Forest Project Assistant at WWF Tanzania

The WWF-CH applied support is envisaged to directly contribute to the WWF Global Forest Practice Outcome 2 and 3 on Halting Deforestation and bringing 350 Mha of forest landscape into restoration respectively.

The implementation of these outcome mainly FLR enabling policy and political environment. The two outcomes are set to reduce biodiversity loss and restoration of water flow in selected rivers through policy advocacy among other strategies. However, the right holders’ capacity in policy advocacy and influencing natural resource management and use decisions is inadequate.

The civic space in political and policy forums is shrinking and the results have been decisions that have caused conflicts between the right holders and duty bearers. Major threats to biodiversity and community livelihoods in the

WTL include forest encroachment and illegal and unsustainable harvesting of forests, fisheries, wildlife, and water resources. These are further exacerbated by inadequate local community participation in decision making, conflicting policies, political interests and weak governance.

The WWF-CH second phase focuses on finding innovative means to integrate technology and monitoring of FLR in PAs, homestead, farmlands, avenues and other forested areas/lands. This includes working close with Local Government Authorities (LGAs), CSOs, CBOs to bring about impactful ways toward FLR initiatives.

This restoration and improved livelihood project will contribute on its previous restoration efforts by establishing and supporting village tree nurseries that will raise indigenous tree species to be used in restoring degraded and/or deforested areas in the two reserves.

The project also intends to support the establishment of value chains for the tree nurseries to generate some income for the community members involved. It also aims to engage local communities in the project's design and execution of the restoration efforts.

This entails offering training and materials to enhance their conservation knowledge and means of subsistence, such as through non-timber forest products (NTFPs) collection and aggregation. The project will also focus on biodiversity conservation by promoting the regeneration of forests within and outside the reserved land. The intervention will as well include the gazettement of the Kipangege Local Authority Forest Reserve as a strategy to make it more sustainable.

Furthermore, the project will train and raise awareness of community members, TFS and Government Officers.

The project will support tree nurseries by continuing to support the existing tree nursery in Maguruwe village (in Kisarawe district) from the previous project and introduce nurseries establishment to the communities as a means of livelihood through the establishment and operationalization of tree nurseries and woodlots business plans. Tree planting activities will be given due consideration in the second phase of the project. Stakeholders will be supported to undertake tree planting on degraded forest lands, homestead, avenues, farmlands, and village institution compounds such as school, dispensaries, village offices etc.

The project will also build the capacity of communities to monitor newly planted trees through post planting survival assessment in areas that have been restored. Tree planting will not be limited to the areas highlighted above, it will further be extended to watershed areas, woodlots for charcoal, firewood and timber at village and household level. Fruit and commercial crop trees (cashew nuts and citrus) will as well be planted for food and alternative income generation.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Generally the major role of the staff will be to support the implementation of the WWF-CH Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) support project in the Water Towers Landscape II

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Assist in supporting field level FLR and forest conservation activities in general through local partnerships with locally-based organisations
• Work closely with CSOs to foster long-term partnerships with service providers with FLR common interests and geographical focus
• Assist in ensuring wider project impact and generate more transformative outcomes on the ground
• Assist in supporting national level engagement with government around policy and governance issues that are confronting field level FLR implementation
• Assist in ensuring that field experiences inform the development of a coherent national advocacy plan and that these experiences feed into and inform advocacy messages directed towards government
• Assist in supporting the documentation of experiences and lessons and ensure wide dissemination of these lessons across the landscape and other parts of Tanzania
• Assist and support the Forest Program Officer on the innovation component of forest related interventions including commercialization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)
• Work closely with the Communication Department for Community engagement
• Works closely with PMEL department and ESSF Advisor to ensure project monitoring plan is updated and social safeguard plans are implemented
• Work on any other duties as assigned by the Forest Program Coordinator

Working Relationships

Internal – Will be part of WWF Forest Team and Interacts with other Forest Program Officers

External - Interacts with WWF Switzerland Project Team.

Profile:

Required Functional Skills

• A holder of an Ordinary Diploma in Forestry, Agriculture, Environmental Conservation or related fields with experience of 4 years and above. A degree in forestry, natural resources management or Environmental conservation will be an added advantage.
• Proven track record in successfully managing natural resources management, Forest extension or Forest Landscape Restoration projects;
• Demonstrated experience in implementing, forest extension and publicity and managing projects in the related field;
• Strong skills in project planning, financing, management, implementation, and evaluation;
• Experience working with government, CSOs and development partners/government aid agencies;
• Competent on report writing skills, attention to detail, ability to understand the complex issues, understanding of the key principles of good project delivery (objective, outcomes, outputs, activities and monitoring indicators)
• Knowledge and experience on Tanzania FLR related policies and engagement of the government in FLR initiatives;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili.

Required Behavioural Skills

• Excellent understanding of the environmental challenges and their drivers in Tanzania;
• Excellent inter-personal skills, and proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships, negotiate/mediate on issues, and chair meetings;
• Strong cross-cultural skills and versatility in dealing with different types of partners;
• Personal integrity with an honest and open personal style;
• Approachable, and an ability to engage partners at all levels;
• Adherence to WWF’s values, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female applicants are encouraged to apply. WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce

WWF has a principle of zero tolerance for fraud and corruption, if you encounter such an incident, then report by sending an email to [email protected]

Please upload your covering letter and CV in English. Priority will be given to applications with both documents indicated.