WCS recruits 01 Indigenous People Advisor (IPA)

Location: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Reports To: ARIP Chief of Party

Expected travel: Frequent domestic travel within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Ituri, South Kivu, Tanganyika and Kinshasa as needed

Start date: July 2022 (contingent upon award)

Duration: Full time position, up to 4 years

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) DRC’s country program seeks an experienced Indigenous Peoples Advisor (IPA) for the highly anticipated USAID/Democratic Republic of Congo Advancing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ARIP) Activity.  This innovative program will work with IPs and civil society groups to ensure Indigenous Peoples benefit from social, economic and natural resource assets in and/or around the Kabobo Wildlife Reserve (KWR), Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP), and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR). This project is managed by a consortium under WCS leadership that includes a partnership with International Alert (IA) and a wide range of other international and national partners. This is anticipated to be a four-year activity contributing to USAID’s DRC Journey to Self-Reliance and Social Resilience Strategy. The IPA, based out of WCS’s Bukavu office, will be responsible for ensuring Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) including women, men, girls and boys are substantially consulted and included in all activities supported by the USAID Activity, with a specific focus on developing IP organisational capacity and ownership of project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure Indigenous communities are at the centre of all initiatives including decision making on ARIP programming
• In close collaboration with the COP and WCS leadership, represent the ARIP project to government and project partners and be a strong project champion
• Ensure actions and interventions adhere to the technical guidance of USAID’s Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Policy (PRO-IP) and understanding of obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
• Assist in providing technical guidance and recommend best practices that support capacity building for IP organisations
• Facilitate regular discussions to enable ARIP implementing partners to support Indigenous communities to come together, and act collectively so that they benefit from the sustainable use of their natural resources
• Engage local communities to identify IP community and system level barriers and then through the application of the USAID Indigenous Peoples Framework Guiding Principles, support the communities in developing and implementing strategies to address those community identified priority needs and gaps.

• Provide support to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Capacity Development Advisor; field staff; and IP communities in capacity building
• Lead networking initiatives between IP and IP groups across the three protected areas to elevate and empower Indigenous Peoples through the creation of regional and national networks

• Liaise with Indigenous Leadership, Indigenous political bodies, Indigenous Organisations, and ARIP consortium partners in support of addressing community-identified priorities
• Support engagement and outreach campaigns
• Oversee the implementation of IPLC activities across project partners, ensuring successful integration of activities and sufficient representation of IP groups across the three protected areas

Qualification Requirements

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree plus 5 additional years of experience in conflict mitigation, international development, social sciences, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of increasing responsibility for designing, managing, and implementing activities focusing on Indigenous People.
• Experience working with and demonstrated understanding of Indigenous People in DRC and various levels of government.
• Experience developing capacity of civil society and local organisations.
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments applying conflict-sensitive approaches.
• Ability to work well on a team and with various government officials, civil society leaders, community leaders and program beneficiaries
• Ability to problem solve, take appropriate initiative and prioritise work to provide results in a timely manner
• Fluency in French (oral, writing, and reading)
• Working ability in English, Swahili
• Ability to travel within DRC to remote location

Preferred Qualifications

• Indigenous People, and DRC nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Interest in wildlife conservation and environmental issues

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through this link by July 8, 2022.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.