Democratic Republic of the Congo: Trainer - improvement of anti-poaching performance in Protected Areas

The African Wildlife Foundation and the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature are looking for a trainer who will re-introduce to the rangers, the 8-step counter poaching model in the reserve ensure that integrity is maintained while effectively improving the reserve management.

Scope of the work

The trainer will also put the model in context with Lomako realities (remoteness, no power electricity, ecoguards poorly educated, etc.). In line with this, we are seeking the services of an experienced service provider to train 60 field rangers on effective anti-poaching patrol methods and develop/improve a good performance reporting system. Specifically, the trainer will be required to (a) assess the competence of rangers in handling challenges that are associated with conducting an effective patrol and also in reporting, (b) train rangers on the 8-Step counter-poaching model, (c) identify additional technical and equipment needs to conduct effective patrols, prevent and reduce wildlife crimes and (d) train the ICCN/AWF liaison officer and at least 3-4 trainers (Sectors responsible for example) who can conduct refresher training to other rangers in Lomako and elsewhere on the landscape (Iyondji for example).

Training will be conducted at Lingunda, the reserve headquarters over a period of four weeks. The trainer will be lodged at the headquarters with occasional field excursions. Communication is limited in the area and there is no cellphone coverage, however, internet is available should one wish to send e-mails.

Context and Justification

Maringa-Lopori-Wamba (MLW) landscape is located in one of the poorest, least developed and most remote areas of the DRC, has tremendous ecological value, is globally significant, with rich biodiversity, including the listed endangered bonobo and vulnerable forest elephant, as well as other diverse, rare, and endemic species of flora and fauna. Various threats to conservation persist, including poaching for bushmeat, poor institutional capacity, forest clearance and land conversion for agriculture, and climate change. To conserve the extremely rich biodiversity of the landscape, AWF worked with ICCN and local communities to establish two protected areas (the 360,000 hectare Lomako Yokokala Faunal Reserve in 2006 and the 110,000 hectare Iyondji Community Bonobo Reserve in 2012) that are focused on bonobo conservation and considered models for PA development in the country. The Congolese wildlife authority (ICCN), which is responsible for managing the reserve faces chronic budget shortages, which have resulted in inadequate staff capacity, too little equipment and field supplies, and an inability to cover basic operating expenses. AWF played an instrumental role in establishing the Lomako Reserve in 2006 and has since remained engaged in helping ICCN to address these challenges and effectively manage the reserve. Support from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID), Arcus Foundation and other donor partners has enabled AWF to provide the ICCN eco-guards with basic performance-based management training on counter-poaching tactics, peace and reconciliation training to improve community relations, and training on wildlife and human activity monitoring. We have also helped to establish field outposts and provide equipment, compensation, and other essential support for the eco-guards.

To continue with AWF support to improve Lomako reserve management and ecological integrity maintenance, AWF mobilized funds from ARCUS Foundation until 2017 to support the ICCN eco-guards having greatly enhanced their effectiveness in monitoring the reserve and managing threats, most notably poaching. Through this project, AWF provided in 2014 support and training to Lomako rangers on patrol reporting and planning through SMART and CyberTracker®. However, with the increasing illegal poaching records in DRC, additional training is becoming more and more urgent and necessary to face new poaching challenges. Presently the rangers deal with subsistence poachers, but with increasing wildlife abundances and in particular, the bonobo and elephant populations, we anticipate that commercial poachers are likely to move into the area and evidence signs are being observed currently in the landscape. This will increase the needs for improved capacity in patrolling noting that commercial poaching can increase using means such as water. Knowing that rangers are trained before and experienced during many years pedestrian patrols, it is important to reinforce their capacity on other types of patrols (rivers for example). Equally, rangers have to be more efficient in the way they do surveillance and arrest commercial poachers compared to subsistence poachers who can become progressively commercial poachers. On the other hand integrity maintenance of Lomako reserve will depend on how rangers can identify threats and also use data collected through SMART / CYBERTRACKER and ecological monitoring to inform management and to initiate patrols by intelligence. To be efficient in patrolling more training is necessary for Lomako rangers.

As per standard protocol of the DRC, the army will appoint a representative to oversee the training process.

*The 8-step counter-poaching model**:***

The trainer will be expected to focus on steps ‘1 to 4’ and ‘7 to 8’ of the 8-Step counter-poaching model (steps 5 and 6 are already being covered by AWF and JURISTRALE), which comprises the following parts:

1. Criminal information and intelligence – information acquisition and informer security: ICCN has a network of informers, whom they rely on to plan their operations, but these need special care as it is sensitive and potentially dangerous for the informers;

2. Threat analysis – logistics, radio communication, training on patrol techniques, first aid: The refresher training conducted in 2014 suggested that further training on communication and first aid is required;

3. Operations security – involves keeping the team free of internal poachers; this is an ongoing process led by the protected area manager;

4. Species security – refers to focusing effort on species of concern and in this case, bonobos and elephants; this is the responsibility of the protected area manager;

5. Physical security – the use of spatial monitoring and reporting tool (SMART) and CyberTracker® ; AWF is providing support and training on patrol reporting and planning through SMART and CyberTracker®;

6. Authority and jurisdiction – involves legal actions on patrol and liaison with law enforcement and with tribal authorities; Juristes pour le Renforcement et l’Application de la Loi dans le Secteur de l’Environnement (JURISTRALE) is providing training on this;

7. Planning of operations – involves morale boosting activities and cooperation with operations at national level; and

8. Operational deployment – involves acquiring patrol equipment, management training for patrol leaders, and training on reporting systems and tools.

Qualifications and skills required within the context of the Congo Basin forests

1. Certification in protected area management;

2. Certification in first aid training;

3. Certification in counter-poaching methods and techniques;

4. At least 5 years professional experience as a protected area management trainer; and

5. At least 5 years in protected area management with special emphasis on wildlife management and patrolling.

6. Good knowledge of SMART and CYBERTRACKER

7. Must be French speaking.

Submission of proposal

Original Technical and financial proposals shall be prepared and addressed to the address below;-

Nakedi Maputla

Landscape Ecologist

Email:nmaputla@awf.org

http://www.awf.org/about/careers