FZS ZAMBIA NORTH LUANGWA CONSERVATION PROGRAMME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Human-Wildlife Conflict Coexistence Coordinator

Location: Mpika / Project base-camp in or near the Munyamadzi GMA, Nabwalya

The project is a partnership between the Africa Range-Wide Cheetah Conservation Initiative (CCI), supported by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), and field-based NGOs Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Zambian Carnivore Program (ZCP), and Conservation South Luangwa (CSL).  FZS conserves wildlife and ecosystems focusing on protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. The Africa Programme is FZS’ largest and oldest and is active in five focal countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (www.fzs.org).

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) works in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) to protect and conserve the North Luangwa landscape. The NLCP supports effective and efficient protected area management, with a wider focus on empowering communities to manage natural resources in the Game Management Areas adjacent to the park. The NLCP’s mission ‘Linking livelihoods and landscapes,’ seeks to address key challenges by taking holistic approaches for more resilient socio-ecological systems.

Purpose of the Job

NLCP has an opportunity for a Human Wildlife Coexistence Coordinator (HWCoex Coordinator) to oversee the Human Wildlife Coexistence Programme for this co-management partnership, inclusive of human wildlife conflict mitigation field operations, applied ecological monitoring of key wildlife species, data management and spatial modelling.  The implementation focus will be mainly Nabwalya Chiefdom in the Game Management Area between North and South Luangwa National Parks, but through learning, the programme, systems and data management will be upscaled to the North Luangwa Landscape scale.

The Human Wildlife Coexistence (HWCoex) programme for the Nabwalya co-management project partnership, coordinated through the HWCoex Coordinator, should deliver meaningful results based on conservation science. This should be informed by meaningful community participatory approaches to enable adaptive management and feedback, through an improved understanding of human wildlife conflict patterns with a key focus on cheetah, HWCoex measures, and local and landscape ecosystem functions.

Key performance areas

KPA 1. Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

– Identify, formalise, strengthen and monitor strategic and operational partnership arrangements in support of the HWCoex programme

– Oversee the development and dissemination of appropriate HWCoex communication messages, products and timeous feedback to different target audiences including through summits, learning exchanges and farmers days.

KPA 2. Human Wildlife Coexistence programme coordination

– Develop and oversee the HWCoex Strategy and implementation programme for Nabwalya, which will include the following elements:

• Develop and implement community-led strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts
• Use technological solutions like early warning systems, fencing, and animal deterrents
• Conduct workshops and awareness meetings on conflict management and coexistence
• Collaborate with other players in the landscape to maximize impact
• Help design and oversee KAP surveys and feedback to relevant target audiences, collaborating closely with the LIU and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Strategic Advisor

– Oversee the development of HWCoex implementation plans for each Village action group within Nabwalya, as informed by land use plans, historical data collection and spatial monitoring, and in close consultation with the Community Conservation Officers and community structures at local level

– Review and strengthen data management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems

– Oversee the training and timeous collection of HWCoex data by enumerators, in collaboration with the Community Liaison Assistants and Community Conservation Officers

– Compile monthly HWCoex reports and facilitate continues feedback to various target audiences including the enumerators, community structures, conservation staff, donors and other strategic partners

– Closely collaborate with the NLCP Landscape Integration Unit and other partners to support a holistic landscape-based approach, with complementary activities such as understanding and promoting conservation of wildlife resources, supporting sustainable livelihoods compatible with wildlife, and policy advocacy and research

KPA 3. HWoe related ecological monitoring and research:

i. Fieldwork

–  Conduct HWCoex monitoring surveys in close collaboration with the FZS Landscape Integration Unit, including guiding enumerators in the data collection and monitoring.

–  Monitor the potential impact of carnivores (including cheetah) on livestock such a poultry and monitor the effectiveness of protection measures.

