Livelihoods Assistant at Wildlife Conservation Society

Position Overview:

• The Livelihoods Assistant will be required to work across the Cross River gorilla landscape.
• S/he will support the development of a programme of community-related activities around the Oban Division to improve local support for conservation and reduce community-based threats to conservation targets through incentives. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support all livelihood, community conservation and outreach activities for the Cross River Gorilla program. This position will help support cocoa farmers to improve yields on existing farms and reduce forest loss rates. Assist the Livelihoods Manager in signing conservation contracts with each farmer to reinforce the link between WCS-supported livelihood activities and conservation outcomes.
• Partner with women’s groups to improve income levels from NTFPs, focusing on bush mango and helping develop cooperatives. 
• Provide support for BNS surveys across the Oban Division.
• Provide governance support for the landscape by strengthening community governance institutions and developing and implementing governance-strengthening action plans for local forest governance groups.
• Support the monitoring of socio-economic performance by assisting the Livelihoods Manager to develop, coordinate, and maintain a comprehensive monitoring system for all WCS livelihood projects (particularly governance and well-being).  
• Establish good working relationships with WCS site managers and work with them to ensure that communities recognize and appreciate the link between WCS’s livelihood work and law enforcement.

Position Requirements:

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in development, agricultural sciences, economics, social sciences, or related fields.
• At least two (2) years of relevant experience designing, implementing, and managing livelihood recovery and development programmes.
• Adaptability and flexibility: This position is mainly field-based, and the incumbent must understand that work environments can be unpredictable and dynamic. S/he must adapt to changing circumstances, work under pressure, and handle unexpected situations.
• Communication skills: Effective communication is essential for this role. The incumbent must interact with colleagues and stakeholders in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.
• Organizational skills: This role often requires managing multiple tasks, projects, or assignments simultaneously. Strong organizational skills, including time management and prioritization abilities, are crucial to meet deadlines and stay on top of responsibilities.
• Problem-solving abilities: This role may often involve encountering unexpected challenges or issues. Being able to think critically, analyze problems, and find practical solutions is crucial.
• Physical stamina: This role might occasionally involve physical labour or work in challenging environments. Having the physical stamina and fitness required to carry out tasks safely and efficiently is essential.
• Documentation and reporting skills: Accurate and detailed documentation of activities, observations, and reports is required for this role. Proficiency in preparing concise and comprehensive reports is essential for tracking progress, sharing information, and ensuring compliance.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and work with limited supervision.
• Must be a pro-active, stable, robust character and a good team player.
• Must be able to develop clear goals and identify priority activities and assignments.
• Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with Government, other development partners and the private sector.
• Full professional proficiency in English is compulsory.