Project Manager, TWIX Western Africa - TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

TRAFFIC International is a charity and limited company registered in the UK. TRAFFIC’s head office, based in Cambridge UK, provides worldwide leadership, coordination, cross-regional and corporate functions.

TRAFFIC’s local engagement is managed through program offices operating under the auspices of the UK charity, with staff based in a hub office and at other strategic locations where necessary. Program offices operate within a geographic area of responsibility focused on one or multiple countries where TRAFFIC aims to help deliver priority program outcomes. TRAFFIC works in strategic alliance with IUCN and WWF on wildlife trade issues.

PROJECTS BACKGROUND

The West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development (WABiLED) Program is a four-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with 3 core objectives: combat wildlife trafficking and enhance great ape conservation; reduce deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss in key transboundary forest landscapes; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration from land use.

WABiLED is implemented by Tetra Tech ARD with five subcontracting partners including TRAFFIC, Born Free USA, Winrock International, Re:wild and Dalberg Associates.

As part of its SOW under the WABiLED program, TRAFFIC will support the establishment of a Western Africa Trade in Wildlife Information eXchange (Western Africa-TWIX) network. Based on similar TWIX networks operating in other Africa regions, the Western Africa-TWIX will facilitate the exchange of information between wildlife law enforcement officials who are registered users of the system

JOB DESCRIPTION

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

This is a project management role with responsibility for the planning, implementation, and reporting function of various activities under the Western Africa-TWIX initiative of the WABiLED project.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Work closely with partner states, ECOWAS, inter-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to harness support for the proposed Western Africa-TWIX system and ensure the smooth implementation and expansion of WA TWIX, both in terms of countries and recruitment of users.
• Conduct country assessments and consultations with Government law enforcement agencies and WABiLED partners to identify target countries and nominated LE personnel for a phased establishment of TWIX membership across the region.
• Support the design and launch of the Western Africa-TWIX website and provide ongoing website management and IT development support.
• Manage the Western Africa-TWIX mailing list, which includes but is not limited to, keeping the mailing list active, managing the server of the mailing list, liaising with the server provider in case of problems, and ensuring that all queries on the mailing list are addressed.
• Provide supervision, technical support and training to the WA-TWIX project assistant
• Organize and facilitate registration and training workshops for nominated users of Western Africa-TWIX and provide ongoing technical assistance to the membership base.
• Provide support in connecting law enforcement agencies across borders to facilitate the investigation and conclusion of specific cases of IWT.

• Convene and facilitate meetings to promote, consolidate and strengthen project collaboration at the country and regional level.
• Produce TWIX meeting minutes/reports with agreed outcomes and actions and follow up accordingly.
• Engage with TRAFFIC TWIX staff in Cambridge and Brussels office on the coordination of TWIX platforms.
• Manage the TWIX project budget and provide quarterly financial reports on expenditures.
• Produce regular narrative reports on project activities and progress against indicators.
• In collaboration with the WABiLED Communications team, promote Western Africa -TWIX among ECOWAS target audiences and to external audiences, including USAID and local Missions.
• At the end of the third year of the WABiLED project, facilitate a TWIX learning event with participation from Central, Eastern, Southern Africa, and Europe TWIX users, to share experiences and facilitate discussions on opportunities to strengthen global networks.

REQUIREMENTS

• An advanced university-level degree is preferred (e.g. Masters) in law, policing, biological sciences, or another related field.
• A first-level university degree OR equivalent academic education, or professional training with certification from a recognized international/national police, customs, or other staff training institution, with specialization in criminal justice, crime prevention, criminal investigation, law enforcement, border management, or other related areas, in combination with additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience working in wildlife policy, conservation, or law enforcement, with government, an international non-governmental organization (NGO), inter-governmental organization (IGO), or research institution.
• Strong organizational skills with a minimum of five years’ experience working in a project management capacity, covering planning, budgeting, financial and narrative reporting.
• Strong communication, networking, and collaboration skills and ability to work with sensitivity in different cultural contexts.
• Strong IT literacy and Microsoft Office skills and an analytical mind.
• Previous experience in delivering training/teaching and providing mentorship support to government agencies.
• Experience of working in Africa, ideally West or Central Africa.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French is essential.
• Experience of working with law enforcement agencies and/or knowledge of wildlife conservation issues and environmental crime would be an advantage.
• Experience of staff management would be an advantage.
• Must be able to travel extensively throughout the West Africa region, which may require frequent periods of up to ten days away from home.

NOTE: This position is open to Ghanaians or foreign nationals with the legal right to work and live in Ghana, and to travel extensively in the region