– Monitor the movement patterns and habitat use of collared large carnivores in relation to HWCoex and land use management; regularly track and observe collared animals to assess group size and demographics

– Contribute to the assessment of remote sensing outputs e.g., land cover, vegetation mapping, and burn scar monitoring by conducting ground truthing to assess classification accuracy, and interrelate this with the HWCoex monitoring and management implementation

ii. Data management, analysis, and reporting

– Manage the HWCoex programme and associated ecological monitoring databases, ensuring data are clean, accurate, and securely stored

– Analyse and report on HWCoex and ecological monitoring data in collaboration with the Ecology and Conservation Science Managers to inform conservation management decisions

– Communicate results to partners, donors, local stakeholders and the public through posters, presentations, reports, scientific publications, and social media to showcase the biodiversity of the Nabwalya and where relevant NLCP landscape and highlight the achievements of the NLCP

KPA 4. Administration, Finance and Reporting

i. Administration

– Ensure that the organizational structure of the NLCP is adhered to and develop any workplans, reports, SOPs, policies required by the department together with programme management

– Contribute to the development of the overall strategic plan for the HWCoex Programme and translate into annual work plan with associated budget, responsibility and KPIs

– Coordinate the collection and analysis of information to monitor and evaluate the impact and outcomes of programme activities, raise issues and proposed solutions in a timely manner and adapt as needed

ii. Finance procedures

– Manage imprest requests, expense claims, and retirements for funds needed for ecological monitoring work in a timely manner and according to finance SOPs and policies

iii. Procurement and asset management

– Oversee procurement of ecological monitoring equipment and supplies, maintain inventories, and ensure proper use and care of all equipment

iv. Donor reporting

– Provide input into development of project proposals and reports for donor funding

v. Risk management and employee health and safety

– Implement relevant action plans, procedures and training to mitigate environmental, social, labour and employee health and safety risks related to the HWCoex programme

– Raise, and propose solutions, for any new issues or risks that arise within the department

vi. Monitoring, evaluation, Learning

– Coordinate the collection and analysis of information to monitor and evaluate the impact and outcomes of programme activities, raise issues and proposed solutions in a timely manner and

Qualifications, skills and attributes

• A minimum of a 3 -year University degree in Ecology, Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, Geography or any equivalent, with a Hons degree being desirable
• Minimum 2 year’s field work experience or internship in a relevant field
• Minimum 2 year’s applied experience working in a rural setup and with community structures
• Experience in HWCoex management, social science, ecological survey techniques, spatial monitoring and data management systems
• Able to work effectively in a team environment, including in a leadership role, as well as the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Comfortable and capable conducting strenuous work in remote and rugged field environments
• Good written and spoken English communication skills
• Ability to prepare compelling and accurate data presentations (charts, diagrams, etc)
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Proficiency in GIS, including desktop and mobile applications
• Experience riding a motorbike and driving a manual vehicle with valid licences
  Able to communicate in Bemba, Senga and/or Nyanja

Working Conditions/Physical Effort

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours
• Willingness to camp in the field during ecological monitoring surveys
• Willingness to work in rural areas with local communities and government partners
• Ability to work under stress during peak workload periods

We Offer:

• Engaging and meaningful work with room for your ideas
• Opportunity to contribute towards the protection of impressive landscapes in Zambia
• Form part of a dynamic and motivated team, as well as the larger FZS team working to secure outstanding wild places across the globe
• Flat hierarchy, opportunities for further training

The position will be based in Mpika / Project base camp in or near the Munyamadzi GMA, Nabwalya.

Your Application:

Your application should include a chronological CV in PDF format and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) including your earliest possible starting date and expected package. The cover letter will be used to judge the quality of your application and should answer the following:

• What interests you most about the position?
• Describe your experience and suitability to the role.
• What are the most important personal attributes and technical skills that you will bring to the role?
• Do you have any experience in the conservation of large carnivores?
• Detail your experience working in remote landscapes with local communities.
• Three traceable references with a short description of your working relationship, and their contact details.

Please mark your application as Human Wildlife Coexistence Coordinator (HWCoex).

Application Deadline: Monday, 19th August 2024.

Note: Due to limited resources and a high volume of applications, we will only contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

FZS values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity.