Overview

African Parks Network is a non-profit organisation that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. By adopting a business approach to conservation, supported by donor funding, we aim to make each park sustainable in the long-term, thereby contributing to economic development and poverty alleviation. We currently manage 19 parks in 11 countries – Angola, CAR, Chad, Republic of Congo, DRC, Malawi, Rwanda, Benin, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia – with a combined area of more than 14 million hectares.

Position: Manager of the Community Development department
Location: Fada, Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve (ENCR), Tchad
Départment: Community Development department
Refers to: Deputy Park manager Park Manager
Contract duration: 2 years

Base: NCRE headquarters at Fada, West Ennedi Region, North-East Chad and everywhere in the ENCR

Supervision: The Manager of the Community Development department directly manages a local team composed of the following positions:

1. Community Conservation Assistant;
2. Environmental Education Assistant;
3. Education Specialist;
4. Community-based agents/animators.

Job overview: The Manager of the Community Development department is under the supervision of the Deputy Park Manager and is responsible for the development and implementation of all projects under the Community Development department, in close collaboration with direct and indirect stakeholders.

Key functions:

• Ensure full implementation of the ENCR’s Engagement Education Enterprise (EEE+) strategy;
• Set-up, coordinate and carry out all necessary tasks, in collaboration with local partners, to ensure the successful implementation of all projects composing the EEE+ strategy :
  • Horticultural and Date-palm Project;
  • Education support Project;
  • Environmental Education Project;
  • Women’s Literacy Project;
  • Waste Management System Project;
  • Aviculture Project;
  • One Health Project;
• Oversee consultants and trainers recruited to support on specific technical aspects of projects activities;
• Carry out surveys and feasibility studies to increase understanding and ensure decision-making is data driven and adapted to the local context;
• Set up specific data collection systems and tools to monitor project indicators;
• Facilitate trainings for staff and beneficiaries capacity-building on project topics;
• Work closely with all other Departments, especially the Monitoring and Biodiversity Department, to reinforce intra-departmental synergies and mutual actions;
• Collaborate with the Monitoring and Biodiversity Department for the negotiation, signature and implementation of Local Conventions that will be established with local communities within the ENCR;
• Liaise with local authorities and communities to ensure a continued access and acceptance in all areas of the ENCR;
• Elaborate monthly and annual budgets for the Department;
• Initiate and follow-up all procurement procedures necessary to implement projects activities;
• Promote and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and internal/external partners;
• Provide activity reports and record keeping to the DPM as requested;
• Take part in monthly meetings and contribute to all weekly, monthly, trimestral and annual reports as requested;
• Write-up project proposals for funding, as requested.

Capabilities, competencies and experience needed for the job:

• Advanced university degree in a subject related to anthropology, education, agronomy, social ecology, environmental management or a related field;
• Demonstrated experience in the sustainable management of Protected Areas (PA), preferably in African contexts;
• Demonstrated experience in the elaboration of management plans for PA, including strong components of communities’ problematics (focus on development actions benefiting directly to the conservation of natural resources and to rural communities);
• Demonstrated experience in working with rural communities, knowledge of participative approach, pedagogy, teaching technics and methods;
• Good knowledge of waste management, horticulture and agro-ecological programs in subSaharan countries;
• Ability in staff capacity-building, leadership and people-management skills;
• Experience working in multi-cultural contexts;
• Strong willingness to live in a rural setting and very remote area ;
• Experience working in Sahelo-Saharan and/or in Chad areas would be a plus;
• Fluent in French and in English, Arabic knowledge would be a plus.

Key relationships:

• Park Manager
• Deputy Park Manager
• Other Department Managers
• Field Operations Manager
• General staff
• Local partners and stakeholders
• Local communities

Candidature:

Please send:

• A recent CV;
• Motivation letter; To rnce@africanparks.org