Job Description

Job Advert Summary

WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is for nature, for you.

Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

Background

WWF-SA, in collaboration with WWF-Mozambique, WWF-Madagascar, WWF-Tanzania and WWF-Kenya, has secured 4,5-year NORAD funding (1 July 2021 – 31 December 2025) for a regional programme entitled: “Unlocking the Sustainable Blue Economy of the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO)”. WWF-SA in partnership with ABALOBI ICT4Fisheries (ABALOBI) will implement the South African component of the programme.

The NORAD Programme has four Outcomes:

Outcome 1:

By 2025, at least 3 out of 5 SWIO Governments have developed and adopted Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) policies and plans.

Outcome 2:

By 2025, African Development Bank and other major International Financial Institutions investing in the region adopt the SBE principles and catalyse an increased flow of investments.

Outcome 3:

By 2025, fair and equitable access to sustainable fisheries resources in the SWIO region is facilitated through a collective approach, united and influential voice in negotiations and decision making by the SWIO governments.

Outcome 4:

By 2025, at least 3 out of 5 SWIO countries adopt innovative and robust management measures to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

WWF-SA’s main contribution to the programme will be: 1) Provide oversight in reviewing Operation Phakisa to see how closely it aligns to a SBE framework and to provide recommendations to promote alignment; 2) Develop one finance model for bankable marine projects that will attract mainstream investment in support of impact investment that can be scaled in the region; 3) Develop a strategy, structure and training material for improved engagement between the small-scale fishing sector and government as a precursor to improving governance; 4) Develop a holistic National Plan of Action to combat and eradicate Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing (NPOA-IUU) in South Africa that also integrates with SWIO region plans; 5) facilitate the scaling out of the Abalobi fisher tool as a means of recording accurate fisheries information that will be used to promote small-scale fisheries research and improved co-management of marine resources, and; 6) support SWIO regional activities in respect of Regional Fishery Management Organisations (RFMOs) and engagements with China.

The WWF-SA NORAD Community Liaison Officer is a new position that is 100% funded by NORAD and is mainly responsible for co-ordinating and implementing all the NORAD Programme community-related activities on the ground in Port St Johns. This is a dedicated funded programme and once the project is completed there is no guarantee that the NORAD Community Liaison Officer will be retained beyond the scope of the programme.

The NORAD Community Liaison Officer will report directly to the NORAD Project Coordinator who will be based in Newlands, Cape Town.

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant qualification
• Experience in community engagement (engagement with government will be an advantage.)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and familiar with virtual meeting platforms.
• Articulate and a confident communicator in both isiXhosa and English (written and verbal).
• Networking skills (administrative and project management skills is an advantage).
• Self-motivated and must work well independently with minimal supervision and have a positive attitude.
• A passion for environmental and conservation issues, and an understanding of the connection between community-related societal issues and the environment.
• Preferably from Port St Johns and must understand the community dynamics and must be based in Port St Johns.
• Must be willing to travel domestically.
• Driver’s licence

Duties and Responsibilities

The WWF-SA NORAD Community Liaison Officer will be responsible for the following activities:

• In collaboration with project partners, community representatives and key local stakeholders, coordinate the implementation of the ‘NORAD Programme – Unlocking the Sustainable Blue Economy of the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO)’:

• Coordinate roadshow to canvas interest by small-scale fishing cooperatives to be part of the programme in Port St Johns.
• Coordinate and convene regular in-person and virtual meetings with interested participating coastal communities in disseminating relevant information.
• Co-ordinate, with the support of the NORAD Project Coordinator an inception workshop with all relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate training on sustainable fishing practices with cooperatives in Port St Johns.
• Coordinate capacity-building initiatives with small-scale fishing co-operatives, associations, and government.

• Support ABALOBI in the implementation of ABALOBI Fisher and Monitor including:

• Assisting with the roll-out and uptake of the ABALOBI Fisher and Monitor application in the targeted small-scale fisher cooperatives in the Port St John area.
• Support the Abalobi Monitor in collecting fisheries data in the Port St Johns area.

• Engage with a variety of local stakeholders, including government, NGOs and cooperates to establish and convene a project management team, including:

• Facilitating meetings of the project management team, small-scale communities and other relevant stakeholder (e.g. ECPTA and DFFE).
• Circulating agendas ahead of meetings and capturing and circulating meeting minutes to all relevant stakeholders timeously.

• Integrate and support other marine projects being implemented in Port St Johns:

• Work closely with the NORAD project coordinator, Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) Co-ordinator and cooperatives on the implementation of the east coast rock lobster FIP in Port St Johns.
• Work closely with FIP Coordinator to explore opportunities in Port St Johns.

• Perform further duties as specified by the Small-Scale Fisheries Manager, including inter alia:

• Assist in the updating and execution of an environmental and social safeguard framework (ESSF).
• Support M&E initiatives to develop effective monitoring and evaluation and track progress against indicators throughout the life cycle of the project.
• Support project administration in collaboration with the Marine Portfolio Co-ordinator, NORAD Project Coordinator and Small-Scale Fisheries Manager.
• Work with WWF-SA Communications team on small-scale fisheries related communications activities, including events, awareness materials, public queries, newsletters, branding, etc.
• Contribute to learning and sharing initiatives on WWF-SA’s community practitioners’ platform.