Facilitator for the Revision of the Great Ape Conservation Action Plan, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Introduction: 

 Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) USA is an international non-governmental organization that continues Dr. Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on chimpanzee behavior and conservation. Its mission is to understand and protect chimpanzees, other apes, and their habitats, and to work towards creating an informed and compassionate citizenry who will help to create a better world for people, other animals and our shared environment. The breadth of JGI’s mission reflects Dr. Goodall’s personal philosophy that the survival of all species, whether chimpanzees or humans, depends upon the collaboration of all people. 

Background: 

 Through the Ushiriki Consortium (Ushiriki means ‘union’ in Kiswahili), the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), based in Goma, DRC, leads the coordination of over 20 organizations including park management authorities, local and international NGOs, and community-based organizations to reduce the principal threats to the endangered Grauer’s gorilla and the eastern chimpanzee in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (EDRC). Since 2011, JGI has provided thought leadership to the Conservation Action Planning (CAP) process, building an increasing sense of ownership within conservation actors, enhancing local participation, and ensuring that the governance of conservation actions continue to be strengthened. Among great ape conservation action plans in Africa, JGI’s approach and integration of coordination, governance and implementation is unique and explicitly linked to the plan’s measurable impacts on great ape populations.   

The CAP and its impacts continue to increase, bringing proven conservation actions to the entire geographic scope of the plan, an area equivalent in size to the state of Colorado. A four-bodied coordination mechanism reviews and annually updates the threats to the great ape species and modifies the strategy framework and theories of change according to new data and analyses. In the most recent analysis of conservation actions the consortium, through collaborative design and implementation agreed to implement the following strategies:  

1. Reduction or transformation of the negative impacts of industrial and artisanal mining; 

2. Increase of climate smart agroforestry to reduce soil infertility and the threat of agricultural expansion to biodiversity; 

3. One-health [The interconnection between healthy people, animals, plants, and environments]; 

4. Sustainable change in human behaviors pertaining to wild meat hunting and commerce;  

5. Community-led governance and management of protected areas; 

6. Investigation, confiscation, and long-term care of rescued great apes. 

Consultancy summary: 

JGI is looking for a Conservation Consultant to facilitate the development of the next 10-year (2025-2035) Great Ape Conservation Action Plan in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The successful candidate will work with JGI-USA and JGI-DRC staff to plan, organize, coordinate, and facilitate the revision of plan, with the principal responsibilities being (1) the facilitation of a five-day workshop in Eastern DRC, of more than 60 participants across 25+ organizations, including national, government authorities, international actors, local NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and (2) the delivery of a completed ten-year Conservation Action Plan. This short-term consultancy will work collaboratively with various department heads, partners, and stakeholders, while directly supporting and reporting to delegated staff from various departments within JGI.  

The consultancy will be a combination of remote and on-location work, with an estimated 2 weeks of work in Eastern DRC in April, 2025. Travel insurance shall be provided by JGI while working in DRC.

Term of Consultancy:  

Estimated, 4-month consultancy 

Starting Date: March 1, 2025 (1 March – 30 June, 2025) 

Essential Functions: 

• Review key documents including the 2015-2025 Great Ape Conservation Action Plan in the EDRC, as well as reports and outputs from the Coordination Mechanism (Ushiriki) Consortium responsible for the adaptive management of the plan during the last 10 years; 

• Provide a work plan and draft agenda for a strategic review of the conservation action plan for chimpanzee and gorilla conservation in the Eastern DRC; 

• Facilitate an experts and stakeholder strategic review/ 5-day workshop in French as the lead facilitator for a revision of the existing Great Ape CAP utilizing the principals and practices of the Conservation Standards (https://conservationstandards.org/about/). The review shall identify key priority actions needed to conserve great ape species and habitats in the landscape, share learning between partners, and identify links between biodiversity conservation and human well-being goals; 

• Ensure objectives and associated Indicators in the revised plan are developed using SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) and that each general strategy has a Theory of Change narrative and diagram; 

• Work with consortium experts and JGI staff scientists to develop maps and GIS-based tools for use during the workshop and as a platform for managing the data to support conservation decisions and implement the CAP. 

• Deliver a final conservation action plan that streamlines and harmonizes work between partners in EDRC to conserve chimpanzees and gorillas- and strengthens the links of human well-being targets. 

Qualifications:  

• Masters degree preferred (or Bachelors with extensive background) within, or relating to,  Conservation Science, Environmental Science, Ecology, Social Science, Project Management, or Community Development;

• Minimum 3 years of experience working in in the domain of conservation planning; 

• Minimum of 2 years working and/or living in sub-Saharan Africa; 

• Language proficiency in both English and French; 

• Working knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; 

• Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work; 

• Working knowledge in Miradi conservation planning software preferred;  

Deliverables: 

• Eastern DRC Great Apes Action Plan (2025 – 2035) that streamlines and harmonizes work between partners in EDRC to conserve chimpanzees and gorillas- and strengthens the links of human well-being targets. 

• Final report that includes key observations, highlights and recommendations. 

Application procedure: 

Please submit (1) a CV or resume of no more than 3 pages, and (2) a cover letter with an attached proposal work plan and budget that itemizes the essential functions described above. Submitted documents should include the number of days and the daily/hourly rate).  Please submit the cover letter, work plan, and budget as one electronic file. Documents may be submitted in either English or French.

The budget and work plan should reflect 10-15 days of work for pre-workshop research, 10-14 days of time in the DRC preparing for and implementing the workshop, and 10-15 days for post-workshop development of deliverables. Daily rates in the proposed budget should be between $300 and $600/day, based on an 8-hour workday, and reflect candidate qualifications and experience. 

Application deadline:

Applications should be submitted by close of business Friday, February 14, 2025 (Washington, D.C. time).