Consultant; Biodiversity Threats Assessment Specialist, Liberia
Fauna & Flora International
Consultancy Fee: Dependent on qualifications and experience
Start Date: As soon as possible and no later than mid-July
Duration of Contract: 6-8 weeks
Location: Monrovia/Nimba/Grand Bassa, Liberia
Fauna & Flora International protects threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. Operating in more than 40 countries worldwide – mainly in the developing world – FFI saves species from extinction and habitats from destruction, while improving the livelihoods of local people. Founded in 1903, FFI is the world’s longest established international conservation body and a registered charity.
To achieve its mission in Africa, FFI has adopted an innovative approach based on local partnerships that helps give prominence to the socio-economic elements of effective conservation. In all its projects in Africa, FFI seeks to:
• Build local partnerships with African conservation and community development organisations
• Strengthen institutions to bring sustainability and added value to projects
• Maintain long term relationships
• Reconcile conservation goals with the needs of local people
• Incorporate sound science in decision-making
USAID Liberia is implementing a five-year programme entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The programme, which started in 2012, builds on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012). The main contractor of the PROSPER programme, Tetra Tech ARD, has brought together and subcontracted various aspects of the programme’s activities to local and international partners with the relevant technical capacity and extensive experience in Liberia. The overall goal of the programme is to introduce, operationalise, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the programme are to:
1) Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance
2) Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas
3) Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas
The second component of the PROSPER programme is aimed at developing viable models of community-based forest management that lead to more sustainable forest management practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas. As a forest management and biodiversity conservation programme, PROSPER’s foundational activities are organised under Component 2. Activities under this component seek to build the institutional and individual capacity of communities, FDA and civil society organisations (CSO) to implement sustainable forest management (inclusive of biodiversity conservation) while developing and refining the enabling legal framework through inputs from stakeholder implementation experience.
The Liberia Programme is one of FFI’s largest programmes; Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has been working in Liberia since 1997, supporting Liberia’s forest sector reform process and working with Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to conserve Liberia’s threatened biodiversity through solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. FFI has been subcontracted by Tetra Tech ARD to conduct a thorough biodiversity threat assessment at PROSPER implementation sites in Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties. A biodiversity assessment was conducted in these sites during the previous year, producing a partial threats assessment, including participatory mapping exercises with local communities. Outputs from the previous threats assessment and ongoing work are intended to inform the development of outreach and awareness materials and future management plans as well as livelihood initiatives. Field activities will be undertaken in close cooperation with field staff of FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), giving them an opportunity to “learn-by-doing”.
FFI is looking for a dynamic team player with a strong background in ecological research and biodiversity surveys along with experience in working with rural communities to carry out a biodiversity threats assessment at the PROSPER implementation sites in the Northern and Southern parts of Nimba County as well as Grand Bassa County. The successful applicant will have at least 5 years’ experience of leading surveys in the field, as well as data analysis and reporting. The successful applicant will also have knowledge of / experience in the use of a Threat Reduction Assessment (TRA), MIRADI, Measures of Success or other methodology for analysing potential anthropogenic threats to species and their habitats in an African context (ideally West Africa).
For further details and to express your interest please visit: http://www.fauna-flora.org/about/jobs/
The closing date for expressions of interest is 20 June 2014. No agencies please.
FFI values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity
|
