Technical Advisor for Protected Area Management, Liberia

CONTEXT

The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) is an international NGO working in four West African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. WCF has been in operation since 2000 for the conservation of chimpanzees and other biodiversity in West Africa and opened its office in Liberia in 2013. WCF is working closely with the Liberian Forestry Development Authority and other local government and NGO partners. WCF’s main target area in Liberia is the Southeast, in particular the Grebo-Krahn and Sapo National Parks, and the Proposed Kwa National Park, located in Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe, and Rivercess Counties. WCF runs three offices in Liberia; in Monrovia, Zwedru, and at Sapo National Park. Major donors for WCF are the European Union and Rainforest Trust.

WCF has been awarded a grant from the European Union for a 3-year project entitled “SUSTAIN – Sustainable forest conservation in southeastern Liberia”. The program feeds into WCF’s long-term mission of enhancing the survival of the remaining wild chimpanzee populations and their habitat, while ensuring sustainable benefits for local communities. It focuses on strengthening conservation programs through: improved protected area management, biomonitoring and research, law enforcement support, environmental education, alternative livelihood schemes, ecotourism and infrastructure development, and capacity building. The SUSTAIN project emphasizes an evidence-based approach and supports transboundary collaboration between stakeholders in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia. It is complementary to other projects led by WCF and partners.

POSITION OBJECTIVES

As part of the SUSTAIN Project, WCF is seeking a Technical Advisor for Protected Area (PA) Management to promote protected area co-management, decentralization, and adoption of best practices in Protected Area Management in Liberia. The Technical Advisor will work directly with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Protected Area and Law Enforcement Divisions to:

• Support effective decentralization and coordination of protected area management in Grebo-Krahn and Sapo National Parks, and Proposed Kwa National Park;
• Integrate key aspects of PA management, including law enforcement, community participation, and governance structures, with potential to replicate lessons learned across all protected areas in Liberia.
• Strengthen capacities of FDA Head Quarters staff and Chief Park Wardens, and
• Enhance the coordination and collaboration between the different law enforcement services, through the FDA Law Enforcement Division.

The Technical Advisor will be based in Monrovia, with regular project trips to the targeted protected areas in southeastern Liberia.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the FDA Protected Area Division towards strengthening decentralization and coordination of protected area management in Grebo-Krahn, Sapo National and Proposed Kwa National Parks;
• In collaboration with the FDA Law Enforcement Division and other relevant law enforcement entities, and in line with Liberia’s law enforcement strategy, promote and improve best practices for Liberia law enforcement and protected area management plans, which will further help to work towards the decentralization of protected area management in Liberia;
• Improve and strengthen the existing protected area management decentralization model, which can be replicated and applied across all protected areas in Liberia;
• Support the FDA Protected Area Division towards the establishment of a national co-management framework for protected areas in Liberia, with inclusive representation from local community, FDA, and other stakeholders;
• Facilitate dialogue and negotiations between FDA and local communities in establishing co-management plans, and support their effective implementation and coordination;
• Provide targeted training and capacity building to the FDA Headquarter staff and Chief Park Wardens in protected area management and law enforcement;
• Assess and advise on capacity gaps within FDA Headquarter and among Chief Park Wardens and recommend strategies to address the gaps using best practices in institutional strengthening;
• Support the FDA Forest Law Enforcement Manager in enhance coordination and collaboration among law enforcement agencies in partnership with the FDA Law Enforcement Division;
• Ensure effective implementation of Liberia’s law enforcement strategy within protected areas;
• Provide advisory and technical support and guidance to FDA for the overall management of protected areas in Liberia;
• Support the revision of the existing management plans for Grebo-Krahn and Sapo National Parks;
• Assist FDA in the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the National Conservation Strategy.
• Assist in the integration of gender equality and community livelihood benefits into protected area strategies and intervention.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• Master’s degree in conservation, natural resource management or wildlife management;
• At least 8 years of practical experience as Manager or Technical Advisor in protected area management, with proven impact;
• Excellent knowledge of key protected area management and conservation activities such as law enforcement and wildlife monitoring, and proven experience in protected area co-management with local communities and other stakeholders;
• Proven understanding of challenges in protected area management and working knowledge of policy/institutional context in protected area management in the sub-Saharan region;
• Proven record of successful relationship and capacity building of governance institutions and partners;
• Professional experience in sub-Saharan Africa (experience in Liberia or West Africa is a strong advantage);
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written)

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED QUALITIES

• Ability to work independently and proactively
• High level of integrity and honesty
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills
• Strong planning, organizational, and coordination abilities
• Understand and adhere to WCF’s values and missions
• French language skills are an advantage.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months renewable

Start date:  February/March 2026

Compensation: according to WCF salary scale and experience