Location: Mutsamudu, Anjouan, Comoro Islands Application deadline: 25th May 2017 (we reserve the right to finalise the recruitment before this date) Starting date: As soon as possible Contract: 18 months (negotiable) with extension possible Conditions: Up to €1800/ month depending on experience, one return flight per year, insurance cover To apply: Please send a CV and covering letter to cont...@daharicomores.org
Summary The Comoros, a tropical archipelago between Mozambique and Madagascar, contain magnificent volcanic landscapes and a unique biodiversity with a very high level of endemism. This biodiversity is under threat from one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, with more than 20 terrestrial species listed as threatened or worse on the IUCN’s Red list. With strong experience in ecological research, your objective is to support Dahari’s ecology team to develop and undertake scientific research, including on the flagship Livingstone’s fruit bat, to inform concrete conservation actions undertaken by the NGO and its partners, and to publish the results in scientific journals. Who are we? Founded in February 2013 following a five-year field programme, Dahari has quickly established itself as one of the leading NGOs in the Comoros with a multicultural team of 60. Dahari’s holistic intervention model includes agricultural and agroforestry development, forest management targeting water resources, ecological research, and biodiversity conservation initiatives based on a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) approach. The NGO also runs complementary ecotourism and marine resource management programmes. Our work is gaining increasing recognition, including through the technical support of globally recognised partners such as CIRAD, ICRAF, and IUCN, and the financial support of international funders such as the EU, CEPF, GEF-Satoyama, and the Darwin Initiative. We invite you to visit our website www.daharicomores.org to find out more about Dahari. We are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/daharicomores Job description Reporting to Dahari’s Directors and advised by researchers from our partners Bristol Zoological Society and the University of Oxford, you will support the team of Comorian ecological technicians to ensure: • The management of a project funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, whose objectives are: field research and data analysis to identify threatened species and/ or indicators of natural forest, forest mapping, research on wood-use, organising a system of participatory monitoring of biodiversity and forests with local communities; • Participation in and support to field activities: biodiversity research and monitoring projects and their evaluation; • The development of future ecological research projects and the drafting of related funding dossiers including in-depth research on Pteropus livingstonii; • Contribution to the strategy and development of Dahari’s natural resource management and biodiversity conservation activities; • Strengthening the technical capacities of Comorian staff in collaboration with technical partners in Madagascar and more widely internationally; • Publishing scientific papers based on the results of the work (Dahari’s work has recently been published in Oryx and Unasylva). Candidate profile Required skills & experience Valuable skills & experience • A Masters in ecology or another relevant field and at least two years’ experience of ecological or conservation field research; • Good knowledge of GIS, database management, and statistical analysis; • Have strong spoken French, strong written English, and strong computer skills; • Be autonomous, strong organisational and time management skills; • Very good physical condition to climb steep hills in tropical conditions; • Ability to work in a dynamic and multicultural team. • A PhD or equivalent professional experience in ecological and/or conservation research; • Experience of the 'R' package for statistical computing and SQL Relational DataBase Management System, GIS packages; • Modelling spatial dynamics; • Expertise in biodiversity sampling techniques; • Experience in implementing biodiversity research and conservation projects in Africa. How to apply? Interested applicants are invited to send their CV and cover letter to the following address: cont...@daharicomores.org. Queries about the post ahead of submission are welcome.
