Description

Reports to: Rights & Communities Manager

Positions Managed: Community Engagement Officer(s)

Location: Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth Protected Area

Position Type: Full-time

Scope/Capacity: Site, travel to work in remote locations expected

Coordinates with: Rights and Communities team members, Biodiversity Management team, Law Enforcement team, Uganda Country Team, global and regional thematic teams and specialists (e.g. Rights+ Communities) as needed.

Job Purpose

The Community Engagement Coordinator will support the Rights and Communities Manager in implementing impactful community conservation initiatives around Ishasha. This role will focus on engaging communities to participate in park related initiatives and activities. This will include but not be limited to leading consultations and awareness-raising related to protected area activities, supporting mitigation of human wildlife conflict, supporting the implementation of social safeguards mechanisms for communities and building the capacity of community institutions. The position requires extensive travel to locations around Ishasha to engage directly with local communities.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute community engagement activities to reach target audiences, in accordance with the community conservation plan and social safeguards plan
• Build strong relationships with communities, local and civil society organizations, community representatives and other local stakeholders
• Ensure engagement of diverse groups and community members in park activities, including women, youth and other vulnerable or target audiences
• Lead consultations with communities and community institutions as required and related to project activities
• Support the roll-out of a grievance redress mechanism and other social safeguards mechanisms through community engagement
• Support human wildlife conflict mitigation efforts through community engagement
• Represent the community’s interests and concerns to the management and partner organizations
• Track the effectiveness of community engagement activities and adjust the approach as needed
• Provide targeted training and support to community members and organizations to build their capability to participate in PA management issues (e.g. revenue sharing)
• Implement incentive programs such as wildlife scholarships, where funding allows, ensuring community engagement and transparency in the selection of participants
• Conduct socio-economic research and monitoring in accordance with the community conservation plan and monitoring and evaluation plan

Qualification Requirements

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required)

• A Bachelor’s degree in social, rural or environmental sciences essential, Masters degree in the same desirable
• At least five year’s experience working with rural or remote communities in social mobilization, community engagement, awareness campaigns or similar
• Proven experience in the application of participatory methods and monitoring and evaluation of community engagements
• Ability and passion to work with local communities towards a shared vision
• Good written and oral skills in English and Runyakitara (i.e., Runyankore, Rukiga, Runyoro, Rutoro) and Rufumbira
• Experience working with multi-faceted teams
• Coordination with government, donors and partners coupled with excellent networking and communications skills
• Knowledge and commitment to conservation
• Ability to innovate, initiate and good adaptability and problem-solving skills

• Plan and execute community engagement activities to reach target audiences, in accordance with the community conservation plan and social safeguards plan
• Build strong relationships with communities, local and civil society organizations, community representatives and other local stakeholders
• Ensure engagement of diverse groups and community members in park activities, including women, youth and other vulnerable or target audiences
• Lead consultations with communities and community institutions as required and related to project activities
• Support the roll-out of a grievance redress mechanism and other social safeguards mechanisms through community engagement
• Support human wildlife conflict mitigation efforts through community engagement
• Represent the community’s interests and concerns to the management and partner organizations
• Track the effectiveness of community engagement activities and adjust the approach as needed
• Provide targeted training and support to community members and organizations to build their capability to participate in PA management issues (e.g. revenue sharing)
• Implement incentive programs such as wildlife scholarships, where funding allows, ensuring community engagement and transparency in the selection of participants
• Conduct socio-economic research and monitoring in accordance with the community conservation plan and monitoring and evaluation plan

• Ability and passion to work with local communities towards a shared vision
• Good written and oral skills in English and Runyakitara (i.e., Runyankore, Rukiga, Runyoro, Rutoro) and Rufumbira
• Experience working with multi-faceted teams
• Coordination with government, donors and partners coupled with excellent networking and communications skills
• Knowledge and commitment to conservation
• Ability to innovate, initiate and good adaptability and problem-solving skills

• A Bachelor’s degree in social, rural or environmental sciences essential, Masters degree in the same desirable
• At least five year’s experience working with rural or remote communities in social mobilization, community engagement, awareness campaigns or similar
• Proven experience in the application of participatory methods and monitoring and evaluation of community engagements