VACANCY: FIELD MANAGER

POST: Field manager: Mitigation of lion killing in Mpimbwe for WASIMA (Watu, Simba na Mazingira)

LOCATION: Kibaoni Village, Mpimbwe Division, Katavi Region, with occasional travel to Regional and District headquarters as required.

DURATION: 10 months (with possibility of extension pending funding)

SALARY: depending on experience.

BACKGROUND

The greatest threat to lion populations across Africa is thought to be direct killing of lions by local communities. This project is based in Mpimbwe south of Katavi National Park. The arrival of large numbers of Sukuma to Mpimbwe coincided with declines in the lion population in the area. Research has shown that some Sukuma men have been poaching lions from within the national park in order to obtain reward payments traditionally given to those who kill lions that kill livestock. Started in 2010, this project is using three participatory approaches to halt this new trend of Sukuma lion hunting and develop a new framework for community natural resource management.

1. Awareness - This project promotes awareness and public discussion of the trend in lion hunting in Katavi National Park by the Sukuma.

2. Regulation - This project assisst the communities in drawing up village bylaws banning lion killing and collection of reward payments.

3. Ecological literacy - We run a cross-societal education programme, including national park visits for key community members and environmental film shows. We hope to expand this programme into schools with the integration of environmental workbooks to improve environmental awareness within Mpimbwe.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS JOB

To implement our activities on the ground (under the supervision of Dr Emily Fitzherbert and Peter Genda).

•  Organization of workshops/seminars at village and sub village level about lion killing and payments of rewards
• Coordination of trips for Sukuma leaders and youth into the KNP, in conjunction with TANAPA.
• Continuation of supervision of primary/secondary school trips into KNP, in conjunction with TANAPA.
• Coordination of roving conservation videos and displays.
• Data collection as part of our monitoring and evaluation programme.

• Keep project accounts, manage the field budget
• Vehicle maintenance
• General field base management
• General maintenance of good relations with the village government and villagers themselves
• Regular reporting to Dr Fitzherbert and Peter Genda.

This position is funded by National Geographic and the Tusk Trust in collaboration with Professors Monique Borgerhoff Mulder, Tim Caro & Heidi Ballard (University of California, Davis) and David Macdonald (University of Oxford).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• The successful candidate will need a high degree of self-direction and initiative.
• The candidate must be able to operate effectively in a very rural remote setting with basic infrastructure.
• 3 years experience in community participation programs, ideally including human-wildlife conflict.
• Experience of working in western Tanzania and advantage.
• Driving licence required, and ability to drive motorbike. Own vehicle an advantage
• Email and basic computer literacy.
• Basic ability to manage project finances.
• Moderate or good English.
• Post probably unsuitable for a family although this is flexible

APPLICATION:

To apply for this position please send a CV and cover letter detailing your experience, skills (with evidence) and motivation for application to e.fitzherbert@googlemail.com by 31 January 2013

Interviews in Arusha or Dar es Salaam in early February. Candidate must travel at own expense.