WWF Cameroon is looking for a Forest Officer

World Wide Fund For Nature

  • Yokadouma, Est
  • CDI
  • Temps-plein
  • Il y a 10 jours
Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working with WWF could be the opportunity of a lifetime:All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realization that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge.Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.What we do:We are an independent conservation Organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.For our Cameroon Office, we are looking for a dynamic and committed “Forest Officer”.Supervision: Cocoa and Agriculture LeadPlace: YokadoumaDuration: Two (02) years renewableMission of the departmentWWF is committed to the strategy of promoting and developing sustainable cocoa in the landscapes where WWF operates. Sustainable cocoa development means producing and marketing cocoa using agroforestry and other good agricultural practices, as well as fair marketing conditions in the national and international markets. It also involves promoting non-timber forest products (NTFPs), all of which contribute to cocoa production in conditions that are ecologically respectful of the environment and biodiversity.It is in this context that, with funding from Barry Callebaut, the REDUCING POVERTY AND NATURE LOSS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE ECONOMICS OPPORTUNITIES (RESPONSE) Program is being developed and implemented to support forest and biodiversity conservation by promoting the improvement of the well-being of populations, particularly indigenous populations in the target landscapes of the Yokadouma District. In addition to this program, the Mobilizing More Money for Climate (MoMo4C) project is also being implemented in the same area.This program aims to increase and facilitate the commitment of producers and local communities against deforestation and to sustainable cocoa production, while improving the living conditions of partner populations. This work will be carried out through cocoa producer cooperatives and NTFP collector cooperatives, as well as community forests targets.Main functionsThe incumbent of this position will be responsible for implementing Community Forest support and supervision activities, as well as deforestation prevention and control activities, as part of the RESPONSE project, based in Yokadouma.Main tasks and responsibilitiesMain responsibilitiesUnder the technical supervision of the Project Field Coordinator based in Yokadouma and the General Coordination of the Cocoa and Agriculture Lead, based in Yaoundé, the person will be mainly responsible for: * Analysis, planning and monitoring of deforestation and community forests
  • Take stock of deforestation in the project intervention area (produce a complete map)
  • The baseline is updated annually
  • A quarterly report on deforestation alerts in the area and coordination of their verification with the community monitoring tools put in place on the ground
  • Selecting the 6 community forests in the area to be supported as part of the project, based on the criteria established by the Cocoa & Agriculture Lead
  • Carry out a diagnosis of all Community Forests (CF) targeted by the project
  • Select, manage and supervise the consultant in charge of designing and implementing the process leading to the production of a simple management plan for each CF or the updating of existing plans, as well as the environmental impact statement
  • Carry out microzoning of the 6 community forests to identify fallow areas that can be used legally for cocoa production
  • In collaboration with the project coordinator based in Yokadouma and the senior coordinator based in Yaoundé, to select the local partner responsible for training local communities in the ForestLink tool, to train them in independent forest observation and to monitor this activity.
  • Stakeholder mobilisation, consultation and support for beneficiaries
  • Contribute to the regular production of data on deforestation and on the project's progress in terms of CF legality and monitor specific indicators for vulnerable groups (access to services, participation, income, etc.) in conjunction with the WWF IP Manager
  • Lead the consultation process with the FMUs in order to facilitate access to NTFPs for local populations, particularly indigenous populations, in the FMUs,
  • Contribute to the dissemination of the various regulations, in particular the EU RDUE on deforestation, to the various audiences targeted by the project:
  • Members of the two cocoa cooperatives and the NTFP cooperative
  • Local communities living in the 6 community forests
  • More widely in the Yokadouma landscape, using the multi-stakeholder platform, radio, etc.
  • Establish consultation links with partners working in favour of deforestation (TELCAR, Cargill, Barry Callebaut, FAO, CICC, etc.) in order to contribute to the pooling of producers' traceability data in the platform based at the CICC.
  • Traceability, operational coordination and team management
  • Ensure the traceability of all cocoa producers who are partners in the project through complete geolocation
  • Provide supervision and monitoring of consultants and other colleagues (interns, volunteers and other new colleagues) in the field
  • Contribute to the scheduling and coordination of activities within the team as well as the timely preparation of reports.
  • In collaboration with the M&E Officer, produce notes and reports on the monitoring of deforestation in the project landscape and work to minimise deforestation alerts.
  • Set up a database to monitor the progress of MTPs, inventories, community commitments and protected/rehabilitated areas in conjunction with the PMEL Officer.
Main tasks
  • Visit all Community Forests (CFs) targeted by the project,
  • Establish contact with communities and organise participatory sessions with a view to launching activities in CFs and with cocoa producers,
  • Produce or acquire up-to-date maps providing a baseline for deforestation in the landscape and in the project intervention area.
  • Make regular visits to villages and CFs,
  • Participate in each activity in the CFs and support the process of developing and obtaining PSGs,
  • Ensure the traceability of all cocoa producers partnering with the project through the geolocation of all fields,
  • Attend planning and coordination meetings,
  • Participate in awareness campaigns on various regulations, particularly those of the EU (EU DR),
  • Contribute to the preparation of meetings between stakeholders in the forestry sector
  • Capitalise on resolutions and monitor the implementation of decisions taken during meetings with other partners,
  • Provide all useful information to project supervisors,
  • Contribute to the preparation and submission of periodic, quarterly, monthly and annual reports and any requests made by the Technical Coordinator or General Coordinator.
ProfileRequired qualifications
  • Hold a Diploma in Water, Forestry and Hunting Engineering (Bacc + 4 (Minimum) in environmental sciences or an equivalent diploma with solid proven experience in a similar position,
  • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience to similar responsibilities.
Required skills and abilities
  • Have experience in community forestry, in development or inventories
  • A mastery of geolocation tools or aerial monitoring of forests would be an advantage,
  • Knowledge of European Union regulations on deforestation would be an asset
  • Be able to work under pressure and in a rural environment
  • Have a perfect knowledge of French or English and an operational capacity for the other
  • Be dynamic and proactive in conducting activities
  • Demonstrate a certain sensitivity to issues of forest conservation, biodiversity and climate change
  • Experience in implementing forestry projects with indigenous peoples, rural or forestry communities is a strong asset.
Values and behaviors
  • Ability to work effectively in a team.
  • Good communicator, fluent in English and French.
  • Adherence to WWF values, namely: courage, integrity, respect, collaboration.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy and conflict resolution ability to manage complex and highly sensitive situations involving multiple stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of cutting-edge research on the development of deforestation-free agriculture.
  • Strong training and coaching skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Quick wit; ability to react under pressure.
  • Identifies and adheres to the core values of the WWF organization: courage, integrity, respect and collaboration.
This job description reflects the main responsibilities expected and the spirit of the missions that must be accomplished proactively. Other tasks may be assigned according to organizational needs.

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