Community Development Manager_IONA - Angola

Background

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We utilise a clear business approach to conserving Africa’s wildlife and remaining wild areas, securing vast landscapes and carrying out the necessary activities needed to protect the parks and their wildlife. African Parks maintains a strong focus on economic development and poverty alleviation of surrounding communities to ensure that each park is ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable in the long-term. 

African Parks currently manages 23 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares. These landscapes are home to an estimated population of over 3 million people who legally reside either within the parks or on their perimeter. Since 2019, Iona National Park is being managed under an Public-Private Partnership Agreement between African Parks and the Angolan Government through the Ministry of Environment. Iona National Park is inhabited by local communities, and limited management in the past has led to unregulated use of the landscape, and to a disconnection between the conservation and sociological components within the protected area. With the beginning of African Parks’ co-management mandate, the Community Development Department (CDD) has made important strives, that now require a more decise and efficient management approach. 

Job overview 

To develop the Community Development Department of Iona National Park in a manner that ensures that all of the obligations outlined in the Public-Private Partnership Agreement are adequately met and systems put in place to ensure effective implementation of Community Engagement Strategy and 3E+ strategy’s activities in and around Iona as outlined in the 5-year Business Plan.

Role profile

The Community Development Manager (CD Manager) is responsible for the effective execution of the Community Development plan for Iona National Parl Park and the delivery of the agreed M&E goals. In fulfilling this role, the CD Manager is responsible for:

1. Leadership of the local CD team, including management of performance and other HR processes, and for planning and management of budgets for the department;


2. Conducting stakeholder mapping and implementing an Engagement plan to build relations with local communities, traditional/local leaders, administrative authorities, and other stakeholders;


3. Planning and implementation of the programmes in the Community Development Plan, with a focus on the core 3Es: Engagement, Education, Economy.


4. Monitoring trends in human-wildlife conflict and sensitising communities on mitigation schemes;


5. Ensuring implementation of the grievance mechanism - including sensitisation of communities on the process, and maintenance of reporting channels and records;


6. Conducting the monitoring and evaluation of CD initiatives, and regular reporting on indicators to internal partners (Funding, Marketing & Communications, etc.);


7. Managing and ensuring appropriate community and stakeholders’ dialogue and inclusion;


8. Supporting internal and external partners in implementing local community studies, conducting land use planning, and supporting community initiatives such as peace-building;


9. Providing information on socio-economic, political and cultural insights for decision-making;


10. Mentoring the CD team, in particular the Deputy Community Development, under a successional deveopment approach.

Key Performance Indicators

• Sucessful implementation of the Community Engagement and 3E+ Plans


• Significant increase in support to the park among IPLCs


• Sucessful identification, development and implementation of sustainable community enterprise projects

Sucessful development of the department’s staff.

Key relationships

• Park Manager


• Park Administrator


• Deputy Community Manager


• Safeguards Officer


• Field Operations Manager


• Other Department Managers


• General staff


• Local partners and stakeholders


• Traditional leaders


• Local communities.