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Position Title:
Enterprise Officer
Salary Range :
TBD
Location:
Basankusu, DRC
Department:
Program
Supervisor:
Congo Heartland Director
Supervises:
N/A
POSITION SUMMARY:
The purpose of this position is to play a key role in the development and management of a Conservation
Enterprise Program as a key mechanism for the design and delivery of innovative approaches and services
to strengthen conservation enterprises into Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Heartland for maximum conservation
and development impact. The enterprise officer in collaboration with the Senior Director, Conservation
Enterprise for AWF will develop and implement an economically sound and sustainable strategy to support
access to the urban market for the communities involved in the SOIL-program (axe Mompono-LingomoDjolu, Equateur Province, SOIL/CARPE). This strategy might become a model to be implemented
elsewhere in the Congo Heartland.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential duties include:
1.
Analyzing the different options for increasing access to the market for agricultural crops as a way
to increase the revenue of the local communities living along the roads that connect the Maringa
river with Djolu centre or any alternative evacuation routes. The development of the strategy will
be done in close collaboration with the local communities. Consultation with the other MLWpartners (CIAT, ICRAF, UMD, World Fish, and REFADD) will allow for adaptive management
(e.g. consult with CIAT on the kind of crops to focus on). The enterprise officer will further
develop and help implementing the strategy, monitor the performance and evaluate the
effectiveness. The results of the evaluation and the lessons learned will be used for adaptation of
the strategy and execution in the next round.
2.
Identifying new conservation enterprise projects through developing and testing a range of
enterprise options aimed at improving the commercial returns to private and communal
landholders from natural resources and providing essential services to enable communities to
assess the value of their resources against market requirements so as to determine viable business
and partnership options. Focus is both on agricultural crops, transformed products from these
crops, and non-timber forest products.
3.
Executing all due diligence and business planning processes for new enterprises and submitting
results for approval to ensure general compliance and good business practice by engaging credible
private sector players and advising communities on how to manage resources, distribute and invest
income; and promoting enterprise planning at a landscape level to encourage optimal fit between
enterprises and to determine the appropriate scale and type of enterprises for commercial and
ecological sustainability. The enterprise officer will develop this both on Kinshasa, Mbandaka,
Basankusu and local level.
4.
Development and structuring of all approved conservation enterprise projects through the
facilitation and unlocking of economic/ entrepreneurial opportunities open for rural communities
ENTERPRISE OFFICER DRC
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as a catalyst for their involvement in conservation. Such opportunities may include tapping the
financial, management and marketing resources of the private sector and access to venture capital,
commercial loans and grants.
5.
Management and monitoring of all established conservation enterprises projects by providing well
targeted business development services and expertise and evaluating their quality and impact as
well as measuring the efficiency in the provision of services and goods to a rapidly changing
market environment, measuring economic viability and feedback mechanism to the overall
conservation enterprise strategy.
6.
Supporting the development and management of appropriate partnerships with third party
organizations/ individuals that will efficiently accelerate fulfillment of AWF’s conservation
enterprise strategy, managing relationships and propagating fair, mutual and beneficial
partnerships between private sector businesses and communities and responsively supporting and
servicing the demands of all partners and third party organizations relevant to each conservation
enterprise project.
7.
Playing part in the implementation of ecosystem-wide tourism area planning processes by working
with partners, teams/ individuals to initiate key components of coordinating tourism development,
institutional capacity building, destination marketing and branding.
8.
Timely reporting as required by the Director, Conservation Enterprise in Nairobi and the Congo
Heartland Director and the Senior Program Officer SOIL-CARPE to ensure that Conservation
Enterprise Program activities are well integrated into AWF's commitment to landscape level
conservation
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
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Experience
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Skills & Knowledge
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ENTERPRISE OFFICER DRC
Masters degree in Business Administration, Enterprise Development,
Development Studies or Project Management or
Bachelors’ degree in the above mentioned fields with at least 5 years
direct experience in Enterprise development
At least 5 years expertise in the private sector or in enterprise
development in remote areas, and proven experience in implementing
successful enterprise activities in challenging conditions.
Experience in advising and designing benefit management strategies
and projects that contribute to conservation threat abatement and
improve the livelihoods for target value chains and communities.
Demonstrated experience in project management including delivering
to tight deadlines.
Demonstrated experience in working in the field with communities
and private sector operators.
Capable of being an interface between local communities, technical
experts and private sector;
Ability to communicate effectively with a wide group of
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ENTERPRISE OFFICER DRC
collaborators, including proactive sharing of information and
reporting;
Proficiency in both French and English (spoken and written) is
required; competency in lingala is an added advantage.
Ability to work and travel in harsh physical environment i.e. isolated
remote region of DRC, with basic amenities, working with war-torn
local rural population;
Commitment to AWF and its mission.
Proactive nature of problem solving
Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritization
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to take initiative and to work with minimal supervision
Excellent organizational aptitude and coordinating ability
Ability to assess and react appropriately to changing circumstances
Ability to pay attention to detail and meet strict deadlines
Ability to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment
Computer literacy – proficiency in Microsoft Office, word, excel and
programs statistics;
Ability to work under pressure
Exposure to travel
Drive motorbike on difficult roads;
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