Community Natural Resource Management Officers – Frankfurt Zooligocal Society, Ethiopia

The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international conservation organization based in Germany. In Ethiopia, FZS focusses on the Bale Mountains, supporting the Ethiopian Government and local communities in conserving Africa’s largest tract of Afroalpine habitat on the continent and development of conservation-compatible livelihoods.

FZS is the implementing agency for a project entitled Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Ethiopia implemented in Bale Mountains National Park in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) and Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP).

FZS is looking for 4 x Community Natural Resource Management Officers to play an integral role in the new Community Based Natural Resource Management Programme.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for working with all Participatory Natural Resource Management (PNRM) CBOs in all kebeles within their given landscape/woreda on issues related to Park Community Agreements (PCAs), zoning and use plans, governance, monitoring, reporting, the kebele ranger programme, and so on.
• Responsible as the focal point for BMNP/FZS for all PNRM CBOs and kebeles.
• Responsible for attending Park Community Dialogue Forums (PCDFs) related to their landscape/woreda, and for helping the PNRM CBOs to prepare for those meetings.
• Responsible for supporting the PNRM CBOs in the development and implementation of their monthly, quarterly and annual work plans and adherence to the terms and conditions of their PCAs.
• Responsible for building the capacity of the kebele rangers and coordinating their work.
• Responsible for monitoring the performance of the PNRM CBOs and kebele rangers.
• Responsible for implementing the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) and Payment for Avoided Fire (PAF) schemes.
• Work in close coordination with the relevant woreda based BMNP stakeholder offices to community pressure reduction of the BMNP associated kebeles
• Responsible for providing monthly reports on all activities within their landscape/woreda to the Grazing and Settlements Technical Advisor.
• Other duties related to the community natural resource management programme.

Duty station:  Bale Mountains National Park, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Reporting to: Grazing and Settlement Technical Advisor

Duration: Up to 9 months, renewable depending on funds

Expertise in the following areas is required

• Higher education in NRM. (Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management)
• > 2 years work experience in the field of natural resource management in NGOs
• Knowledge of conservation, Participatory Natural Resource Management, protected area management, community engagement and law enforcement issues in the Bale eco-region
• Knowledge of relevant planning tools e.g. SMART and GMETT
• Fluency in Afan Oromo, and ideally in English. (Fluency in spoken Afan Oromo and Good communication in written and spoken English are desirable)
• Ability to spend extended periods of time in the field camping in tents and enduring what at times can be tough conditions.
• Ability to work on own with minimum supervision and staying on task
• Ability to work with local communities and represent BMNP and FZS in a professional manner.
• Ability to use a laptop with proficiency in MS Office or Certificate in IT will be advantageous
• Ability to use a GPS and to map using ArcGIS, QGIS, etc will be advantageous
• Ability and license to drive a motorbike will be advantageous.