Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme Consultant

Overview

Support capacity building in sustainable wildlife management.

You have:

• University degree in forest resources management, wildlife management, environmental sciences, administrative/financial management, information management, law or related field
• One to four years of relevant experience for base level consultants, at least five years' relevant experience for middle level consultants, and at least 10 years relevant experience for senior level consultants in issues related to programme support activities and management, forest resources management, wildlife management
• Working knowledge of English and French (for COF.REG). For PSA.SBS working knowledge of only one of these two

Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division leads FAO’s work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with member countries, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world’s forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products and ecosystem services.

The post is located in the coordination unit of the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, Forest Resources Management (FRM) Team, Forestry Division (NFO). The SWM Programme is a 7-year initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) launched in 2017 with a budget of 45 million Euros from the European Union (11th European Development Fund - EDF), 1.5 million Euros from the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and 3.5 million Euros from the French Development Agency (AFD). The programme aims to reduce hunting of wildlife to sustainable levels, protect endangered wildlife species, conserve biodiversity, maintain the essential ecological roles of wildlife within forest and savannah ecosystems, and secure stocks and flows of provisioning ecosystems services (i.e., food) essential to some of the poorest and most politically marginalized people on earth.

The programme is led by FAO and works through a consortium of partners, which includes the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), to implement country projects in fifteen countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guyana, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, as well as Chad, Egypt, Mali, Senegal and Sudan (RESSOURCE project/ SWM Programme Sahelian wetlands site), Botswana and Namibia (ACT-KaZa Project).

Projects under the umbrella of the main SWM Programme:

• RESSOURCE Project - Strengthening expertise in sub-Saharan Africa on birds and their rational use for communities and their environment (SWM Programme Sahelian wetlands site): funded by the FFEM and the 11th EDF of the European Commission, the project aims to improve the state of the natural resources of the Sahelian wetlands for the benefit of local populations, particularly in terms of food security and local development. Waterbird populations are the natural resource targeted by the project;
• The Kavango-Zambezi Transboundary Conservation Area for Sustainable Wildlife Management (ACT-KaZa) project: it expands the scope of already developed SWM Programme activities in Zambia and Zimbabwe (KaZa), to Botswana and Namibia, relying on a Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) approach. Funded by the AFD and co-funded by the European Commission (EC), the project will contribute to establishing and consolidating a network of well-managed Community Conservancies (CCs) in those two countries, capable of generating sustainable socio-economic benefits for the communities and ensuring ecological connectivity within the whole KaZa landscape.

The SWM Programme directly contributes to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and supports governments in their work to achieve many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 15 on Life on Land.

Within the above context, the SWM Programme is seeking the support of consultants and subscribers with varying profiles for the implementation of defined project activities falling under the programme overall management (i.e., administration, coordination, reporting) and implementation of the specific programme components/results: i) institutional and legal framework for the sustainable use of meat from wild species resilient to hunting or fishing; ii) sustainable wildlife management; iii) development of alternative sources of proteins and income for rural communities; iv) sustainable consumption of wildmeat; v) monitoring, evaluation and learning and; vi) generation sand sharing of knowledge to replicate and scale-up pilot projects; vii) communication and outreach.

Reporting Lines

The consultants/subscribers will report to the SWM Programme Coordinator with direct supervision from the relevant technical officers in the SWM Programme Management Unit (PMU), including at field level.

Technical Focus

The assignments will support the SWM Programme Coordination Unit in the implementation of the programme activities (both at global Programme and site Project levels) working towards the following areas: project management, specific programme results described above, as well as research and associated activities in relation to food and agriculture and the management of natural resources.

Cross-cutting themes covered by the roster:

• Technical expertise:

• Programme/Project Development and Management [i.e., coordination, technical and financial reporting (compliance with FAO and donor procedures), project expansion formulation and resource mobilization];

• Institutional and legal frameworks for the sustainable use of meat from wild species resilient to hunting or fishing;
• Sustainable wildlife and natural resources management;
• Development of alternative sources of proteins and income for rural communities;
• Sustainable consumption of wildmeat;
• Social Safeguards;
• Policy Advice and Governance;
• Information and Knowledge Management (i.e., generation and sharing);
• Outreach and advocacy;
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL).

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of guidelines and practical tools and methodologies to promote effective sustainable wildlife and natural resources management, through cross sectoral and participatory approaches;
• Support the development and management of technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services;
• Design and conduct research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals, as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise;
• Ensure liaison with relevant FAO units (or other organizations) relevant to their assignment to obtain guidance and advice on specific elements;
• Contribute to the coordination, implementation/delivery and administration of assigned programmes/activities in accordance with FAO and donor rules, procedures and systems;
• Contribute to necessary action for the mobilization of donor funds, including inputs in the preparation of project proposals;
• As applicable, organize and participate in missions and other events in support of the delivery of FAO’s programme of work, including for consultation, training, capacity building and technical assistance to partners and beneficiaries of FAO support programmes and projects;
• Contribute to relevant studies, publications and analyses, knowledge products and advocacy materials related to SWM Programme area of work, including guidelines, capacity building and training materials;
• Any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in forest resources management, wildlife management, environmental sciences, administrative/financial management, information management, law or related field
• One to four years of relevant experience for base level consultants, at least five years’ relevant experience for middle level consultants, and at least 10 years relevant experience for senior level consultants in issues related to programme support activities and management, forest resources management, wildlife management
• Working knowledge of English and French (for COF.REG). For PSA.SBS working knowledge of only one of these two.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

• Extent and relevance of technical work experience in one or more of the main areas of SWM Programme’s work
• Extent and relevance of work experience in one or more regions, especially in those where SWM Programme works
• Familiarity with FAO policies and procedures would be an asset
• Extent of knowledge and experience working in multicultural settings and multi-disciplinary projects/programmes combining various approaches to wildlife management in the context of sustainable food and agriculture
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge management experience, especially related to sustainable wildlife management, may be considered an asset

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org