Our searches

About WWF

World Wide Fund (WWF) is an independent conservation organization active in nearly 100 countries, working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. WWF is part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030 – a “New Deal for Nature and People” as comprehensive as the global climate deal. 

Working with many others – from individuals and communities to business and government – WWF urgently seeks to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable. 

WWF Tanzania and Mozambique conserve the habitats and species through strong field action focusing on pro-poor conservation, community-based natural resource management, effective conservation area management, land use planning, law enforcement, reducing illegal trade and creating climate resilience and adaptation. Actions in the land/seascapes will be assisted by national cross-cutting initiatives, coordinated by a Transboundary Landscape Coordinator.

The Ruvuma Landscape is the largest unfragmented Miombo woodland and coastal forest habitat remaining in Africa. It is home to the largest population of African elephants in East Africa and the second largest on the continent. Recent studies by Kew Gardens and IIAM of the coastal forests in Mozambique discovered at least 26 new species of plants and 15 new species of animals, together with other rare animals and plants that are otherwise known only in southern Tanzania. 

WWF’s biggest goal is to maintain the connectivity of the Miombo and coastal forests to preserve vital ecosystem services and goods for human life including habitats for some of the last free-roaming elephants, wild dogs, rhinos and other wildlife. 

About the Role

The Landscape coordinator will report directly to the Country Directors of WWF Tanzania and Mozambique. He/ She will work with the  Conservation Managers, other Programme Leads as well as WWF Regional Office for Africa, WWF International, supporting WWF offices and other WWF Network staff.  

This position will lead on the overall strategic direction of the landscape programme ensuring a holistic approach is taken that aims to:

• tackle multiple drivers of biodiversity loss; 
• build a coalition of partners with which to coordinate and collaborate activities; 
• raise the profile of the landscape internally and externally; 
• support efforts to leverage funds; 
• maintain an overview of all relevant initiatives within the landscape and identify key gaps for new projects and opportunities to scale up existing work; 
• effectively coordinate the work being delivered; 
• monitor and evaluate delivery against landscape-level outcomes and impact landscape-level reporting.

 Purpose of the Role

The post holder will provide leadership, strategic direction, and effective coordination and management of the development and implementation of a Ruvuma Transboundary Landscape  Programme, building on a (draft) Programme Concept and relevant National and Regional Strategic Plans. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate the overall final design and development of a Ruvuma Transboundary Landscape programme strategy;
• Ensure effective coordination of the work being delivered across Ruvuma through a wide variety of partners;
• Identify and develop excellent working relationships with key stakeholders (local government, commercial, community, private sector, academics, and other local organizations) in the region; 
• Represent WWF at county/district/local government level and ensure effective coordination, collaboration and knowledge sharing between stakeholders, partners and donors; 
• Manage day-to-day operations of the programme, which includes: effective administration and  tracking of finances provided under the Ruvuma landscape programme; landscape-level  monitoring and evaluation; timely donor reporting, and effective coordination and cooperation  between partners;  
• Manage additional professional staff recruited for the Ruvuma landscape programme
• Ensure conservation and local community benefits generated by the programme are communicated to the general  public and to policymakers as well as the WWF network; 
• Develop WWF work plans and annual budgets;  
• Fundraise for the programme through timely and quality responses to funding opportunities that  will drive sustainability of the programme; 
• Identify and align with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration. 

Skills and Experience

• A postgraduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in a relevant discipline (e.g. natural sciences, social sciences, conservation biology, landscape ecology, economics, conservation planning or related field).  
• Excellent strategic thinking and planning skills;  
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to build coalitions, negotiate, manage  conflict with high-level diplomacy, solve problems and overcome obstacles;  
• Excellent human resource management skills; 
• Familiar with advocacy at different levels from local to international; 
• Familiar with protocols associated with working in East Africa; 
• Visionary and results-focused leadership approach with a thorough understanding of  programme management disciplines;  
• Demonstrated ability to drive multi-stakeholder engagement processes including stakeholder  workshops, and to build the capacity of multiple stakeholders to engage in landscape planning and  management; 
• Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations and the  private sector;
• Demonstrated ability to engage with technical experts including academics, to understand and  fill data gaps, establish new research as necessary, and use scientific knowledge to inform  programme design and monitoring;  
• Awareness and experience of implementing landscape-level conservation approaches, which  support both biodiversity conservation and social development aims;  
• Demonstrated ability of effectively working with communities to support natural resource management and improved livelihoods. 
• Experience in natural resources conservation (like wildlife, forests, energy, climate change or freshwater) and socio-economic issues in Africa, with a proven track record in the design and implementation of large-scale programmes, preferably transboundary and within the wider East Africa Region.  
• Experience of working on complex programmes with multiple and diverse  implementation partners and stakeholders – including high-level political engagement,  community livelihood initiatives – with cross-cutting themes and multiple objectives; 
• Experience in programme development and management, including preparing and managing sizable and complex budgets, technical and financial reporting, matrix working,  programme monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements for implementation;
• Excellent written, presentation and communication skills, with excellent fluency in spoken and written English. Proficiency in Swahili & Portuguese will be an advantage.