Terms of Reference- Consultancy for the Development and Delivery of LE Training Materials At Wildlife Conservation Society

Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS envisions 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. WCS seeks to conserve the world’s largest and most ecologically intact wild places. These places are home to more than 50 per cent of the world’s biodiversity and sustain over 300 million of the world’s poorest people.

Purpose of the consultancy

This consultancy position will be assigned to work under the umbrella of the Africa Protected Areas Management Unit (APAMU), which aims to provide expertise on various aspects of protected area management and operations. He/she will be develop and deliver training programs based on the previously developed “WCS Law Enforcement SOPs & Safeguards for Protected Area Landscapes”, and train law enforcement personnel, park rangers, and conservation staff on these SOPs. He/she will travel to five key protected areas in three countries: Kahuzi Biega National Park and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in DR Congo, the Manovo-Bamingui Landscape in the Central African Republic, and the MaMaBay landscape in Madagascar, to strengthen capacity and promote correct law enforcement practices.

Reports To: APAMU Director

The position will:

• Collaborate closely with the APAMU LE Strategist, and the APAMU LE Advisor;
• Collaborate closely with the site Law Enforcement Managers.
• Collaborate with the Rights + Communities teams to ensure correct incorporation of human rights principles, and ensure a human rights-based approach.

Key Deliverables

• Design of comprehensive training curricula (in PowerPoint or another format) based on the “WCS Law Enforcement SOPs & Safeguards for Protected Area Landscapes”. This includes training materials on:
  • Human Rights Principles
  • Code of Ethics
  • Duty to report
  • Chain of Command
  • LE selection & training
  • Legitimate Defense & Use of Force
  • Controls Ops Room
  • Communications
  • Patrols
  • Arrest Principles
  • Evidence Collection
  • Arms & Ammunition
  • Infrastructure & Vehicles
• Development of a high-level implementation plan and long-term monitoring strategy. This includes the development of mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of the training programs, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation.
• Training Program Implementation: Provide hands-on, field-based SOP training to officers, rangers, and other conservation staff to enhance their understanding and ability to operate in a correct and efficient manner.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in law enforcement and/or related fields, and working in remote and challenging environments preferably in Africa, with a focus on environmental or wildlife protection.
• Proven experience in training law enforcement officers or conservation personnel.
• Ability to work independently with extensive travel to remote regions
• Verbal and written fluency in English and French is required
• Previous experience of working with an international NGO is a plus
• Strong computer skills (MS Office, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint or similar applications)
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;

Consultancy duration: 70 days between January and July 2025

Workdays : Methodology: Deliverable

25 days: Homebased deskwork

• Reading of existing LE SOPs & Safeguards, and other available WCS materials
• Development of the training materials (PowerPoint or another proposed format)
• Development of a high-level implementation plan and long-term monitoring strategy (knowledge, further training needs)

5 Days: Homebased deskwork

• Revisions upon request of WCS

1/site: Homebased deskwork

• Discussion with site leads on specific site roll-out.

7/site (including travel): Travel DRC, CAR, Madagascar

• Training implementation in 5 key protected areas across 3 countries.

Remuneration

• 20% upon signature of the service agreement with WCS.
• 30% upon submission of the draft training materials (training curriculum, draft implementation plan and monitoring strategy).
• 20% upon submission of revised and finalized training materials, implementation plan, and monitoring strategy based on WCS feedback.
• 30% upon successful completion of all field-based training sessions in the 5 protected areas and submission of training report for each location.