Job Description
Strengthening networks for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats along
the west coast of Africa
.
Job Title: BirdLife International Project Manager, “Conservation of Migratory
Birds”, project
Duration: Initially 2 year contract, extendable to 3 years
Location Of Job: Dakar Senegal, Frequent travel to the 7 countries implementing the
project.
Project Partners Nature Mauritanie in Mauretania, Guinee Ecologie in Guinea,
Conservation Society of Sierra Leone in Sierra Leone, Cape Verde
(to be identified), Senegal (to be identified), WABSA in Gambia,
Organização para a Defesa e o Desenvolvimento (ODZ) in Guinea
Bissau, Wetlands International.
Line Manager West Africa Sub-regional Co-ordinator, BirdLife International
Post holder reports to: West Africa Sub-regional Co-ordinator, BirdLife International
(Overall Project Coordination and Project Administration
Reporting To Post holder: Finance and Administration Manager and Communication
Working Relations:
Inside BirdLife
Project partners (see above), Vogelbescherming Nederland (VBN),
Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) France,
BirdLife International - Accra, Ghana; Nairobi, Kenya and
Cambridge, UK
Occasional contact with the wider BirdLife network
Outside BirdLife
Wetlands International, Forestry and other relevant wildlife and
conservation departments in countries implementing the project.
Regional Coastal and Marine program (PRCM),
Mava Foundation. Other Development and funding agencies
relevant to the project sites
Overall Purpose Of The Job: To provide efficient and effective management and coordination of
the “Strengthening networks for the conservation of
migratory birds and their habitats along the west coast of
Africa” project
Main Duties:
The BirdLife Project Manager will have overall responsibility for the successful implementation of
the “Strengthening networks for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats
along the west coast of Africa” Project (See Annexe 1). This will involve bringing together and
guiding different project partners to develop and implement in a coordinated manner, a suite of
activities including fk, advocacy and site conservation action in the seven project countries.
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Key elements of the job will include application and monitoring implementation of the Project
Logical Framework, contract management, resources control and financial oversight, facilitating
technical and financial reporting, advocacy, capacity development and effective communications.
The BirdLife Project Manager will lead a team of staff in the seven countries involved in the
implementation of the project. Maintaining good relations with the Mava Foundation (the main
donor) and other co-donors, as well as effective engagement of the governments of the seven
countries involved in the project are important elements of the job.
Specific duties include:
1. Leadership (15%)
Providing overall direction and leadership to the project team in planning and implementing
the Strengthening networks for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats along
the west coast of Africa project, in close collaboration with all partners.
Recommending to the project partners any measures required for the successful
implementation of the project.
Guide the project team to overcome problems that may arise in the course of project
implementation..
2. Administration (15%)
Overall responsibility for the management of project funds, including adherence to
appropriate financial procedures and controls, and financial reporting back to the BirdLife
Secretariat.
Draw up, manage and oversee contractual sub-grants to partners and other legal documents
and agreements where necessary.
Overall responsibility for the appropriate deployment, use and management of other project
resources, including human and material resources.
Ensure adequate work planning and reporting for the project and for sub-granted partners.
Support any fundraising required to ensure successful project completion
3. Human Resources (10%)
Jointly with partners, undertake recruitment of contract staff, negotiation of contracts and
ensuring obligation to all applicable regulations concerning these staff.
Setting up of any necessary internal regulations and working procedures appropriate for the
functioning of the project.
4. Capacity Building (15%)
Support project partners in the seven countries to ensure that grants are effeciently and
effectively used for the project purposes. This includes for example, training in budgeting
and workplanning..
Contribution to the development of capacity of the NGOs implementing the project in the
seven countries as well as Government staff assigned to the project through the management
of sub grants, and development and implementation of training programmes.
Contribute to the development of the BirdLife Africa Partnership.
5. Technical advice and leadership. (25%)
Providing technical leadership to the project team and partners, particularly with regard to
participatory conservation and monitoring of migratory birds, land use planning and
advocacy and awareness raising.
Develop and implement the necessary management agreements, plans and arrangements for
successful project implementation especially: Project Steering Committee; Project
Monitoring and Evaluation Framework etc
Management of any consultants engaged under the programme.
6. Project Relations (10%)
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Develop key political relations with local and national stakeholders (especially governments)
in the seven countries.
Maintain good relations among the project partners and with other important stakeholders,
especially local communities and the Mava Foundation and other co-donors such a VBN etc.
7. Fundraising (10%)
Prepare, develop and submit proposals for funding aspects of the project where there are
either gaps in current funding (co-financing) and/or to extend, scale up and sustain project
impacts as appropriate
...........................................................................................................................................
LIMITS OF AUTHORITY:
Carries authority to sign off up to Euros 15,000 on assigned budgets.
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Annexe 1: Project summary:
The project Strengthening networks for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats along the west
coast of Africa is first and foremost a partnership project. Through investing in institutional
strengthening and networking, it will build strong NGO-government partnerships in the coastal zone
of West Africa for environmental conservation. The project will use these strengthened networks to
improve the knowledge and conservation status of migratory birds through comprehensive
programmes of integrated research, monitoring and conservation action. These will include the
development and implementation of a monitoring programme and species action plans.
The project will be participatory, and will engage relevant stakeholders through site-based projects
and an overarching policy and advocacy programme. The project will also build technical capacity in
the region for migratory bird conservation through training and exchange programmes, in which
local community groups will be engaged. The project will build widespread awareness of migratory
birds and their threats through innovative materials and a range of media, including radio and film.
The project focuses on the coastal zone of West Africa, which supports some of the highest
concentrations of migratory birds in the world. The target area embraces seven countries; Mauretania,
Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde , Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau. Despite its global importance
for biodiversity, this zone is generally deficient in strong NGO-government partnerships for
environmental conservation; BirdLife International will build on its wide experience in institutional
strengthening of NGOs to remedy this situation. Together these actions will result in strong
partnerships for long-term conservation of migratory birds and will contribute to financial and social
sustainability of the project.
The objective of the project is to establish sustainable and participatory NGO-government
partnerships for research, monitoring and conservation action, especially to mitigate threats to
migratory birds and their habitats along the west coast of Africa. The project will specifically:
1. Increase understanding of the conservation status and needs of migratory birds and their
habitats in West Africa.
2. Establish cost-effective and sustainable monitoring systems that will track changes in the
status of migratory birds and their habitats.
3. Develop and strengthen technical capacity for flyway conservation in the region, and support
the development of strong networks and NGO-government partnerships for engaging in the
long-term conservation of migratory birds. Strengthened NGOs and partnerships will be well
placed to attract new sources of funding to make conservation efforts along the West African
coast financially sustainable.
4. Through participatory conservation and management of key sites and species:
a. Take action to prevent the extinction of migratory bird species; reverse the declines in
commoner species and mitigate threats to their habitats.
b. Address sustainable livelihood issues and increase participation of local communities in
migratory bird conservation to ensure long-term conservation benefits.
c. Improve the conservation status of migratory birds in the coastal zone of West Africa,
with specific plans initiated for selected threatened species and for promoting ecotourism
based on migratory birds.
5. Identify and use opportunities for policy and advocacy work to improve the conservation
status of migratory birds and sites along the coast of West Africa.
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