with demonstrated creative problems-solving skills.

Skills and competencies:

  • Strong experience in the field of law enforcement (anti-corruption, anti-poaching, wildlife law or/and protected area management).
  • Excellent collaborative and inter-personal skills, and have good time management and organizational skills.
  • Experience of project management and development is highly desirable, and a good understanding of biodiversity conservation issues in the region essential.
  • Experience of living and working in developing countries, preferably in Central Africa.
  • Excellent standard of written and spoken French and English and be able to communicate effectively in both.
  • Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Knowledge, Optimism, Determination and Engagement.
  • Please consult the attached terms of references for more information on the assignment.
  • Previous applicants need not apply.

Application process:

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are invited to send latest by 08 July, 2016:

  • A cover letter
  • A detailed CV with 2-3 references from at least 3 similar consultancies carried out within the past 5 years; A proposal of fees for the assignment 
  • All applications should be sent to recruit-wwfdrc@wwfdrc.org. The subject should read 

Thank you in advance for your interest in this assignment. Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for follow up. If you have not been contacted six (6) weeks after closing, consider your applicati