Reports to / Reports directly to : Gaspard Abitsi, Managing Director WCS Gabon
Location / location : Gabon (Lopé National Park)
Country Program / Sector /
Program country / sector: WCS GABON / Training
Position Type / Position Type : Full Time
Internal link / Internal connection : Administrative and Financial Director, technical assistants, project managers, support staff (finance, administration and operations) of the Libreville office
Expected travel / Movements : Periodic trips between Lopé and Libreville and if necessary, outside Gabon, as part of exchange and experience sharing missions.
Organization Background :
The Wildlife Conservation Society (“WCS”) is a New York not-for-profit corporation founded by statute in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society. WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through research, science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. That mission is achieved through our global conservation programs (WCS currently oversees a portfolio of more than 500 conservation projects in 65 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America, and the oceans between them) and through the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks – the Bronx Zoo; the New York Aquarium; and the Central Park, Queens, and Prospect Park Zoos (the City Zoos)
Presentation of the ECOFAC 6 program
The Support Program for the Preservation of Biodiversity and Fragile Ecosystems – Phase 6 (“ECOFAC 6”) funded by the 11th European Development Fund is designed to support government institutions responsible for environmental management in Central Africa . The ECOFAC 6 programtargets direct support to nearly 12 protected areas spread over seven different states (Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad) members of the Economic Community of African States Central (CEEAC) and eight priority landscapes for conservation, while contributing to a green economy characterized by sustainable and inclusive economic development, as well as to the fight against climate change. To deal with threats to biodiversity and to protected areas, the activities of the program aim to: (a) coordinate sectoral activities at the level of the targeted territories and regional landscapes; (b) strengthening and improving conservation systems; and (c) associating populations with conservation.
It is within the framework of the ECOFAC 6 program that Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) through the Educational Complex Dr Alphonse Mackanga Missandzou (CEDAMM) was selected as operator for the implementation of the sub regional support action relating to development of curricula and other devices for training eco-guards.
The overall objective of this action is to develop and implement a curriculum and training systems for the eco-guard profession in seven countries selected under the ECOFAC6 program.
The specific objectives of the action are :
- Design, validate and deploy the regional training curriculum for eco-guards in the target countries of the region ;
- Implement the regional training system for the ecoguard profession (test, assess and improve) and make CEDAMM a benchmark structure for the continuous training of ecoguards and managers of protected areas in Central Africa.
In order to contribute to improving the efficiency of management of protected areas in Central Africa through the training of eco-guards, WCS is recruiting a technical assistant who will be responsible for managing the Alphonse Mackanga Missandzou Educational Complex (CEDAMM) as well as all the training that will take place there.
Context of the organization Wildlife Conservation Society in Gabon :
In Gabon, WCS is among the largest and oldest conservation organizations. Through the Headquarters Agreement signed with the Gabonese Republic in 2003, WCS focuses its technical assistance around knowledge and ecological monitoring of marine and terrestrial wildlife; capacity building in planning and management of protected areas and finally monitoring the application of the law on natural resources.
For several decades, WCS has developed theoretical and practical knowledge on the ecosystems of Central Africa (biodiversity, structure, dynamics and functioning) and tools capable of ensuring their sustainability through the concept of integrated and participative management. The development and transmission of this knowledge and tools is one of the missions of the Educational Complex Doctor Alphonse Mackanga Missandzou (CEDAMM). The CEDAMM is located inside the Lopé National Park, and has been selected as a center of competence for the implementation of the sub-regional support action for the training of eco-guards.
Job Summary: / Position Summary
The manager of the CEDAMM training center will be responsible for making CEDAMM a subregional reference structure for training eco-guards.
Major Responsibilities / Key Responsibilities and Tasks :
Infrastructure development and outreach of CEDAMM :
- Contribute to the development of the procurement plan for all the services planned under this action ;
- Supervise the construction of new buildings ;
- Supervise the energy transition of CEDAMM by setting up a system of solar panels ;
- Participate in the development and implementation of a strategy for the sustainable financing of CEDAMM ;
- Contribute to the institutional anchoring of CEDAMM in Gabon and in the sub-region of Central Africa.
