GIS Coordinator w/ WWF Cameroon

Position title: GIS Coordinator

Reports to: Cameroon Country Programme Office Conservation Director
Supports: Field staff and Program Managers
Grade: B1
Location: Yaounde, Cameroon
Date: September 2014

I. Missions:The Cameroon Country Programme, as outlined in its strategic plan, puts great emphasis on land use planning support as uncoordinated, overlapping and uncontrolled land use activities pose an increasing threat to natural forest habitats and its wildlife. Furthermore, to develop more effective conservation strategies and to measure their impact, spatial information on forest and land use changes but also on the location and distribution of important wildlife speciesm need to be collected, processed, secured and visualized through the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

II. Major Functions:The primary function of this position is to provide WWF CCPO staff with technical expertise and advice on GIS-related applications. The two main components of the work are:

• Provide technical support and training to improve GIS-Capacities of WWF staff at country and programme level in Cameroon.
• Design, develop, feed and maintain a national GIS database and related tools to support the implementation of WWFs Country Programme and to provide up-to-date data for land use planning, bio-monitoring and anti-poaching planning to partners and stakeholders.

III. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the GIS and remote sensing capacity needed within WWF CCPO. This includes both human capacity, as well as available hardware, software and skills
• Evaluate and map GIS capacity gaps and provide support to build their existing capacity
• Support field programmes to improve on the development and maintenance of their GIS databases and to provide relevant thematic maps to to effectively contribute to land use planning processes and the analysis of program/project impacts (forest cover changes, land use dynamics, area overlaps, etc.)
• Recommend protocols for data collection, analysis and storage, and train staff accordingly;
• Map existing GIS and database management capacity within CCPO and produce costed gap analysis, both in terms of human resources, equipment and data acquisition
• Develop GIS databases, improve and further develop them to respond to WWF needs
• Advise on appropriate data management and GIS hardware and software to be procured by CCPO to store, share and analyse data
• Gather existing GIS information produced at field levels and by thematic leads and organise it in a centralise database and develop protocols for feeding and for using this database.
• Support regional thematic leads and CCPO programme managers (in particular -but not exclusively-, in the Business and Industry / extractive Industries, Palm Oil , Forestry, Climate/REDD- and bio-monitoring sectors) to implement their respective work, providing them with the most relevant tools.
• Work with the CCPO M&E officer to ensure monitoring indicators requiring GIS expertise are expressed and collected in a relevant manner.
• Work closely with programme & communication staff to help them providing maps and other products requiring GIS skills.

IV. Profile:Required Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in an appropriate field (conservation / environment / natural resource management / geography) with specific qualification in GIS. Additional academic training in Environmental Impact Assessment and/or in Land Use Planning would be a strong asset;
• Well-established track record (minimum 3 years) in GIS work, preferably related to conservation issues.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Proven capacity to organize, feed and maintain complex databases that can readily be used by non GIS specialists
• Knowledge of remote-sensing technique is an added advantage;.
• Proven knowledge of ESRI products, database design (SQL or Access). Capacity to manipulate and manage various softwares. Knowledge in web-mapping applications preferred;
• Strong organisational and analytical skills;
• Excellent inter-personal skills, with the ability to network and to develop and maintain strong relationships with different teams with diverse cultural background;
• Strong interest and commitment to nature conservation and improve well-being of local people;
• Fluency in French and English.
• Adhere to WWF’s values: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

V. Working Relationships:

• Internal– Work closely with WWF staff in Cameroon; Liaise with colleagues across the WWF-Network esp. in the sector of land use planning and mapping, remote sensing and GIS.
• External- Interacts with Ministries, research centres, universities and other relevant stakeholders in Cameroon.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.

How to apply:
Email a cover letter and CV to recruitccpo@wwfcarpo.org. Please mention "GISCO" as subject of your mail.

Deadline for applications: 09th October 2014

Thank you in advance for your interest in this position. Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for follow up. If you have not been contacted six (6) weeks after closing, consider your application unsuccessful.

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.

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