Communications Consultant At Wildlife Conservation Society

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Reports To: Regional Director Central Africa

Expected travel: Democratic Republic of Congo : Epulu, Okapi Wildlife Reserve and Bukavu, Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Start date: January 2022

Duration: 6 months, with possibility for extension

Purpose:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Central Africa Regional Program is seeking a dynamic, creative and experienced Communications Expert to oversee an important and exciting outward-facing communications portfolio for the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) and Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Candidates need to demonstrate that they have the necessary experience and skills to manage communications within a dynamic and complex program in a remote location. They will need to demonstrate that they are able to grasp the complexities of situations and use a wide range of communication and behavioural change tools to respond to situations as well as having the foresight to develop materials proactively.

The Consultant will be based at the WCS Regional Office in Kigali, Rwanda with frequent travel to the WCS offices in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Ituri Province and Kahuzi-Biega National park, South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tasks to be performed:

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Director for Central Africa and in close collaboration with the WCS DRC Program senior management team, the Consultant will perform the following:

1. Develop the communications and behavioural change strategy for OWR and KBNP. This strategy will include aspects such as branding and marketing and be targeted at reserve/park-level, provincial, national and international audiences among a wide range of target groups, including (but not limited to) DRC national and provincial government actors, donors and philanthropists, the international community, local activists, communities and indigenous peoples. The communications strategy will achieve the following results:
   • A broad foundation of understanding and support for the values, mission and objectives built
   • Measurable changes in the knowledge, attitudes and practices among target groups achieved
   • Key constituents kept up to date with news from the protected area
   • The protected area and future tourism promoted
   • Working with the Community Development Department, materials (in all appropriate languages) that lead to (measurable) behavioural change among target groups (especially among peoples living within and surrounding the reserve) developed and deployed
   • Coordination of messaging and internal communications among all partners improved
   • Working with the fund-raising and development personnel, innovative high-profile events organised and delivered.
   • High consistency and quality of all outward-facing communication achieved
   • An M&E system to measure the successes of communications and behavioural change developed and implemented – and therefore understood
2. Design a portfolio of outputs and products to support the OWR and KBNP management team, to create products, outputs and programs that lead to behavioural change among target groups of people, and to raise visibility of this exciting reserve.
3. Assess capacity needs and support the recruitment of a full-time Communications Manager for OWR and KBNP. Provide on-boarding support and detailed hand-over of the communications strategy.

Requirements

• More than five years’ experience developing and implementing communications and behavioural change strategies
• Significant experience engaging with international, national and local media
• Demonstrated experience engaging a diversity of target audiences using a broad range of contemporary media and tools
• Understanding of the tools that can be used to measure the success of communication and behavioural change a significant advantage
• Proven experience working in Africa, with experience in the DRC a distinct advantage
• Demonstrated experience, creativity and flexibility in operating effectively and sensitively in different socio-cultural environments
• Ability to work and write in both French and English fluently; sensitivity to local languages – especially in the development of communication materials
• Ability to work effectively in a large multi-cultural team
• Willing and able to travel to remote locations in eastern DRC
• Interest in wildlife conservation and environmental issues

About WCS

The Wildlife Conservation Society is an international NGO headquartered at Bronx Zoo in New York City working to save wildlife and wild lands and to meet global challenges in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the world’s oceans. The Africa Program is the largest of WCS’s field programs, with approximately 1,100 staff in 12 country programs focused across four major regions (Central Africa, Sudano-Sahel, East and Southern Africa, and Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean).

Our MISSION is to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education and inspiring people to value nature. Our VISION is a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. Our GOAL is to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 16 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world’s biodiversity. Our VALUES are Respect, Accountability and Transparency, Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, Integrity.