CURRENT VACANCY: SPATIAL ANALYST
Based in Mbeya, reporting to the WCS Tanzania Carbon Expert as part of the East Africa Regional Program. 6 month contract with potential for extension.

Context
WCS seeks to evaluate the feasibility of cost-effective carbon sequestration within the Southern Highlands landscape in Tanzania. The region has the potential for carbon sequestration through a blend of forest protection (avoided deforestation) and restoration activities. WCS will evaluate the potential generation of verified emissions reductions, and then prepare the required studies and documentation to have the projects validated against the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate Communities and Biodiversity Standard (CCB). In each case, successful project implementation depends on understanding historical land cover change, prioritising appropriate locations for interventions, and monitoring activities into the future.

WCS is seeking a Spatial Analyst with technical expertise in GIS and Remote Sensing analyses used to detect and monitor changes in land-use. The Spatial Analyst will be responsible for working with the Tanzania programme team to source, organise, and develop all spatial data required to design and implement the carbon-sequestration feasibility analysis. This will include: assisting in developing and maintaining a GIS database; conducting remote sensing analyses to map historical land cover change and land cover enhancements (forest restoration and tree planting); identifying appropriate locations for project interventions, including avoided deforestation and tree planting activities; leading the development of project intervention monitoring systems, and serving as the key point of contact with WCS regional spatial analysts. The analyst will be based in the WCS office in Mbeya, with frequent travel to project sites in Tanzania.  

Modus operandi
The Spatial Analyst will be offered a 6 months contract with the potential for renewal. The analyst will work under the supervision of the Forest Carbon Expert and in close collaboration with the WCS East Africa Regional team based in Kigali, Rwanda, and the WCS Conservation Solutions team.

Responsibilities
The Spatial Analyst will work with the WCS Tanzania team to conduct all spatial analyses required throughout project development and implementation. In particular, this will involve:

• Gap analysis to identify available data on land use/land cover, forest cover, carbon stocks, human activities, administrative boundaries (e.g. protected areas), and any other data relevant to the project. Lead the compilation of all relevant spatial data (including metadata) into a GIS database.
• Evaluate and determine the appropriate technical approach for assessing historical land cover and land cover change. This should take advantage of existing national and international datasets and/or remote sensing products, and may also involve a custom approach tailored to the Southern Highlands.
• Implement determined approach to conduct a spatial analysis of historical land cover and land cover changes across programme landscape; create historical land cover and land cover change maps according to requirements of the selected VCS methodology.
• Evaluate and determine the appropriate technical approach for assessing historical enhancements (e.g. natural regeneration, forest restoration, and tree planting). This should be based on existing national and international datasets and/or remote sensing products, and may also involve a custom approach tailored to the Southern Highlands (e.g. supervised classification and vegetation indices trend analysis).
• Implement determined approach to conduct spatial analysis of historical enhancements (e.g. tree planting and natural regeneration) across the programme landscape to calculate historical enhancement rates.
• Assist in identifying locations most appropriate for project interventions, including avoided deforestation activities and forest restoration. This may involve estimating deforestation probability, determining appropriate species for forest restoration in various locations including:

• Coordinating with other GIS and RS experts at partner organisations and the Government of Tanzania. Providing written input into Project Documents that meet the requirements of the relevant certification processes.
• Contribute to development of Project Document: For the best crediting option(s) in the landscape, contribute to the preparation of a project document, ready for submission to a Validation and Verification Body.
• Undertake other GIS and RS tasks as agreed upon by the Tanzania and Regional teams. 

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Noah E. Mpunga: COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Noah joined WCS Tanzania in 2003 as a Conservation Biologist, primarily researching carnivores and primates of the Southern Highlands. Prior to this he worked with Dr Daniela De Luca studying carnivore distribution and abundance in Udzungwa National Park and Rungwe Nature Reserve. He holds a BSc in Wildlife Ecology and a Masters Degree in Corporate Management.

Sophy J. Machaga: SHCP DIRECTOR
Sophy joined the program as a Conservation Biologist in 2003 to carry out field research. She is responsible for research design, collection and collation including GIS data and map-making for the project. She holds a BSc in Wildlife Ecology and Zoology and has been trained in GIS.

Vicky F. Mbofu: SHCP ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Vicky joined WCS as a research assistant in 2010, conducting social economic surveys on human-wildlife conflict assisting then PhD student Claire Bracebridge (now Ruaha-Katavi Technical Advisor). 3 months later she was employed as Social Economics Coordinator. She has a Bachelor of Wildlife Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture. 

Fredy W. Mdemu: ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR (COUNTRY PROGRAM)
Fredy has been the program finance manager since 2009. He holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance and Banking from Tumaini University, Iringa College. Before joining WCS he taught at secondary school and college level in Iringa and Mbeya.  

