Central African Republic: Wildlife Veterinarian– Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas

Duration: 2 years renewable

Reports to: Primate Habituation, Research & Tourism Advisor (PHRTA), WWF CAR

Supervises: Health Assistant

Grade: A3

Date: August 2017

I.Mission of the Department:

The position aims to ensure the Primate & Employee Health monitoring in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas (DSPA) is implemented, following the highest standards, in line with the Management Plan of DSPA. In partnership with local, national and regional health institutes and local civil society actors as well as in collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the program aims to improve human and animal health in potential outbreak hotspots in the Central African Republic. To aid in the rapid detection of zoonotic pathogen spread which can function as an early warning system for disease outbreaks, this program will provide on-site human medical and wildlife veterinary health monitoring at the WWF partnered ecotourism site in APDS and strengthen the capacity of local actors. The program will monitor the health of (a) those who work directly and indirectly in ecotourism and conservation, and (b) habituated and unhabituated wildlife in the protected areas. This ‘One Health’ approach will contribute to improve human health and welfare, and diminish the disease transmission risks between humans and wildlife. Such a human-wildlife interconnected approach is necessary, not only to protect the lives of humans and animals, but also the integrity of ecosystems, which is imperative for sustaining the livelihoods of local communities.

II.Major Functions:

Responsible for the development and implementation of program activities and for the training of PHRT programme employees such as the health assistant, the trackers and the guides, as well as the employees of the local partner organizations. The Wildlife Veterinarian guarantees the implementation of the health monitoring program according to the highest safety and best practice standards, such as developed by the IUCN and the RKI. He/she works under the direct technical supervision of the Primate Habituation, Research & Tourism Advisor and to some extent, WWF Great ape experts for related activities. He/she is also expected to be responsible for all project equipment at his/her disposal for execution of field and laboratory activities.

III.Major Duties and Responsibilities:

· Ensure the implementation of standardized protocols set up by WWF to improve the health of humans and animals in DSPA;

· Ensure that data are collected, and also that the various datasets are properly organised, stored, backed-up, archived in a developed health database and disseminated as needed;

· Ensure the development and management of a functional field WildLab and run preliminary analysis of samples (including PCR analysis) and for health monitoring;

· Coordinate the Employee Health Program;

· Ensure the Health Programme adheres to IUCN best practise guidelines;

· Develop and implement in coordination with relevant APDS staff and partners on site sensitisation activities involving all stakeholders;

· Develop a standard Ebola communication protocol and establish collaborations with the Ministry of Health and national laboratories;

· Train all staff associated with the Primate Habituation & Health program on the implementation of health protocols;

· Collect non-invasive samples of habituated (gorillas and mangabeys) and unhabituated animals and vectors such as flies in protected areas and forest concessions;

· Ensure proper storage of collected samples, acquisition of required export permits and expedition of samples to RKI for further analyses and storage;

· Conduct safe carcass monitoring, including necropsies;

· Disease outbreak responses;

· Emergency interventions with habituated animals;

· Institutional capacity strengthening of local and national actors;

· With the PHRTA, ensure timely reporting of Health Programme activities to donors;

· Contribute to the development of new proposals, including to bilateral and multilateral donors, the WWF network and others;

· Ensure the preparation and dissemination of information related to the health programme to contribute to the WWF communication strategy for Central Africa.

Other duties

· With the PHRTA, submit to the Principal Technical Advisor and National Director a quarterly report outlining programme activities and to the PTA a 6-monthly WWF report;

· Conduct annual evaluations of staff under his/her supervision;

· Carryout other activities and tasks as requested by hierarchy.

IV.Profile:

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of master’s degree in one or more of the following domains: Wildlife Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Eco-tourism, Immunology or any related specialization;
• Minimum of 02 years professional experience in one or more of the following domains: (1) monitoring of wildlife-human health related programs, (2) rural, community and organizational development, environment.

Required Skills and Competencies

· Good physical condition regarding field work;

· Ability to work independently;

· Management skills;

· Laboratory skills, including running PCRs is of advantage, but can be trained;

· Good understanding of tools and approaches for wildlife health monitoring ;

· Familiarity with socio-economic research and sensitization tools ;

· General knowledge of wildlife-human health relationship in Central Africa is an asset;

· Computer literate, knowledge of data analysis and GIS software;

· Fluency in English and French language is required.

Required Behavioral Skills

• Accountable, Persevering & Delivering Results;
• Willingness and ability to work in a remote area with low supervision.

· Adhere to WWF’s values: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

V.Working Relationships:

Internal

Works closely with the Principal Technical Advisor, the Conservation Advisor and is supervised directly by the Primate Habituation, Research & Tourism Advisor. Collaborates also with other relevant DSPA staff as well as with WWF experts, e.g. on Great Apes and Regional Coordinators, e.g. for Biomonitoring.

External

The position requires close collaboration with partner organisations such as WWF Germany, Action pour le Développement Intégral des Humains (ADIH), Maison de l’Enfant et la Femme Pygmées (MEFP), Ndima-Kali as well as universities and research centres such as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI Berlin), Institute de Pasteur and the National Bioclinical Laboratory in the Central African Republic.

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.

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are invited to send a cover letter stating experience and interests, detailed curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail addresses of two referees to the address recruit-roaydehub@wwfafrica.org cc TNeba@wwfcar.org and ilka.herbinger@wwf.de.

The subject should read WV17.

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