Community & Stakeholder Engagement & Training Assistant WILDTRUST ( is a South African not-for-profit, public benefit, non-governmental organisation, with a vision of "a thriving and resilient world" and implements its work through two programmes: WILDLANDS (focused on terrestrial systems) and WILDOCEANS (focused on coastal and marine systems).
The primary interlinked goals of WILDOCEANS to deliver impact towards a thriving resilient world are: 1) To protect and restore marine biodiversity, and 2) To build resilience for coastal communities.
The uThukela Marine Protected Area Ecosystem-based Adaptation Project is a 5-year project that aims to build socio-ecological resilience to climate change for the people and biodiversity of the uThukela MPA, and its associated coastal climate-relevant ecosystems and vulnerable communities.
The project aims to build conservation capacity and infrastructure, conduct ecosystem surveys and monitoring, restore, and protect climate-relevant ecosystems, support effective management of the MPA, deliver benefits and improved livelihoods for communities living adjacent to the MPA, and improve resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions.
Key Performance Areas: The Community & Stakeholder Engagement and Training Assistant will be responsible for coordinating and implementing activities under the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project , focusing on activities related to the project community sites, community resource hubs and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.
The incumbent will further contribute to the execution of activities to deliver benefits to local communities living in and around the uThukela MPA, restoration of ecosystems, participation in MPA management and planning, and creating awareness about the ocean and the need for conservation to underpin benefits from natural resources.
Key performance areas for this position are: Management of stakeholder engagement processes, and administrative aspects of this portfolio.
Assist in the establishment, management and running of Community Resource Hubs including planning and facilitating of learning workshops & community awareness days.
Provide support and facilitation of community monitoring activities.
Assist in supervising staff members based at the project community resource hubs.
Assist in updating the stakeholder engagement register and other related activities within ESMS division.
Assist in undertaking and monitoring the conservation and restoration of climate-relevant ecosystems.
Assist in implementing sustainable livelihoods and climate smart homestead solutions.
Contribute to the management and administration of the project's youth employment programme.
Contribute to developing and sustaining relationships with local stakeholders.
Engage with the community leadership structures.
Keep accurate and up to date records and provide regular (weekly and monthly) reports on activities.
Requirements: The successful candidate should have an Honours Degree or equivalent higher education qualification in the field of social science, stakeholder engagement, education, or other relevant qualification.
A minimum of 2 years' experience in stakeholder engagement and consultations, including work at community level, implementing field-based conservation or development projects or a similar role will be required, as well as experience with staff supervision and management of implementation of activities according to a Work-Plan.
The candidate must be a team player, passionate about working with youth, empowering communities, and about the custodianship of the natural environment.
Proficiency in MS Office, outstanding communication and people skills, proficiency in IsiZulu, ability to work under pressure meeting deadlines and ability to respond effectively to changing priorities, excellent organizational and multitasking ability.
The candidate must be willing to work away from home regularly, travel on rough roads, into remote areas and to stay in basic accommodation, that requires self-sufficiency and self-catering.
A driver's license is imperative, with experience in driving a 4×4 an advantage.
Based: Durban, or north coast of KwaZulu-Natal (Mtunzini to Durban)Duration: Fixed-term contract (up to 31 March 2027)Remuneration: Competitive salary based on qualifications and experience.
TO APPLY: Submit a 3-page CV including a minimum of 3 references by email to the Project Administrative Officer: by 24 May 2024.
Late applications may be disregarded.
WILDTRUST reserves the right to vary the requirements and not to fill this position.
Should you not receive a response within a month kindly consider your application unsuccessful.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB) #J-18808-Ljbffr
