Job Description

Chemonics seeks a Community Engagement and Inclusion Specialist for the anticipated USAID-funded Southern Africa Countering Wildlife Crime (CWC) Activity. The purpose of this five-year, $24 million activity is to reduce threats to and protect biodiversity from wildlife crimes in Southern Africa. The goals of the activity are to improve collaboration among stakeholders, strengthen criminal justice sector capacity, reduce corruption, and increase community support and participation. This position will be based in Pretoria, South Africa. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.Responsibilities:Directs the community engagement technical area, recognizing the role and commitment of smallholder communities and disadvantaged population groups in sustainable development and conservation of critical ecosystems.

• Provides technical advice on best practices and strategies to prevent and mitigate human-wildlife-conflict (HWC) within communities in the CWC targeted landscapes.
• Oversees piloting of community engagement activities in targeted areas to test, monitor, adapt and share effective approaches, facilitate exchange programs from across the region to learn from successful models/approaches, and support community-level dialogue platforms/forums on human-wildlife conflict and compatible livelihoods.
• Works closely with and supports support local institutions - whether regional institutions, governments, NGOs, or others - to effectively engage communities, through piloting, testing, and support learning efforts.
• Empowers communities to engage with and benefit from improved approaches to mitigating HWC.
• Supervises short-term technical experts as required

• Advanced degree in social sciences, conservation, natural resources management (NRM), or another field related to community engagement strongly preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a relevant area
• Extensive experience in community engagement, community-based conservation and NRM, livelihoods, gender and inclusion, and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and exchanges.
• Extensive experience assessing community livelihoods, engaging local communities, and establishing multi-stakeholder dialogue mechanisms
• Experience working at with communities, smallholder groups, local populations, and similar organizations in various cultural settings throughout Southern Africa
• Proven ability to support subnational jurisdictions and communities to foster mutually beneficial and equitable relationships
• Fluency in English required
• Preferred experience working under USG funding mechanisms (USAID)

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