IKI Project Manager

I. Major Functions:

The Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas complex (DSPA) is a 4,450 km2 area, comprising the Dzanga Sangha Dense Forest Special Reserve with its various community use and other zones, and the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park. This area is home to spectacular large mammals such as forest elephants, lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, bongo, buffalo, sitatunga, giant forest hogs as well as a large variety of monkeys and duikers. The area is also home to exceptional diversity in other taxa.

WWF is supporting the Government of CAR to manage DSPA both to conserve its exceptional biodiversity and to promote the sustainable management of natural resources for the well-being of nearby human populations. The DSPA administration and WWF take a multi-disciplinary approach to management of this important area, including developing and managing infrastructure, human and financial resources; conservation through surveillance and anti-poaching activities; income generation via tourism through a primate habituation programme focused on lowland gorillas as well as other tourism activities; research and monitoring on threats to and socio-ecological impacts of the protected area; and sustainable rural development activities, including agroforestry, to alleviate pressure on natural resources and sustain livelihoods. Following an inclusive conversation approach, WWF strives to support indigenous peoples (IP) and local communities (LC) to govern their resources in ways that benefit them as well as nature.

As part of an international consortium, WWF CAR is implementing a six-year transboundary project funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project aims at creating a network of participatively managed protected and conserved forest areas, implementing the one health approach. This will be achieved by scoping for and implementing Other Effective Conservation measures (OECMs), restoring forest and improving livelihood and health of IP& LC.

The main roles of this position are to ensure the effective management of the IKI-funded project “INtact and effectively managed FORests and BIOdiversity as natural barriers to mitigate climate change and risk of pathogen spillover” (INFORBIO) for WWF-APDS and directly implement the forest restoration component in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Area; and oversee DSPA’s rural and socio-economic development work as part of the DSPA community development and community rights department. .

II. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensures that the IKI project is managed to the highest international standards (approx. 20%):

• Manage and ensure implementation of the DSPA component of the IKI project on the local level;
• Coordinate, monitor and report/communicate all IKI project activities in close collaboration with WWF CAR Forest Programme manager (OECM component); WWF DSPA One Health Coordinator (One health component); and all intervening consortium partners.
• Represent WWF CAR in IKI consortium meetings;
• Develop problem solutions and ways of achieving project goals;
• Develop work plans and reports on a quarterly basis or more frequently as necessary and as defined by project contract/Agreements and WWF Programme Management Standards;
• Support project logistics and procurement;
• Ensure compliance with donor’s requirements and guidelines;
• Manage and supervise the project budget for WWF CAR and ensure accountability of funds according to project planning and contractual obligations in collaboration with the F&A Manager;

Plan and implement forest restoration and community-based agroforestry work under the project and support the landscape restoration work within DSPA landscape (approx.. 60%)

• Oversee the technical roll-out and implementation of 400 ha community-based restoration/agroforestry activities in DSPA landscape under the IKI project (community consultations and agreements; collaborative design; management of land tenure and sustainable land use challenges; community nurseries; community planting; plantation, weed and fire management; monitoring; performance-based motivation scheme; long-term restoration achievement)
• Oversee the additional coordination and implementation of a portfolio of landscape restoration/agroforestry activities ongoing in DSPA (FAO, WWF network projects)
• Oversee rural development and socio-economic studies to increase agronomic value chain development in DSPA landscape

Transversal tasks (approx.. 20%)

• lead the rural and socio-economic development thematic for DSPA
• lead a team of 6 field restoration animators throughout the DSPA landscape
• Participate in staff capacity development and evaluation
• Submit to the head of community development and community rights department a monthly and quarterly report outlining programme activities;
• Assists the head of department to ensure accountability of WWF project funds according to project planning and contractual obligations in collaboration with the F&A Manager;
• Contribute to fund-raising, grant writing and reporting to donors as requested by the head of department.

III. Experience and Qualifications:

Required Functional skills:

• A minimum of an MSc in agronomy, forestry, or a related field;
• A minimum 5 years work experience in working in the field of landscape restoration, agro-forestry, forestry, nature conservation or development cooperation;
• Professional experience in to forestry/agroforestry forest landscape restoration projects with community involvement
• Knowledge of ArcGis or cartography in general
• Experience/exposure to OECM and/or One Health projects is a plus;
• Strong skills in project management (planning, budgets, implementation, monitoring and evaluation…) and dealing with international agencies;
• Fluency in both French and English;
• Knowledge of Sango and/or Ba’Aka is a plus;
• Sharing WWF values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration.

Required behavioural skills :

• Organisational, managerial, interpersonal and administrative skills;
• Strong communication skills, particularly in writing reports and proposals for donor agencies;
• Adheres to WWF’s values, which are RESPECT; COURAGE; INTEGRITY COLLABORATION

Adherence to WWF ways of working (Behaviours)

• Strive for Impact «I am results driven. Everything I do, the way I think, plan and implement is driven by a relentless search for impact. »
• Listen Deeply «I go beyond my point of view and strive to see the bigger picture from different perspectives. I stay curious and listen deeply to what others have to say. »
• Collaborate Openly «I’m a global citizen working for a living planet. I am constantly thinking of how with others, together, we can be more impactful. I work across boundaries, openly ask for help and share what I know, both internally and externally. »
• Innovate Fearlessly «I take risks to find better solutions. I measure progress and learn from mistakes. I share both success & failures. I encourage others to do the same. »

IV. Working relationships:

Internal: WWF Country Coordinator, WWF DSPA Director, DSPA Head of Units (Finance and Admin, Research, Ecotourism, Surveillance and logistics).

External: local, national and regional authorities, local civil society organisations community representatives, commercial partners, Sangha Tri-National partners, and donor representatives.