WWF - Salonga Program Coordinator

SALONGA PROGRAM COORDINATOR

MARCH 2023

ABOUT WWF

WWF is an environmental organization that is deeply committed to people-centered nature conservation with the ambition to apply the highest standard of safeguards to protect human rights in all of our work. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. We understand that the future of nature can only be secured when conservation is inclusive and people both drives, and benefit from, the protection of natural ecosystems.

WWF-US / Keith Arnold

HOW WE WORK

The deepening crisis of nature loss requires conservation organizations like WWF to think and act bigger and faster – and to work together as never before.

Our strong commitment to collaboration– something we call together possible – shapes all our work, leading to many powerful partnerships around the world. And, today, we are part of a growing global coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030: a New Deal for Nature and People as comprehensive as the global climate deal.

This ambitious nature recovery plan is supported by our own global goals and programme of work focused on:

• Safeguarding the natural world – the oceans, forests, freshwater and rich diversity of wildlife that provide the essentials of life for all.

• Challenging the two most urgent threats to nature: climate change and food production.

• Tackling the underlying global drivers for the loss of nature: a financial system that must value nature; a governance system that empowers people to lead on nature protection; and markets where sustainable production and consumption must become the norm.

You can find out more about WWF International on our website.

© James Morgan / WWF

THE ROLE

TITLE: Salonga Program Coordinator

LOCATION: Monkoto, Democratic Republic of the Congo

LEVEL: 5

WWF IN THE SALONGA LANDSCAPE

THE WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) HAS EMBARKED ON AMBITIOUS, FIELD-BASED CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CONGO BASIN.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), WWF is active in several landscapescale sites, including the over 10 million ha Salonga landscape, encompassing Salonga National Park (SNP), the third largest tropical forest park in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a critical refuge for bonobos and forest elephants.

The landscape program also works in peripheral community and extractive areas. In addition to its importance for biodiversity conservation, this humid forest region is significant for carbon storage and maintaining water supplies. The program takes an integrated conservation approach with a consortium of NGO, government, community, and academic partners. Key conservation strategies include: protected area management; land use planning; law enforcement and species conservation; community-based natural resources management and livelihood improvement, e.g. through sustainable agriculture and forestry.

Effective protected area management is a corner stone of WWF’s conservation efforts in the DRC, in close partnership with ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature), the national protected area management authority.

New, creative perspectives are needed to effectively manage protected areas in challenging social, economic, cultural, and logistical environments. WWF and ICCN have agreed to implement an innovative form of Public Private Partnership management approach in forms of co-management to professionalise the management of the park while also improving the life standards of communities living in the landscape.

© WWF-DRC

A NOTE FROM THE PARK DIRECTOR

The Salonga National Park is very large (34,000 km2) and at present, the state of its conservation is quite good. These two facts alone make a clear case that we must do everything within our power to preserve it.

One of the most attractive qualities about this role may be the challenge of starting almost from scratch, creating and developing a park. Although Salonga National Park was established over 50 years ago, it is not well known and there is still a lot of work to be done, the result of logistical difficulties and the country’s complicated history.

The Park is located in the center of the Congo River basin, bringing to mind Stanley’s travels, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and so much history about this part of Africa.

In addition to the typical fauna of the Central African tropical forests (elephants, buffaloes, bongos), Salonga boasts almost 40% of the world’s population of bonobos. Everything is about to start: from building infrastructures and organizing logistics, both air and river, to improving the conservation strategy and the fight against poaching, to conducting studies on the Park’s biodiversity, fauna and flora to involving local populations in the development of new tourism activities, both cultural and nature-based.

This may be one of the few national parks in the world where there is still so much to be discovered and where so much could be done. If you are passionate, have the skills and experience sought and the ambition to help develop this critical conservation area, we would love to hear from you.

LUIS ARRANZ, PARK DIRECTOR

RESPONSIBILITIES

As part of the Salonga Program team and under the supervision of the Park Director, the Coordinator is responsible for program development and the coordination of all technical departments of Salonga National Park, including (but not limited to): Protection, Rural Development, Tourism, Research & Inventory and Monitoring & Evaluation.

The Salonga Programs Coordinator is responsible for technical development, implementation and coordination of projects in the Salonga landscape, working closely with various stakeholders to coordinate effective protected area management. The ideal candidate will be motivated to work in a remote and often difficult context and excited by the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of a critical protected area. Responsibilities include:

1. COORDINATION OF TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS

• Technical development and implementation of projects in the Salonga Landscape.

• Program oversight and coordination and implementation management as requested by Park Director.

• Maintain an overview of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework and follow up with its implementation in the Salonga Landscape.

• Ensure monitoring of key partner activities and relationships (JUREC, Chengeta Wildlife, etc.).

• Contribute to the review of technical reports in accordance with donor agreements.

• Ensure that both WWF Network and donors are aware of progress of activities and possible adaptive management, outside of the technical reporting cycles.

• Train Salonga Landscape staff on donor procedures.

• Closely follow developments in the donor community to adjust procedures when necessary (ensure trainings at EU, USAID and KfW in the beginning).

© WWF-DRC

2. PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDRAISING

• Lead in the identification, establishment and coordination of key strategic partnerships, including local/international implementing partners and academic/ research institutions.

• Work closely with the WWF DRC and WWF national offices’ Fundraising and Communication teams to facilitate new funding opportunities including proposals writing and budget planning for submission to donors.

• Attend Partnership Coordination meetings in the Salonga Landscape.

• Participate in UGPNS events or those of partners as needed.

• Maintain an overview of the current project and financial situation of the Salonga programme (running projects, pipeline etc.) to inform project negotiations with donors.

3. ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

• Maintain oversight of administrative and financial management.

• Assist in preparation of Terms of Reference for hiring of contracted staff and third parties towards project implementation.

• Ensure quality of financial reports in accordance with donor agreements.

4. COMMUNICATIONS

In full collaboration with WWF DRC and other WWF’s national offices

Communication teams:

• Support the implementation of the Salonga communication strategy and related communication materials and initiatives.

• Work with the WWF DRC Fundraising and Communication team to initiate events and products (including films et.) to raise the Salonga National Park’s profile nationally and internationally.

• Coordinate with UGPNS staff to ensure the Salonga website is fed with good stories emerging from the Park’s day-to-day life.

• Prepare status reports and communication packages with Communication team for Partnership members.

• Maintain open and fluid communication with WWF’s national offices team and its partners.

© WWF-DRC

CANDIDATE PROFILE

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• BA degree or equivalent in International Development, Business, Communications or related field.

• Over 5 years of relevant experience managing partnerships or grants.

• Solid experience coordinating technical natural resource programming, ideally in an African conservation or national park context.

• Proven experience in donor proposal development with partners.

• Experience working with government officials and donors.

• Demonstrated knowledge of international donor requirements, preferably EU, USAID, KfW, GIZ.

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• General understanding of forest and wildlife ecology.

• Good understanding of community-based natural resource management and rural livelihood issues.

• Strong administrative and financial management skills; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Excellent people and project management skills to handle complex, multi-faceted projects, and to negotiate and resolve conflicts.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills in both French and English.

• Ability to live and work in remote and difficult conditions.

• Experience living and working in a multicultural context.

• Commitment to WWF’s values: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.

• Adherence to WWF’s behaviours: Strive for Impact; Listen deeply; Collaborate openly, and innovate fearlessly.

• Affinity for nature conservation.

DESIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with website and social media content.

• Good working knowledge of conservation projects and/or national park management and what it takes to effectively manage a large-scale park.

• Motivation to stay in Salonga, learn, and contribute to WWF’s mission.

© WWF-DRC

HOW TO APPLY

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-032023-WWF or PatJones-CoverLetter-032023-WWF.

TIMELINE

Closing Date: 14th May 2023

Important note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early applications are encouraged.

First Stage Interviews: Week of 22 May, 2023

Final Interviews: First week of June, 2023

SELECTION PROCESS

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Equality and diversity are at the core of WWF’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

QUERIES

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email wwf-drc-countryprogramme@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

© WWF-DRC

ABOUT OXFORD HR

Exceptional leaders can inspire change and propel purpose-led organisations towards reaching their world-changing goals. Finding such leaders can be a challenge; and yet their transition into leadership is vital to an organisations mission and success.

Oxford HR is a global leadership consultancy dedicated to searching for and supporting remarkable leaders and teams in purpose-led organisations.

We understand the nuances of purpose-led leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.

© Thor Morales

Cover Photo Credit © James Suter / Black Bean Productions / WWF-US

© Ronda Simms

© James Morgan / WWF-US

© Green Renaissance / WWF-US

© WWF-US / Betty McLaughlin Meyer © Daniël Nelson

© Nick Riley / WWF-Madagascar