Technical Advisor, Wildlife & Forest Crime - Monrovia, Liberia

The Greater Gola Landscape straddles the Liberia/Sierra Leone border and comprises a mosaic of the largest remnants of Upper Guinea forest. Liberia is the country with the highest remaining forest cover in West Africa, representing 42 % of the global biodiversity hotspot Upper Guinea Forest ecosystem. Liberia thus is the last refuge for larger and viable populations of many endemic and threatened forest species, such as the critically endangered West African chimpanzees, endangered pygmy hippos and Timneh Grey Parrots, as well as vulnerable forest elephants, leopards and pangolins.

Liberia's forests and unique wildlife is threatened by illegal activities such as Illegal Wildlife Trafficking (IWT) and hunting for bush meat. In recent years a drastic increase in IWT has been observed all over West Africa and in particular in Liberia.

OVERALL PROJECT OBJECTIVE: Combating Wildlife & Forest Crime:

To involve local communities in the management and protection of wildlife and forest resources and to ensure that Liberia is equipped with the legal framework and law enforcement capacity needed for the sustained fight against the country's Illegal Wildlife Trafficking, while working with all stakeholders across relevant sectors. Through community Eco guard Management.

1. Provide expert advice, strategic direction and technical support to the FDA and other government agencies in Liberia, working closely with a consortium of partners in the Liberia conservation sector (WCF, SCNL, RSPB, LCRP, LiWiSa);
2. Lead the establishment of a new FDA Community Eco-guard Unit, providing all relevant trainings and support;
3. Lead the establishment of a Community Eco-guard data base, based on the use of SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool);
4. Promote and support the creation of a robust and effective capacity building and job creation program for forest communities in the management and protection of wildlife and forest resources;
5. Provide technical and strategic advice towards strengthening Liberia's Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Law Enforcement Network with a particular focus on operational effectiveness and result delivery.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in combatting wildlife and forest crime an advantage.
• Experience of working with organisations in developing countries to develop a training curriculum and build capacity of community members.
• Experience of leading the implementation of new financial systems and improving financial processes and controls and providing training as part of the implementation
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Strong leadership and influencing skills
• Strong interpersonal, team building with an ability to build effective relationships
• Strong communication skills with an ability to present things in a simple and straight forward way
• Culturally and ethnically sensitive
• Self-starter who is outcomes oriented

We are offering a 1-year contract with the possibility of an extension to start as soon as possible.

Closing date: 12 November 2020
Interview date: 19 November 2020

APPLY HERE