Background 

WCS is looking to hire a Community Empowerment Lead for the USAID/Tanzania Heshimu Bahari Project led by Chemonics International Inc. The five-year project will acquire technical, material, and grant management services that support and strengthen capacity for marine biodiversity conservation to i) build the capacity of the public sector and civil society; ii) increase private sector engagement in marine conservation and coastal natural resources management; iii) improve the enabling environment for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and fisheries management at all levels; and iv) enhance data availability and use in decision making. The Community Empowerment Lead will be responsible to lead the work of consultations with communities interested by the project, guiding the work across the whole Heshimu Bahari project and its partners to support the establishment of NTRZ across the selected target sites in Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania. Detailed responsibilities are listed below.

Responsibilities: 

• Oversee the design and implementation of the socio-economic baseline surveys of fishing communities to be conducted across Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania
• Conduct data analysis and reporting of the collected data
• Support the team in identifying livelihood options, climate change adaptation strategies, and gender strategies to support community development
• Support the implementing partners in designing a strategy for community engagement
• Lead the WCS team in the consultation work with communities in the target seascapes
• Train and oversee WCS field assistants
• Identify opportunities and methodologies to facilitate data sharing with stakeholders in collaboration with Knowledge Management Lead
• Support the Heshimu Bahari team in the organization and implementation of knowledge exchange events with stakeholders

Required Qualifications 

• Minimum 5 years of working experience and a Master’s degree in social sciences, small-scale fishery management or a similar
• Documented experience engaging coastal communities in conservation and fishery-related activities
• Experience in facilitation of workshops with communities and ability to present complex concepts to communities
• Demonstrated experience in the design, analysis and technical reporting of socioeconomic surveys
• Familiarity with Government Institutions in Zanzibar and Mainland
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required
• Legally eligible to work in Tanzania 
• Position is open for Tanzanian Nationals only

Project Location & reporting  

S/he will be joining WCS’s team in Zanzibar with frequent travel to Dar es Salaam and occasional travel to project sites. The position reports to WCS Tanzania Marine Program Director.

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 July 30th, 2023.