Job Title: Forestry and Wildlife Program Officer/Program Officer
Organisation: RTI International
Duty Station: Kasese, Uganda
About US:
RTI International is a non-profit organization headquartered in the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. RTI provides research and technical services. It was founded in 1958 with $500,000 in funding from local businesses and the three North Carolina universities that form the Research Triangle.
Job Summary: The USAID/Uganda Biodiversity for Resilience Activity(B4R) provides technical assistance to communities, the government of Uganda, and the private sector, to conserve and manage biodiversity in target ecosystems for lasting environmental and economic sustainability and increased community and household resilience. The Activity works closely with key government agencies including Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the National Forest Authority (NFA) in four target landscapes of Kidepo Valley National Park area, Murchison Falls National Park area, Budongo Central Forest Reserve and Lake Mburo National Park area.
The Forestry and Wildlife Program Officer will be based in the Queen Elizabeth Landscape (Rubirizi). S/he will support implementation of the USAID/Uganda Biodiversity for Resilience Activity (B4R) Forestry and Wildlife Program in Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve (CFR) and in Kyambura Wildlife Reserve (WR) in the Queen Elizabeth Landscape.
The Forestry and Wildlife Program Officer will report to the Wildlife Program Manager. The Forestry and Wildlife Program Officer will support NFA, UWA and B4R private sector partners to implement interventions for forest and wildlife conservation and improved community livelihoods to improve the conservation of Kalinzu CFR and Kyambura WR.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop work plans for implementation of the B4R Forestry and Wildlife Program performance output activities in coordination with NFA, UWA and B4R private sector partners
- Conduct joint monthly and quarterly planning and monitoring of project activities with NFA, UWA and other key stakeholders in the project areas
- Ensure periodic monitoring and evaluation of B4R’s work plan and provide adaptive management proposals to NFA, UWA and B4R project implementation and leadership to ensure quality, timely completion, and compliance.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders including CFM groups, women’s groups, ex-poacher groups, Private Sector, LGs, NFA and UWA.
- Ensure effective collaboration and implementation of project activities in liaison with B4R, NFA and UWA field staff and landscape partner.
- Technical Components
- Provide technical support to the B4R’s Forestry and Wildlife Program teams and coordinate implementation of NFA/CFM workplan and private sector partner engagements, in close collaboration with NFA, UWA and B4R Kampala.
- Support good governance, capacity building, and operationalisation of CFM groups in close collaboration with NFA staff and B4R’s Governance Advisor and Wildlife Progam Manager.
- Support CFM and women’s groups to collaborate with B4R private sector partner for forest-based livelihoods
- Provide technical assistance to ex-poachers groups and other WR-adjacent communities to collaborate with B4R private sector partners for conservation and agricultural enterprises aimed at reducing tree cutting, invasive species, poaching, and generating economic incentives for communities
- Collaborate with NFA to support Kalinzu tourism development.
- Communications
- Gather and communicate relevant information for B4R communications unit needs.
- Organize field visits and meetings with communities, USAID and project stakeholders
- Create awareness and sensitize stakeholders
- Support communications between NFA and B4R Construction Program Coordinator for Visitor Center and Canopy Walk in Kalinzu CFR
- Monitoring and reporting
- Prepare and timely submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on the performance of B4R activities.
- Prepare a performance monitoring plan for the B4R project activities
- Prepare and submit Monthly and quarterly financial reports and ensure proper accountability of funds.
- Support and coordinate joint monitoring and reporting of B4R project activities.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant must hold a Master’s degree in Forestry/Wildlife/Natural Resource Management and 3 years of relevant work experience; or
- A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study and at least 6 years of relevant experience at field-level activity implementation, including forestry/wildlife conservation, community development, community agriculture, and stakeholder engagements at Local Governments level and Community-Based Organizations.
- At least five years of experience in leading and implementing forestry/wildlife.
- Able to speak the local languages majorly Runyankore and Rukiga
- Able to ride a Motorcycle
- Knowledge of and experience ensuring compliance with USAID regulations and requirements, is
- Formality with the landscape is an added advantage
- Strong planning and management skills
- Basic computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases).
- Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, as well as the ability to foster professional
- High standards of integrity, professionalism, and
- Able to work independently and effectively in a team
- Detail-oriented and highly organized, with a proactive
- Ability to multi-task and work to meet tight
- Ability to work as part of a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, fluency in
- Strong strategic thinking and planning ability
- Ability to work well with public officers at the National, District, Sub-County and Parish levels
- Proven excellent conflict management skills
- Disciplined, Dependability, reliability and high integrity
How to Apply:
All candidates should apply online at the link below.