Community Liaison Officer Wildlife Conservation Society

Job Title: Community Liaison Officer
Reports To: Community Interventions Coordinator
Liaises with: Country Director
Area of Operation: Murchison Falls Protected Area (MFPA), Kiryandongo, Oyam and Nwoya Districts
Duty Station: Karuma, Kiryandongo District
Start Date: June 2024
Position Type: Full-time
Background:
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is currently implementing Human Wildlife Conflict mitigation interventions around MFPA such as supporting community-led interventions to combat poaching, illegal wildlife trade and trafficking, mitigate human-wildlife conflict, develop, and enhance income-generating activities to improve community livelihoods as well as community education and awareness raising to change social behavior and unlock support for wildlife conservation.

Job Summary:
The Community Liaison Officer will work with the country program staff to support conservation and livelihood enhancement interventions focusing on communities living adjacent to Murchison Falls Protected Area, particularly Karuma Wildlife Reserve. The officer will also liaise with relevant district local government staff in Kiryandongo, Oyam and Nyowa to ensure that the initiatives are sustainable, bring significant and equitable benefits to communities and strengthen biodiversity conservation and build household resilience to shocks and risks.

Duties & Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Deliver meaningful counter-wildlife crime outreach activities, engaging and creating action-oriented activities, and awareness campaigns in the project area.
Collect relevant data and information to inform intervention implementation success.
• Engage private entities and local governments to support WCS community-led conservation investments in the area.
Establish good relationships with local communities and engage positively with community/district leaders, UWA and other stakeholders in implementing WCS activities.
Contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of HWC interventions in the project area.
• Participate in designing community awareness strategies and materials.
• Provide technical and facilitating support in meetings and workshops.
• Conduct trainings of intervention implementing community groups.
• Participate in research activities and monitoring and evaluation interventions.
• Prepare and write publications such as newsletters, posters, social media, special projects and assignments as part of broader communication and information sharing with all stakeholders.
• Undertake any other duties, as assigned by the direct supervisor and provide support in project implementation as needed.

Qualifications:
• A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, anthropology, rural development, wildlife and environmental management or related field. A postgraduate qualification is an added advantage.

Experience:
• Minimum 05 years experience working in a similar position in rural communities preferably with NGOs in the Albertine area or northern Uganda;
• Experience working within an organization that operates to a Code of Conduct or similar framework, and other corporate protocol regulations;
• Experience working with community development programmes or related work
• Recognized knowledge of community conservation matters; integrated conservation and development; livelihood development;
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to develop and maintain good relations with a wide range of stakeholders including UWA, local communities, NGOs, Local Government, etc.;
• Good negotiation and conflict management skills;
• Ability to assist with formal consultation processes, by supporting meetings, taking meeting notes and organizing information;
• Ability to analyze data and verbal and written communication to inform activities;
• Ability to use a range of problem-solving techniques to resolve low- to medium-level issues among community members, and seek assistance from colleagues promptly if required;
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office and appropriate software such as database software like Access, Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Social data software and GIS experience will be an added advantage;
• Knowledge of the local language (Acholi, Langi, or Alur dialects) is required.