Rights and Conflict Sensitivity Coordinator- Okapi Wildlife Reserve At Wildlife Conservation Society

Position: Rights and Conflict Sensitivity Coordinator- Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Reports to: Community Conservation Lead, Okapi Wildlife Reserve ( OWR)

Country Program: Democratic Republic of Congo

Start date: September, 2022

Position Type : Full time, one year renewable

Internal Liaison: All OWR Departments, WCS DRC Offices, WCS Regional Rights and Communities team

Expected Travel: Regular travel to villages in and around OWR, as well as Goma when required

Job Summary

The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking a motivated, pro-active and engaging Rights and Conflict Sensitivity Coordinator to coordinate the delivery of activities that advance the rights of Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples, and prevent community conflict in and around Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR). OWR is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to globally significant wildlife populations, such as those of okapi, elephants, and chimpanzees, and as a Reserve, it provides local communities and indigenous peoples with opportunities for sustainable natural resource use. The Reserve, however, is faced with threats relating to illicit natural resource exploitation, unsustainable economic development and In-migration.

The Reserve’s community conservation strategy involves: supporting communities to build institutions to manage natural resources sustainably; empowering indigenous people, incorporating gender-responsive approaches; reducing poverty through sustainable livelihoods; preventing and mitigating conflict; ensuring adherence to social safeguards; and enhancing environmental awareness. The Rights and Conflict Sensitivity Coordinator will play a role in both implementing activities and providing advice on specific issues. They will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of social safeguarding systems, activities that promote and build indigenous peoples rights, enhancing approaches to address community conflict, and gender mainstreaming. The Rights and Conflict Sensitivity Coordinator will be based full-time in Okapi Wildlife Reserve, with regular travel to villages in and around OWR, and Goma as required.

Responsibilities

Social safeguarding mechanisms

• Ensure cross-cutting implementation of human rights and social safeguards standards and policies for all OWR activities
• Screen community and other protected area interventions to establish whether Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes are required and coordinate FPIC implementation when necessary
• Work closely with the Regional Social Safeguards Coordinator to develop, implement and monitor a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and associated information gathering system for OWR
• Engage with development partners operating in and around OWR to coordinate GRM and conflict related information exchange
• Record, report and disseminate lessons learned from the implementation of social safeguarding systems

Indigenous People’s rights

• Support the Program Manager and Community Conservation Lead to ensure implementation of an OWR Indigenous Peoples strategy
• Provide cross-cutting advice within the Community Conservation Department and other Reserve departments to ensure Indigenous Peoples issues are fully integrated
• Design and implement research on Indigenous Peoples cultural and environmental heritage in OWR
• Organise awareness engagements and conduct capacity building with stakeholders on Indigenous People’s laws and rights
• Design and implement capacity building activities that enhance Indigenous Peoples representation and empowerment in OWR

Conflict sensitivity

• Collect and analyse information on human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and support on the development of a system to resolve HWC issues
• Develop and implement a system for the collection and analysis of information on community conflicts
• Support the field-level coordination of activities focused on conflict prevention and mitigation with development partners operating in and around OWR
• Provide advice on ensuring conflict sensitivity is taken into account and protected area interventions do not create or exacerbate conflict

Gender sensitivity

• Advise teams to ensure the adoption of gender-responsive approaches across OWR departments, including designing baseline indicators for gender-sensitive surveys
• Advise teams to ensure active participation and equal access of women and men to project benefits and decision-making processes, including FPIC and the GRM

Project coordination and monitoring

• Ensure the recruitment and line management of a social safeguards, rights, and conflict mitigation support staff
• Plan monthly activities and participate in work planning and adaptive learning sessions
• Prepare Terms of References and budget requests for Rights and Conflict Sensitivity field activities
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure the collection of MEAL data, production of MEAL reports and timely submission of information to the MEAL team

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social sciences (such as International Development, Human Rights, Gender Studies, Human Geography, Conflict Mitigation, Natural Resource Management)
• At least 3 years’ experience in relation to social safeguards and/or the social protection of marginalized and vulnerable groups
• Knowledge of donor (e.g. USAID) social safeguarding best-practice and guidelines (desirable)
• Proven ability in conflict management, with training in Gender Based Violence and working with survivors of GBV
• Proven ability at implementing gender-mainstreaming strategies in developing countries
• Pro-active, positive, and accountable approach to work delivery
• Proven ability at working in a team to successfully coordinate projects in rural contexts
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience working and living in remote locations
• Willingness to spend extended periods in the field with basic amenities and accommodation
• Fluent communication skills in French and English, Swahili or Lingala an advantage