Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Job title: Consultancy – Data Compilation in Conservation

Background:
The existence of communities within the two parks is in direct conflict with Angola’s national conservation legislation. The government is prepared to re-zone the national parks and may establish legal community conservation areas (including in buffer zones), co-management zones within the parks, and secure biodiversity hotspots. Our partner, the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), has found funding for the zoning process. WWF will contribute its conservation planning expertise; and with TNC, ACADIR, and PPF, work with government to ensure that communities living in and outside the park are full partners all along. In addition, the Angolan government is examining new designations outside the footprint of the Southeast Angola National Parks including a Ramsar site in the Cuito and Cuando headwater area, and a large Biosphere Reserve that could incorporate substantial portions of the Cuito and Cuando basins. Freshwater protected areas and fisheries reserves, inside and outside of the existing National Park footprint, are a future possibility to be explored.
The process will involve a GIS-based, systematic conservation planning approach that eventually integrates identified and predicted biodiversity hotspots, and corridors within and outside the parks—and communities and natural resource use areas, agriculture, water sources and sacred and cultural sites; and roads, opportunities for tourist lodges and camps, etc within the context of a changing climate. Building on similar work we have led elsewhere; this process will eventually inform new management and business plans for the parks to guide development of environmentally sensitive tourism activities and infrastructure that could become part of the broader KAZA tourism portfolio. This work is focused on providing the inputs needed for the freshwater-related components of this wider assessment.
Objectives: To provide inputs on freshwater priority areas within the context of a changing climate for inclusion in ongoing terrestrial conservation planning and Strategic Environmental Assessments across the region encompassing the Cubango, Cuito, and Cuando Rivers
Consultancy #1: Data compilation of conservation features, mapping & validation with Angolan institutions and experts
1. Compile existing datasets on:
• Distribution and observations of species (potential data sources include, e.g., National Geographic expeditions, Southern Africa Regional Environmental Program (SAREP) 2012, IUCN Red List assessments, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Angolan or international researchers/individual expert consultations)
1. Freshwater fish
2. Crocodilians and other herpetofauna
3. Odonata
4. Aquatic mammals
5. Wetland birds
6. Any other aquatic taxa for which significant data exist
7. Large mammal riverine access, movement corridors, and crossing sites
• Aquatic ecosystems and key habitats using existing classifications (e.g., Bergman & Verissimo 2008 USAID/OKACOM report)

• Maps of threats to freshwater ecosystems and species in the region of analysis, as data are available, e.g.:
1. Existing and planned dams and diversions
2. Human settlements and roads
3. Climate vulnerable freshwater systems/areas (e.g., where changes in temperature, or flood and/or drought frequency are expected to be seen most)
4. Commercial agriculture/irrigated ag
5. Fires (e.g., https://start.org/wp-content/uploads/publication/SAFNET.pdf)
6. Aquatic invasive species
7. Areas with high fishing pressure/Overfishing
8. Riparian forest loss

• For species with limited distribution range information, estimate species distribution by integrating point observations and environmental features into a species distribution model (e.g., Maxent or Boosted Tree Regression) and how distributions may shift under changing climatic conditions
• Validate species distribution range maps, Aquatic ecosystem classification maps, and threats maps with Angolan institutions (e.g., INBC, Institute for Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, National Institute for Fishery Research (INIP)) and experts; update maps as needed
Skillsets needed: Strong GIS capability, experience using Maxent or other species distribution modeling techniques, relationships with technical experts in relevant Angolan academic and governmental institutions. Fluent in English and Portuguese. Preference for Angolan-based consultant.
Timeline: By March, 2022 first set of ArcGIS shapefiles with species range maps, aquatic ecosystem classification and threats to freshwater systems; final deliverables updated with feedback from Angolan and other stakeholders by March 2022.

Education Requirement: No Requirements

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

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Job application procedure
Interested Consultants should send the following requested documents to wwfcareers@wwfzam.org on or before 27 September 2021.
• Cover letter detailing the Consultant suitability for the assignment and current contact information.
• Detailed Expression of Interest including technical (including work plan to carry out the consultancy) and financial information, and detail profiles/CVs of key person(s) to be involved at any stage.
Due to urgent need of the consultancy, proposals will be reviewed on a regular basis and we may offer the consultancy before the closing date. Only short-listed consultants will be contacted.

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