Project Manager_Aouk

Background

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, South Soudan and Zimbabwe.

In 2020 with the support of the European Union ECOFAC Program, African Parks and the Chadian Government launched a four-year pilot project based in the Aouk. This vast area covers approximately 60,000 km² of southeastern Chad and borders both the Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan, and takes its name from one of the major tributaries of the Chari River, the Bahr Aouk. Large tracks of this area are devoid of permanent human settlements. Existing sedentary populations are localized and predominantly involved in agriculture. Nomadic transhumant pastoralism is an important seasonal activity that has significant effects on the ecosystems of the Aouk. Fishing is widespread and is an important activity for riverine communities as well. This project was focused on delivering an improved knowledge of this vast area both in terms of various types of land uses as well as its importance for the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem (GZE) in Chad and the complex of protected areas in northern Central African Republic. It further was designed to identifying future conservation opportunities in cooperation with communities of this area.

The second phase of the project will focus its next years on designing a land use plan for the Aouk-Keïta Landscape (approx. 30 000 km²), supporting the classification and the subsequent management of core conservation areas, including through other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), while also improving the understanding of natural resources uses and promoting sustainable practices. It is anticipated that this project will provide numerous benefits to the broader conservation landscape including when it comes to ecological connectivity, wildlife conservation, managing human-wildlife relationships and preserving ecosystem services.

Job Overview

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall management of the project. The PM is responsible for the recruitment and management of the entire team and delivering the results of the 5-year business plan as well as, at the end of the project, delivery of a land use plan as well as clear conservation gains in the Aouk-Keïta Landscape.

The PM ensures the implementation of the overall strategy and develops the appropriate methodology to reach the objectives and achieve the main goals of the project, which are based on the Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Chad, the funding agreement with the donor (EU) and the five-year business plan.

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in refining the strategy and methodology to implement the project as well as reaching the targets defined in its 5-year business plan.
• Develop and implement the annual work plan, annual budgets and business plan as approved by the operations management team;
• Recruit and manage the Project Management Unit (PMU) to implement operational plans and budgets.
• Coordinate all project operations, communication, infrastructure development & maintenance, fleet (vehicle / aircraft /etc) management and logistics.
• Apply an inclusive, FPIC compliant and multi-stakeholder process to develop and validate an integrated land use plan (LUP) for the Aouk-Keïta Landscape that supports ecological connectivity and the maintenance and restoration of biodiversity and ecological services.
• Present strategy, results, budgets, activities, and planning to Project steering committee as required.
• Building a constituency for conservation with local communities, traditional leaders, and Government representatives.

What success looks like in 2 years’ time:

• A fully functioning and secure the Aouk Project, with the necessary infrastructure in place or in progress,
• All departments established and suitably resourced,
• Good relationships developed with all stakeholders,
• Successful results with respect to the conservation goals of the park.

Key relationships:

• PMU-team
• Regional Operation Manager
• Regional Team
• Team in NDJ
• APN COO
• Project/Park Board
• Key government officials
• Key donors

Required qualifications, competencies and experience:

• Over 10 years of experience in working in a very remote region of Central Africa on natural resource conservation and sustainable ecosystem management;
• Demonstrated ability to manage a conservation project, including methodology/strategy, recruitment and management of staff, logistics, infrastructure, administration/finance, participatory management, social relations with national and local stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the natural and cultural context of the Sahelo-Sudanian region.
• Experience with managing institutional donors, in particular EU funds.
• Excellent analytical, oral and written communications skills in French, professional working proficiency in English; capacity to interact in Arabic is an advantage.
• Strong capacity to manage time and competing priorities.
• Strong initiative, perseverance, and resilience.
• Team player that brings out the best in a multicultural team.