Background

WCS's Ruaha Katavi Landscape Program is aiming to safeguard two remaining critical wildlife corridors across this landscape. Grazing is a common threat to wildlife habitat, so a clear understanding of grazing dynamics is critical to helping address various conservation challenges. Poor grazing management can lead to poor pasture management, overuse of grazing resources and ultimately habitat and soil degradation. In the hope of finding virgin pasture, grazers have increasingly settled in national priority wildlife corridor areas, placing increasing pressure on natural resources, displacing wildlife, and often raising tensions between local communities, wildlife authorities and others. There is a need to better understand these dynamics to develop a strategy for engagement and management of grazing interests.

Position responsibilities:

• Design a grazing dynamic study for two wildlife corridors linking Ruaha-Rungwa protected area complex with other protected areas to the north and west
• Collect information on agro-pastoralists – who they are, where are they from, how did they know and arrive in the study area?
• Collect data on grazing dynamics – where does grazing occur, when and what criteria are considered by grazers, including how land is secured?
• Document the impacts of grazing in the areas.
• Suggest roles for community leaders with regards to the management of grazing.
• Educate communities on the importance of land use planning and recent planning decisions.
• Educate communities in the best grazing procedures.
• Identify synergies between grazing and conservation.

Other Duties

Integrate with a dynamic and mixed team of conservation professionals, to work under pressure, meet deadlines and remain flexible regarding other work requests.

Required Qualifications 

• A graduate of Wildlife Ecology/ Wildlife management OR International Development Studies/ Human Rights/ Gender Studies/ Human Geography/ Conflict Mitigation, Natural Resource Management).
• At least 2-years’ experience working with communities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and proven ability to work as a team player.
• Fluent in English and Swahili.
• Legally eligible to work in Tanzania.
• Ability to operate in a multicultural environment and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to drive and operate a motorcycle license Class A, A1
• Results-driven work ethic.

Work Duration

The position will be hired on a Specific Task Contract of 8 months

Project Location / Workstation

The employee will be based at Rungwa village located at Sikonge District. No reallocation allowance will be provided.

The position will involve frequent travel within Chunya, Itigi and Sikonge Districts in villages, especially in villages engaged in managing wildlife corridors.

How to apply 

Qualified candidates should send 1) Cover letter, 2) CV and 3) name, phone, and email for 3 referees. Applications should be sent via email to WCS Tanzania, Country Director at wcshrtanzania@wcs.org by January 27th, 2023.