Cameroon: Wildlife Monitoring Specialist

INTRODUCTION

ZSL Cameroon is seeking a consultant Wildlife Monitoring Specialist to support ongoing project implementation in the Dja Landscape. ZSL Cameroon has been working in the Dja Landscape since 2007 supporting the ongoing work of the government and related bodies to increase understanding of and combat the poaching and trafficking of mid and larger bodied vertebrate fauna.

SUMMARY

This Consultant, under the supervision of the TRIDOM Landscape Manager, will work alongside ZSL staff and partners to support wildlife monitoring activities across the ZSL Cameroon programme, particularly within the TRIDOM landscape, in line with our country strategy and funded commitments. Consultant is expected to contribute to design, development and implementation of wildlife monitoring and surveillance at project sites, particularly the Dja landscape, and train partners and collaborators in the application of these systems - protected areas and forestry concessions are wildlife habitats that will be emphasized

The Consultant will be based at ZSL’s field offices in Yaoundé and Djoum, and will work in the main field sites in the East Region with national and regional travel as required.

DELIVERABLES

This consultancy, funded through an EU grant will work directly with staff and project partners to implement key grant deliverables and increase knowledge/capacity of staff and partners to conduct camera trapping and surveys of fauna in the Dja.

Key deliverables:

DELIVERABLE 1 Conduct a full mid- to larger-bodied vertebrate fauna survey of the Dja Faunal Reserve through line transect and recce methods for elephant, gorilla, chimpanzee, and selected other taxa such as grey parrot and arboreal primates, where possible and confident data can be obtained;

DELIVERABLE 2 Reporting on findings and comparison the results to the previous IUCN/MINFOF faunal survey and other relevant surveys;

DELIVERABLE 3 Carry out, analyse, and report on two standard camera trap grids placed in the NE and E Sectors of the Dja Faunal Reserve;

DELIVERABLE 4 Develop standardized wildlife monitoring program for the Dja Faunal Reserve in partnership with MINFOF and have it approved and implemented;

DELIVERABLE 5 Develop centralized database for wildlife monitoring data and reports that can be readily accessed, be easy to input data into, and easily generate meaningful reports as needed;

DELIVERABLE 6 Train relevant MINFOF staff in database use and maintenance; wildlife data will be derived from the full faunal inventory, camera trap grids, and patrol-based encounter rates.

Additional support to Project implementation:

· Provide ongoing technical support for wildlife surveys and monitoring at project sites, as needed;

· Provide training to MINFOF and other conservation partners in wildlife monitoring methods and analysis, as needed, within the TRIDOM landscape (Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, CAR) and other priority forest and savanna landscapes;

· Provide support to other relevant programme initiatives related to wildlife research, monitoring and surveillance as required.

REQUIREMENTS

Expectations of Consultant

· To ensure that the policy for equality of opportunity is adhered to and promoted in all aspects of the post holder’s work.

· To ensure effective quality control and continuous improvement in all aspects of the work and responsibilities attached to this post.

· Demonstrate professionalism towards sensitive and confidential information in line with the confidential information policy.

· To comply with and promote Health and Safety policies and procedures and to undertake recommended Health and Safety training as and when necessary.

· To be committed to professional self-development, through participation in in-service training as necessary for the successful carrying out of the job.

· To undertake such other duties as are commensurate with the grade of the post.

Qualifications & Experience

· A higher degree in a subject related to protected areas management, forestry, conservation/natural resource management or equivalent level of work experience in a relevant field.

· Proven capacity-building skills, experience in developing and delivering trainings.

· Proven experience in planning and carrying out wildlife surveys and monitoring.

· Experience of managing and supporting relationships with relevant partners.

· Experience of technical and financial report writing.

· Experience in analysis of camera trap data.

Knowledge

· A good understanding of current approaches to wildlife monitoring methods and analyses and conservation of wildlife in the TRIDOM region

· An understanding of protected area management and in particular, wildlife survey, monitoring and surveillance systems.

Skills & Abilities

· Spoken French desirable

· Ability to write professionally in English

· GIS skills highly desirable.

· Data management and analysis skills.

· A valid driver’s licence and appropriate field training.

· Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

· Good cultural awareness and able to work effectively in different cultural environments.

· Strong organisational skills, with ability to carry out multiple tasks to deadlines.

· Personable and ability to work both within a team and with minimal supervision.

· Motivated.

· Excellent report-writing skills.

References

· Please provide names and contact details for two referees for which you have delivered services, preferably services which relate to the content of RFP.

Other Requirements

· Able and willing to work long hours and over weekends when required.

· Willing and able to spend large amounts of time in the TRIDOM landscape and field

EXCLUSIONS

Proposers will be excluded from this RFP if:

· they are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations;

· they or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a judgment of a competent authority which has the force of res judicata;

· they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the Beneficiary(ies) can justify;

· they have not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or with those of the country of the Beneficiary(ies) or those of the country where the contract is to be performed;

· they are not in compliance with their obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or with those of the country of the contracting authority or those of the country where the contract is to be performed.

· they or persons having powers of representation, decision making or control over them have been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation, money laundering or any other illegal activity, where such illegal activity is detrimental to the EU's financial interests;

· they are currently subject to an administrative penalty referred to in section 2.3.4 of the Practical Guide

Proposers must certify below that they are not in one or more of the situations listed above.

Do you confirm that you are not in one or more of the situations listed above?

Yes/No

CONSULTANCY DATES

September 2017 – August 2018

PAYMENT

Payment to consultant will be made based on receipt of invoice after meeting each of the 6 key identified deliverables and/or as agreed with the Country Manager.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Applicants should apply via email to David.Olson@zsl.org and include a CV, a covering letter and a technical and financial offer (no more than 2 pages) on the basis of a maximum 240 days of work over 12 consecutive months. We regret that we will only be able to contact applicants who have been selected for interview. Closing date for applications is 5 September, 2017.

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.