The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the largest independent conservation organizations in the world, active in almost 100 countries. It has been working in the Congo Basin in Central Africa for more than 20 years. Our mission is to stop the environmental degradation in the world and build a future where humans live in harmony with nature.

In pursuit of her vision of a future with healthy ecosystems and thriving biodiversity supporting people and driving sustainable development in Cameroon, WWF Cameroon (WWF CCPO) went into partnership with the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources – South West Region (PSMNR-SWR) financed by the Republic of Germany through the German Development Bank KFW. The partnership is currently in its fourth phase covering the period 1 June 2018 to 30 May 2022. The goal of the Programme is to contribute towards the preservation of high-value ecosystems in South-West Region, thereby contributing to improved livelihoods of the surrounding communities in a sustainable manner. The purpose is sustainable forest and wildlife management by affected stakeholders for their benefit, with special emphasis on the poorer segments of the local populations.

Broadly, PSMNR-SWR Phase IV has been set up to achieve the following:

• Consolidate and build on the achievements and lessons from the collaborative management of protected areas (PA) initiated in the previous phases (Phases 1-3);
• Support the institutionalization of the co-management process through local planning instruments (CDP, MP…);
• Promote an integrated landscape approach to enhance connectivity and promote enlarged conservation areas with surrounding forest entities;
• Promote targeted biodiversity conservation strategies towards strategic communities and groups;
• Assess what financing mechanisms (e.g. market based mechanisms, compensation schemes, business investments, corporate contributions/ sponsorship, fiscal instruments) can be successfully applied under the given conditions to generate the identified fund flow

We are therefore looking for a dynamic and committed Landscape Officer for The Mt Cameroon Landscape in order to accompany PSMNR-SWR in the achievement of the above stated objectives.

Location: Buea, Cameroon

Duration: 2 years, renewable 

Major functions:

• Contribute to the consolidation and capitalization of the achievements and lessons of the collaborative protected area management approach.
• Support protected area management, in particular the co-management aspects, in the Mount Cameroon Landscape.
• Pro-actively support the implementation of the landscape approach
• Support institutionalization of co-management and spatially define the intervention, and support institutionalization within CDP taking into consideration landscape approach through community forests and agro-industrial complex around the Mt. Cameroon landscape.
• Assist with monitoring and evaluation, reporting and communication of, and learning from PSMNR initiatives in the Mt. Cameroon Landscape.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to the mitigation of land-use conflict around MCNP (output 2.1).
• Facilitate the negotiation of participatory corridor management of important wildlife corridors (output 2.3), their integration into CDP and supervise its implementation;
• Facilitate the institutionalization of the collaborative PA management approach and its integration into legal planning processes (PA management plans, Council Development Plans, Land-use Plans/ Output 3.1).
• Organize the capacity building of stakeholders in the co-management process (output 3.2)
• Support the identification and implementation of cluster specific collaborative management activities (output 3.3);
• Contribute to the implementation of targeted intervention of the hunter engagement for the benefit of communities and groups with strong impact on MCNP (output 3.5)
• Contribute to the cooperative/enterprise development for farm and forest producers (output 3.6)
• Support the sustainable management of NTFPs by local communities inside PAs (output 3.7)
• Contribute to PA staff capacity building (output 4.2)
• Support research to address priority issues for key wildlife and habits conservation (Output 4.3).
• Support the elaboration/revision of PA and landscape management plans (Output 4.4).
• Support the development and operationalization of the Mount Cameroon Fund (output 5.2)
• Contribute to the joint use and maintenance of the PSMNR Geographical Information System (GIS).
• Contribute to the PSMNR and WWF communication by providing articles for publication.
• Assist in developing monthly, semester and annual work plans and budgets for approval by the PSMNR-SWR.
• Monitor and report at agreed frequencies and formats the activities in the approved work plans.
• Prepare required technical progress reports using standard PSMNR and WWF reporting format.
• Verify requests for funds to facilitate disbursements.
• Develop ToRs for service providers, consultants, or Local Support Organizations (LSO) to assist with implementation of approved activities

What you need:

Required Qualifications       

• Minimum of Master in one or more of following domains: geography, forestry and wildlife, natural resource management, or any related specialization;
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in the field of protected area management and sustainable management of natural resources, with experience in community development

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical skills in land use planning and natural resource management;
• Strong technical skills in designing and implementing community projects;
• Good knowledge on wildlife and protected areas management;
• Good knowledge of legal and institutional framework in the area of forest and wildlife resources management, and land use planning in Cameroon;
• Strong technical, communication and organizational skills;
• Ability to work and interact with people of different backgrounds;
• Good team spirit and familiarity with the functioning of local and international organizations;
• Computer literate and good knowledge of data analysis and GIS;
• Fluency in English and familiarity with French

Required Behavioural Skills

• Accountable, Persevering & Delivering Results;
• Willingness and ability to work in a remote area with low supervision.
• Proactive approach to meeting deadlines and delivering results with limited supervision
• Demonstrates WWF behaviours in way of working: Strive for Impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate Openly, Innovate Fearlessly;
• Adhere to WWF’s values: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

Working Relationships

Internal:

The Mount Cameroon Landscape Officer will work under the supervision of the Landscape Advisor, the CFP Program Executant, the Senior Field Programs Coordinator, the WWF country team and relevant WWF network staff

External:

Within the PSMNR-SWR set-up, the MCLO will work closely with the co-management Unit and Landscape management unit of RDFOF in order to ensure proper coordination and standardized intervention. The Landscape Officer is the direct counterpart of the conservator of the Mt. Cameroon National Park, and working in collaboration with the Head of the co-management unit (CMU), community Development Officer (CDO) and Local Support Organizations (LSO) in the animation of the co-management intervention around MCNP. For its intervention at landscape level, the MCLO will collaborate directly with the Mt. Cameroon TOU conservator (DDFOF Fako) and concerned Councils/LSOs.

Adherence to WWF ways of working

Behaviours

• Strive for Impact “I am results driven. Everything I do, the way I think, plan and implement is driven by a relentless search for impact.”
• Listen Deeply “I go beyond my point of view and strive to see the bigger picture from different perspectives. I stay curious and listen deeply to what others have to say.”
• Collaborate Openly “I’m a global citizen working for a living planet. I am constantly thinking of how with others, together, we can be more impactful. I work across boundaries, openly ask for help and share what I know, both internally and externally.”
• Innovate Fearlessly “I take risks to find better solutions. I measure progress and learn from mistakes. I share both success & failures. I encourage others to do the same.”

WWF’s Mission & Values

• It is part of every staff member’s terms of reference to contribute towards WWF’s mission. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption;
• It is also part of every staff member’s terms of reference to embody WWF’s values which are: Passionate and Optimistic, Challenging and Inspiring, Credible and Accountable, Persevering & Delivering Results;

How to apply?

Email a cover letter and CV 

Only those who meet the requirements will be contacted. If you have not been contacted one month after closing, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Deadline for applications: March 4TH, 2020

Female applicants are encouraged.

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.