"Salonga Partnership Coordinator"

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 landscape-scale sites, including the over 7 million ha Salonga landscape, encompassing Salonga National Park (SNP), the third largest tropical forest park in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984, and a critical refuge for bonobos and forest elephants. The landscape program also works in peripheral communities and with communities situated within park boundaries. In addition to its importance for biodiversity conservation, this humid forest region is of significant importance for carbon storage and maintaining water supplies. The program takes an integrated conservation approach with a consortium of NGO, government, community, private sector, and academic partners. Key conservation strategies include: protected area management; land use planning; law enforcement and species conservation; human rights and community-based natural resources management and livelihood improvement.

Effective protected area management is a cornerstone 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 ways 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 as well as their participation in the governance of natural resources.

Office base: Monkoto/Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Duration of contract: two years with renewal possibility

I. Major duties and responsibilities

As part of the Salonga Program team, the Salonga Partnership Coordinator will be responsible for partnership and communication activities related to Salonga National Park and the broader landscape under the supervision of the Salonga Park Director/Landscape Lead.

Partnerships and Fundraising

• Lead in the identification, establishment and coordination of key strategic partnerships, including local/international implementing partners and academic/ research institutions;
• Work with the Programme and Communication, Fundraising and Partnership team in Kinshasa to facilitate new funding opportunities including drafting proposals for submission to donors, and budget development;
• Work with the Salonga Programme, and Communication, Fundraising and Partnership team to initiate events and products (including communications materials et.) to raise the profile of the Salonga National park nationally and internationally;
• Organize regular Partnership Coordination meetings;

Conservation Planning and Administration

• Assist in the technical development and implementation of the Salonga Programme;
• Assist in program oversight and coordination, implementation, and administrative/financial management as requested by Salonga Park Director/Landscape Lead;
• Ensures that all implementation partners are aware of reporting deadlines and follows up on needed deliverables and compliance towards donors;
• Participate in UGPNS events and/or jointly with partners as needed;
• Contribute to the review of financial and narrative reports drafted by partners in accordance with donor’s agreements; and
• Ensure that all partners, both within the WWF Network, and external to WWF are aware of progress of activities and possible adaptive management, outside of the technical reporting cycles.

Communications
In full collaboration with WWF DRC and other WWF's national offices Communication teams

• Support the development and implementation of Salonga communication strategy and related communication materials and initiatives;
• Ensure with UGPNS staff that Salonga Website is populated 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.

III. Profile:

Required Qualifications

• BA degree or equivalent in International Development, Environmental Sciences, Business, Communications or related field.
• Over 5 years of relevant experience managing a partnership or grant.
• Demonstrated knowledge of donor requirements preferably prior experience with EU, USAID and/or BMZ/KfW.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Proven experience in donor proposal development with partners is mandatory;
• Good working knowledge of protected area management. Understanding of forest and wildlife ecology, and natural resource management principles is important;
• Good understanding of human rights and community-based natural resource management and rural livelihood issues is important;
• Experience working with government officials and donors;
• Strong administrative and financial management, and excellent organizational skills;
• Excellent people and project management skills to handle complex, multi-faceted projects or programs, and to negotiate and resolve conflicts;
• Familiarity with preparing website and social media content;
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in French and English;
• Ability to work in remote and difficult conditions;
• Ability to thrive in a multicultural context
• Adheres to WWF’s behaviours, which are: Strive for Impact, Listen deeply, Collaborate openly and innovate fearlessly.
• Adheres to WWF values : Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.

IV. Working Relationships:

Internal – Works closely with and reports to the Salonga Park Director/Landscape Lead. Frequent interaction with DRC Country Director and Conservation Director, Salonga Landscape Rural Development Manager, and other Salonga landscape staff including ICCN staff members. Regular interactions with Salonga Program and Administration Officers in WWF Germany and WWF-US, WWF theme leads in DRC, Regional and International offices managing communications, environmental and social safeguards and risk assessments, among other support functions.
External – A key element of the position is to maintain open lines of communication between WWF and Partners working in the Landscape, both those that are sub-grantees of WWF, and other NGOs, CSOs, or agencies that have interests in Salonga Landscape. Also, engages with major conservation donors to WWF DRC, in coordination with WWF National offices.

How to apply: Interested candidates should email a cover letter (with at least 3 references) and curriculum vitae to: recruit-wwfdrc@wwfdrc.org , with the mention: -Salonga Partnership Coordinator by August, 14 2022.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted
“WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce”.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged.