Program Coordinator 139 views0 applications

Chemonics seeks a Program Coordinator for the USAID/Tanzania Heshimu Bahari (Respect the Ocean) Activity. The activity is a five-year project that aims to improve the ecological resilience and productivity of Tanzania’s high marine biodiversity areas. Tanzania’s coral reefs are among the world’s fifty most climate-resilient reefs based on biological and oceanographic characteristics, and Tanzania’s marine and coastal ecosystems support a diverse range of coral reefs, seagrasses, open-ocean pelagic habitats, and mangroves. Not only do the ecosystems support species such as dugongs, sea turtles, and sharks and rays, but they also support a variety of livelihoods such as artisan fishing, aquaculture, and marine/coastal-related tourism activities. Overfishing, poorly planned infrastructure projects, and climate change all threaten not only these ecosystems and their fauna and flora, but also livelihoods and food security. These obstacles, together with the lack of a functional marine management area (MMA) framework, underdeveloped governance systems, insufficient funding, and an unincentivized private sector, severely limit effective management and measurable impact in marine biodiversity conservation.

To help address these challenges, Heshimu Bahari aims to establish an enabling environment and science-driven framework for sustainable MMA and wild-caught fishery co-management by government, communities, and the private sector. The Activity has four integrated objectives:

1. Strengthen an enabling framework for a network of MMAs and fishery replenishment zones (FRZs) for resilient biodiversity conservation, climate resilient communities, and enhanced wild-caught fisheries production.
2. Community co-management of MMAs/wild-caught fisheries and climate resilience strengthened.
3. Private sector investment in MMAs and wild-caught fisheries expanded.
4. Integration of relevant science to MMA and fisheries policy and management improved.

The program coordinator for the USAID Heshimu Bahari Activity will support the designing, planning, and implementation of all USAID Heshimu Bahari field activities in Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam, Mafia-Kilwa, and Mtwara Seascapes. The program coordinator will collaborate closely with the government, implementing partners, and USAID Heshimu Bahari subcontractors to support all scientific activities in the Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam, Mafia-Kilwa, and Mtwara Seascapes and offer technical guidance into policy and legal matters. Along with supporting field logistics and administrative duties, the program coordinator will travel often to Bagamoyo, Mafia-Kilwa, Mtwara, and other USAID Heshimu Bahari regions to coordinate on-the-ground activities in communities, as directed by the supervisor.

The position will be based in Dar Es Salaam, reporting to the USAID Heshimu Bahari Deputy Chief of Party.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee USAID Heshimu Bahari community-level programs in the Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam, Mafia-Kilwa and Mtwara Seascapes including coordinating on ground activities at community level implemented by partners.
• Serve as the point of contact for all field activities while leading and managing fellows, interns and consultants working on USAID Heshimu Bahari activities in Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam, Mafia-Kilwa and Mtwara to advance program activities and cultivate and maintain strong, positive relations with all stakeholders and ensure engagement of women and youth in the program.
• Work with the USAID Heshimu Bahari team in the development of annual workplans and budgets and coordinate the implementation of the workplans.
• Develop, facilitate and coordinate a community engagement strategy for the USAID Heshimu Bahari Activity in Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam, Mafia-Kilwa and Mtwara Seascapes, with a particular focus on building relationships with key partners to advance USAID Heshimu Bahari’s contribution to community and other stakeholders’ consultation in the establishment of the FRZs
• The program coordinator will, in particular, assist in the creation of a network of MMA and FRZs to support resilient biodiversity conservation and increased production of wild-caught fisheries; enable communities and community management structures to participate in co-management of MMAs and FRZs for biodiversity conservation and productivity of wild-caught fisheries.
• Work with key stakeholders to improve the protection of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) habitats and species; encourage private sector investment in MMAs and wild-caught fisheries by creating an environment that is more favorable to private sector investment.
• Coordinate development of the Seascapes’ Intervention strategy, support its implementation and Support baseline studies in the seascapes.
• Support and lead consultations with communities and partners to create and advance community-based strategies for better managed, productive, and healthier coastal fisheries and marine areas.
• Develop durable, accountable extension systems that support Community Fisheries Management Structures to monitor, resolve conflict, and enforce co-management.
• Assist in developing project progress and final reports, presentations, communication materials, and assessments on the USAID Heshimu Bahari.
• Contribute to national level planning efforts that increase ocean conservation outcomes, including marine spatial plans, coastal zone plans, policy reviews and strategies to advance marine conservation.
• Work closely with grantees, subcontractors and local partners to achieve four key objectives of Heshimu Bahari, i.e., effective community-based fisheries practices, establishment and management of marine protected areas, private sector engagement in marine conservation and coastal natural resources management; and resource survey initiatives to enhance data availability to be used in decision making.
• Any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree in marine/wildlife/Environment or related degree and minimum 6 years of experience in Protected Areas Management, governance, marine conservation, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledgeable in standards and methods of marine and fisheries biodiversity conservation. Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with coastal fishing communities.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and coordination.
• Familiarity in working with MMAs (i.e., government, private and community managed) including good understanding of fisheries co-management approach and its applicability.
• Familiarity with community micro-enterprises, including village community banks (VICOBA) and Saving and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) expected to providing alternative economic activities to the fishing community.
• Ability to interpret and analyze scientific, social, and economic data related to coastal and marine ecosystems and apply it in the implementation of the Heshimu Bahari activity.
• Experience in developing and implementing trainings and workshops.
• Experience implementing and reporting on donor funded projects, experience working on USAID funded projects preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining productive working relationships with a wide network of Tanzanian government, civil society, and private sector stakeholders
• Willingness and ability to undertake extended periods of field travel (at least 70%) domestically.
• Excellent written, verbal, and cross-cultural communications abilities required
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; working proficiency in written and spoken Kiswahili required

Period of Performance: On/About February 2024 through September 2025

Applications deadline is December 15, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications strongly encouraged. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.

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