Administrative management of CEDAMM and the sub-regional support action :
- Develop annual, quarterly and monthly work plans for the implementation of the sub-regional action ;
- Ensure operational monitoring of activities carried out at CEDAMM ;
- Ensure regular financial monitoring (monthly, quarterly, annual) of CEDAMM on the basis of the provisional budget, in coordination with the Administrative and Financial Department ;
- Respect and enforce all WCS and donor procedures in terms of administrative and financial management ;
- Prepare periodic progress reports for all of the subregional action ;
- Ensure the strict application of all administrative and financial procedures from WCS to CEDAMM ;
- Semi-annually supervise the updating of the physical inventory of CEDAMM materials and equipment ;
- Regularly supervise the control and establish an analysis on the use of rolling stock (consumption, mileage, maintenance, claims, etc.) ;
- Supervises the monitoring of the maintenance and conservation of fixed assets ;
- Organize control of supplies, stocks and distribution of purchases ;
- Manage WCS staff assigned to CEDAMM.
Organization of training sessions at CEDAMM :
- Plan and organize training sessions for the main trainers and eco-guards at CEDAMM (basic training for Gabon and training of team leaders from the sub-region) ;
- Support trainers in the design of training, in the construction of training devices and the production of teaching materials ;
- Participate in training sessions as a trainer ;
- Set up CEDAMM training and performance evaluation systems ;
- Develop periodic reviews of training activities.
Communication and visibility of CEDAMM :
- Plan, and implement, in close collaboration with the sub-regional technical assistance of the ECOFAC6 program, communication and visibility activities aimed at raising awareness of the objectives of the sub-regional action and the role of CEDAMM in the training of eco-guards in connection with the support received from the EU ;
- Ensure the dissemination of all relevant documents relating to CEDAMM to the partners of the ECOFAC6 program ;
- Animate and regularly disseminate the conclusions and lessons learned from the execution of the activities of the subregional action to the national teams, partners and other actors concerned in coordination with the subregional technical assistance of the ECOFAC6 program ;
- Prepare the meetings of the national monitoring and the regional steering committee by making the required documentation available and highlighting the areas of concern to be addressed ;
- Facilitate and promote the sharing of experiences in the training of eco-guards between countries and partners of the ECOFAC6 program.
Expériences / Formation :
Training :
- Minimum level BAC + 5 ;
- Project management training would be an asset.
General experiences :
- Have a minimum of 3 years experience in project management ;
- Knowledge of the management context for protected areas in Central Africa ;
- Proven knowledge of project planning, management and monitoring and evaluation tools, including the logical framework and theory of change approach ;
- Ability to identify strategic and operational priorities and find (sometimes urgently) solutions ;
- Sens du dialogue, qualités d’écoute, excellent relationnel et aisance dans un environnement multi-acteurs ;
- Bonnes capacités de synthèse et de rédaction ;
- Bonne capacité d’anticipation et d’autonomie dans le travail.
Expériences spécifiques
- Disposer d’une expérience avérée en matière de gestion de projet de conservation en lien avec le renforcement des capacités ;
- Disposer d’une solide connaissance de la problématique de la formation initiale et continue dans le cadre du renforcement institutionnel de l’administration publique dans le contexte de la gestion des aires protégées et de l’exercice du métier d’écogarde ;
- Disposer d’excellentes capacités d’analyse et de rédaction ;
- Une expérience de gestion de projets financés par l’Union Européenne est considérée un atout ;
- Perfect command of the French language, knowledge of English or even Portuguese would be an asset.
Comment postuler :
Interested candidates who meet the above criteria are invited to apply.
The application must include :
- A CV mentioning the areas of expertise and the main achievements of the expert in connection with this mission ;
- A cover letter ;
- The contacts of three referents.
Applications must be sent electronically to the addresses below : [email protected] .
Date of the request : June 29, 2020. Please include in the subject line of your email : CEDAMM Manager
Applicants must also apply online via the WCS career portal by searching for the job title at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers . Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
WCS is an employer guaranteeing equal opportunities. The organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that they are taken into account in a fair and consistent manner during the recruitment process. We are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce that shares this same value.
The organization offers equal opportunities to all qualified candidates regardless of their nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status.