Prisca Mwani: SHCP Finance Manager
Prisca joined WCS in 2020. She holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), majoring in Finance and Banking from Tumaini University in Iringa as well as a BA in Accounting and Finance from the Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies. Prior to joining WCS, Prisca worked as an accountant at Ilula Orphan Program, Tumaini University’s Makumira-Mbeya Centre and Tanzania Electricity Supply Company TANESCO Mbeya.

Daniela De Luca: TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Daniela holds a degree in zoology, wildlife ecology and management from the University of Rome and a PhD in behavioural ecology from the University of London and the Institute of the Zoological Society of London, UK. She moved to in 1999 Tanzania to manage a conservation and development project around Lake Rukwa, before joining WCS to carry out carnivore research and conservation across Southern Tanzania. During a camera trapping study in the Udzungwa National Park she re-discovered the Lowe’s servaline genet and recorded a new distribution site for the Jackson’s mongoose. She conducted a long term carnivore monitoring project in the Mt. Rungwe- Kitulo landscape and initiated and conducted the first Clawless and Spot necked otters project in Mt Rungwe and Sao Hill. She has been involved in many aspects of research design, data collection and analysis of endangered mammalian species such as Dugong, Chimpanzees, Kipunji and Zanzibar red colobus in addition to capacity building of Tanzanian graduates.

Anthony Ernest Minazi:  ASSISTANT EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Anthony initially joined WCS as a volunteer in the education department in 2013 and was employed after one year. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecotourism and Nature Conservation.

Faraja Dembe: ASSISTANT COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER
Faraja started volunteering for WCS in 2013 and after showing keen learning was taken on full time in 2014. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Development Studies.

Sylvanos Peter Kimiti: SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Sylvanos manages research teams in all the program’s field activities. He has risen from Logistics Officer in 2003 then Research Assistant to his current role.

Obadia J. Mwaipungu: RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Obadia joined WCS in 2003 and has worked on research in the Southern Highlands. Prior to joining the program he worked for various private companies after completed secondary education.

Ayubu Kajigili: RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Ayubu started volunteering for WCS IN 2008, assisting with field activities. He was taken on as a research assistant in 2009 and has advanced secondary level education.

Willy Mwalwengele: RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Willy first worked for WCS in 2003. He continues to assist in the preparation and implementation of field projects, supporting the work of Project Coordinators and Conservation Biologists. He is also responsible for financial management of Research Assistant funds and coordination of other research assistants.

Buto K. Mwamboneke: DRIVER AND MECHANIC
Buto joined WCS in 2003 and is responsible for the program vehicles, driving project staff and visitors as well as assisting the team in various other activities. He has a certificate in mechanics.

Ramadhani S. Mduruma: DRIVER
After working on two temporary assignments, Ramadhani joined WCS full time in 2008. In addition to driving, he assists with research and education activities. He holds a secondary education certificate and driving license.

Amnoni A. Mbubha: FOREST GUARD
Amnoni lives adjacent to Mt. Rungwe and started guiding WCS researchers in 2003, during which time he became familiar with field activities and conservation. He was formally employed in 2007 and is educated to primary level.

Sharifa Kapenja Azizi: FOREST GUARD
Sharifa began working as a porter for WCS research teams before becoming employed by the program in 2008 to help protect Mt Rungwe.

Christopher Mwampetele: FOREST GUARD
Christopher lives adjacent to the forest in Mt Rungwe and began formally assisting WCS in its conservation in 2008.

Atupakisye Mwaibanje: FOREST GUARD
Atupakisye joined the program as a camp guard and cook in 2006. She learnt fast about research activities and was promoted to forest guard in 2008.

Asifiwe Omari: FOREST GUARD
Asifiwe has always been interested in conservation. He initially worked as a porter for WCS field researchers before being taken on as a forest guard in 2008.

Samwel Ambokile: FIELD ASSISTANT
Samwel started working with WCS in 2017, as part of the team supporting Kipunji research and monitoring on Mount Rungwe.

Jane S. Lugome: OFFICE ATTENDANT
Jane has been with the program since 2003 since when she has become familiar with research activities and learnt how to take care of flora and fauna specimens brought to the office for identification and study. She has a primary education certificate.

Joshua E. Nsagaji: OFFICE GUARD
Joshua joined WCS in 2003. In addition to working as a guard he takes care of the garden and assists with project logistics and stores. 

Leba Mwanahewa: OFFICE GUARD
Leba joined WCS in 2005. He takes care of general office security and equipment as well as assisting in field logistics and maintenance of the office grounds. He holds a primary education certificate.

Eliah H. Mwasyove: OFFICE GUARD
Eliah holds a primary education certificate and joined WCS in 2006. He is responsible for taking care of office equipment and assisting with logistics and stores.