Background :

Kongo Central is one of the most heavily environmentally impacted regions in the DRC, with rapidly disappearing forests and species due to unchecked exploitation of natural resources. A few decades ago the Luki Biosphere Reserve was connected to the larger Mayumbe forest to the north, which extends into Gabon, but this small protected area is now surrounded by farm fields, anthropogenic savannahs, and degraded forests. Similarly, the Mangrove Marine Park at the mouth of the Congo River, is under great pressure due to population growth and resource extraction.

Through this program "Establishing a Green Alliance with Local Communities through the Implementation of a Landscape Level Intervention in Kongo Central, DRC", WWF DRC, in partnership with ERAIFT, INERA-MAB, ICCN, local NGOs, CSOs, and community development structures, will strive to connect the Luki Biosphere Reserve and the Marine Mangrove Park (buffer zone) in a Green Alliance through implementation of a landscape-scale intervention. The project will focus in the Luki Reserve, around the Mangrove Marine Park.

The programme will use inclusive conservation, capacity strengthening, entrepreneurship, a human rights-based approach and gender equality in as key programme strategies. Strengthening community governance structures, like Local development communities (LDCs), while improving and diversifying agricultural and agroforestry production will promote long term resilience of rural communities and contribute to social and economic development in rural DRC.

The programme will contribute to the Swedish strategy for development cooperation with DRC 2021-2025 objectives of a) sustainable management and use of natural resources, including biodiversity and b) sustainable and resilient agriculture and forestry, focusing on improved food security and livelihood. In the longer term, the programme will also contribute to the objective of reduced climate impact and increased resilience to climate change.

The Project Manager under the Conservation Director supervision will contribute technical expertise to the development of the landscape strategy with an emphasis on working with all stakeholders to maintain the ecological integrity of the Luki Biosphere Reserve, the development of a green alliance between the Luki Biosphere Reserve and the Mangrove Marine Park that provides economic opportunities and increases benefits to the communities living around these two sites and those of the entire Kongo Central Province.

**Location:**Boma &Moanda

Duration: 2- Years with possibility of renewal

Main duties:

• Ensure appropriate technical, logistical, financial, and administrative support while managing a full project team in the project area for an optimal implementation rate. This includes external collaborations with the reserve's steering committee and the Mangrove Marine Park;
• Ensure the proper execution of the project by all stakeholders, both internal and external to WWF: follow up on the task distribution file and complementarity of skills;
• Ensure the financial management of the project with the direct support of the WWF - DRC finance department;
• Collaborate impeccably with the managers of the project implementation partners and the local authorities of the Province;
• Provide technical and strategic advice to other staff in order to strengthen the support of local communities in the implementation of all project objectives and activities;
• Organize and monitor strategic and operational planning;
• Produce all technical reports according to WWF and donor standards and/or procedures;
• Supervise Payment for Environmental Services (PES) contracts, and ensure that partnerships with stakeholders and communities respect signed contracts;
• Capitalize on achievements and coordinate (with the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Unit) the development of new projects in collaboration with specialized technicians to ensure the sustainability of the action and expand the Kongo Central Program in a long-term vision;
• Represent the WWF DRC office in all matters related to the protection of Biodiversity in Central Kongo according to the WWF Strategic Plan.

Qualifications required:

• At least a Bachelor's degree in the field of Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development or other equivalent training,
• At least 7 years of experience in project management, program development, climate change, natural resource management, nature conservation, etc,

Additional experience desired:

• Have experience in REDD project management or related projects;
• Experience in monitoring and facilitation of LDCs works, community dynamics,
• Experience in payments for environmental services;
• Experience in decentralized governance and multi-actor partners.
• Experience of working in civil society organizations or non-profit sector.
• Experience in human rights- based approach and gender mainstreaming.

Skills and abilities required :

• Proven technical capacity for technical, administrative and financial management of projects;
• Good leadership skills while maximizing accountability of team members with a wide variety of individuals, groups, environmental institutions and technical organizations;
• Good ability to work with stakeholders, both internal and external to the project;
• Proven ability to work with provincial and local authorities, the private sector, farmer organizations and other stakeholders;
• Good networking skills (besides communication);
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate natural resource management issues, both in writing and orally;
• Fluency in oral and written French is essential;
• Fluency in English is a strong asset and a good level of English is required;
• Excellent computer skills;
• Adhere to WWF's values, which are: Courage, integrity, respect and collaboration,
• Integrate the 4 ways of working that WWF advocates, namely: Aim for impact, listen carefully, collaborate openly and innovate fearlessly.