[Coral-List] WWF Conservation Director - Vamizi Island, Mozambique

[Artur Gil]

JOB DESCRIPTION 
 
Position title     :                       WWF  Conservation Director 
Reports to        :                       WWF-MCO Conservation Manager 
Location           :                       Vamizi Island, Mozambique
Start Date        :                       01 July 2010
 
Background
 
Vamizi Island (xx ha) is part of a commercial conservation concession in northern Mozambique, managed by Cabo Delgado Biodiversity and Tourism Company (Mozambique) - CDBT. It includes the adjacent island of Rongui, and some 100+ km to the south lie Macaloe Island and Quiterajo (30,000 ha) on the mainland. Vamizi Island is the focus of an international eco-tourism development, comprising a lodge and plans to build 50 holiday houses. It Quiterajo there has been little tourism development, but substantial ecological surveys and community liaison work.. 
 
Vamizi ecotourism development focuses on sea sports, including coral diving and sport fishing, and therefore depends on maintaining excellent quality reefs and marine conditions. The company also needs to work with local communities fisheries groups to regulate fishing to ensure sustainable benefits. In addition, Vamizi and Rongui are vulnerable to off-shore oil / gas exploration and production – and they depend on the oil industry to follow best international practice to avoid ecological and social damage.  
 
WWF has developed the Coastal East Africa regional marine programme, stretching from Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique, and has identified the Vamizi regional as an important ‘conservation hot spot’, with high coral species diversity, and an important zone for trans-frontier marine conservation work with Tanzania. There is therefore WWF interested to work with CDBT to build a conservation and development programme that delivers high quality tourism, ecological and social outcomes, and to do this will require an integration of effective conservation management and sound conservation science
 
Although the focus of development is on Vamizi Island, it is important to appreciate that the impact of the CDBT company activities, such as use of building timber and reliance on much international air travel, needs to be mitigated as much as possible through habitat restoration and maintenance in Quiterago.  
 
 
Job Purpose
 
Improve the health and ecosystem productivity of the Vamizi and Rongui Islands for the benefit of tourism development, community fisheries, as the intrinsic value of the ecosystem and its species. This needs to be achieved in the context of national and regional conservation initiatives, and as an integral part of the ecotourism development activities on Vamizi Island.
Major Functions:
 
·        Take on management responsibilities for all WWF activities on Vamizi and Rongui Islands, and Quiterajo area, including financial, administrative and personnel management, and delivery of annual workplans. This includes contract management of 20 Vamizi turtle monitors and 20 Quiterajo wildlife monitors, and over-sight of the Conservation Science Manager.. 
·        Be a member of the Vamizi Island Management team, feeding into the Environmental and Social planning processes and plans. 
·        Maintain good relations with local government and local communities, as an integral part of part implementing a conservation plan for Vamizi and Rongui Islands, and liaise with WWF-MCO on project development in Quiterajo. 
·        Establish, and act as Secretary for, the WWF-CDBT Steering Group which convenes (physically and via telecom) twice a year to monitor delivery of annual workplan targets and budgets. 
·        Establish a regular and effective reporting regime with WWF-MCO, for montly monitoring of progress and road blacks, and to ensure the the work on Vamizi / Rongui supports and is supported by national and regional conservation activities.
 
Major responsibilities
 
a.       Produce a conservation plan for Vamizi (marine and terrestrial), with clear zoning for different uses: protection or management of species / habitats (e.g. turtle nesting beaches), no take zones, diving, fishing (local and sport). This needs to be done on consultation and collaboration with Vamizi, feeding into the EIA / Environmental Management plan for the property development. It also needs to build on existing socio-economic data about fisheries activities in Vamizi and Rongui.  
 
b.      Strengthen local fisheries management institutions, as part of a positive engagement with local communities (and local government);
·       Strengthen CCP (local fisheries association) to control ‘no take’ fish sanctuary, and define annually fishing quotas for all fishers;
·       Train and manage an effective and efficient community guard force with support from Quirimbas National Park;
·       Make the connection with Navy so they patrol, to support legal fishing activitities and remove illegal fishermen from Island.
·       Engage with Social Impact Assessments of the development, provide input to decisions relating to community
 
c.       Develop and implement a programme communications plan to explain, and support, the collaboration between WWF and CDBT Ltd.  
 
·  A press statement and Q&A sheet, explaining the activities of WWF and CDBT on Vamizi Island
·  Clear communication / briefing sheets on issues and their avoidance / mitigation, such as environmental impacts of property development, community engagement, international travel impacts etc
·  Information for policy and decision makers: Mozambican Government, corporations, civil society. 
·  With the Conservation Science Manager, produce interpretation materials  for easy understanding of conservation issues, research activities and results, for use in the Vamizi Marine Conservation Centre, as well as on WWF websites etc. 
 
d.      Ensure liaison with WWF-Mozambique marine programme, especially the Conservation Manager MCO. It will be important to build strong links with Quiribas National Park, and to become an integral part of the Coastal East Africa Network Initiative.
 
·     Lesson learning exchange;
·     Training opportunities and exchanges;
·     Linking local activities with national and regional initiatives.
·     Contribute to the processes for declaring a marine reserve in the region
 
Required Qualifications 
·        Advanced degree in environmental management, park management, conservation science,  mining,  engineering or geology with particular relevance to petroleum resource development. 
·        Technical proficiency and experience in the field of conservation and natural resource management.
·        At least ?ten years professional experience in management or leadership role related to conservation areas in the region, and a proven ability to work in teams, and with diverse stakeholders.
·        Experience with high-level advocacy work in eastern Africa region.
 
 
Required Skills: 
·        Proven ability to work independently as well as in a team. 
·        Ability and interest in working closely with local communities and civil society organizations to empower them in relation to oil and gas development.
·        Strong interpersonal and networking skills, experience from working with international organizations and successfully working closely with local and central government agencies on complex issues. 
·        Exposure to or experience related to marine conservation and/or ecotourism development. 
·        Excellent oral and written communication in English and Swahili / Portuguese. 
·         Computer literate, be familiar with GIS applications.