Restoration Field Officer at Mwambao Coastal Community Network | April 2024

1. Background:

Mwambao Coastal Community Network was established in 2010 to help communities in Tanzania’s coastal areas develop strong and effective local resource management systems that support livelihoods and sustain marine ecosystems. Mwambao employs a human-rights based approach and works to empower local communities and enable them to learn from each other through a community-based network spanning different coastal areas and communities. The network structure fosters learning as well as collective action on shared interests such as influencing policy.

Mwambao has emerged as a leading actor in facilitating community-based marine management in Zanzibar as well as in north-eastern Tanzania working with a number of key international partners whose relationships need confident and sensitive mentoring. The team has expanded significantly in recent years in terms of funding, geographical spread, and diversity of approaches. Mwambao currently has 63 full-time staff and established offices in Tanga, Pangani, Pemba Island and Unguja Island Zanzibar. Mwambao is currently engaged in a 4-year

Blue Action Fund project that aims to build the marine co-management capacity of MCHOMAPUNDA CFMA. The work proposed here is designed to supplement and complement that project and in particular focus on the restoration of coral reef and mangrove habitats as well as focused livelihood restoration activities that are designed around access to eco-credit and value-addition for marine-based products.

Beach Management Units (BMU) under the project entitled ‘Biodiversity Offsetting and

Livelihood Restoration for communities of the MCHOMAPUNDA Community Fisheries

        II.         Overview of the role

Overall, the project aims to address biodiversity offsetting and livelihood needs while promoting sustainable practices and resilience in the targeted communities. The EACOP project will cover communities located within the area of influence of the EACOP project (AOI) on and off shore from mainland Tanzania’s Tanga region coast. The project goals are Livelihood Development, Increased Climate Change Resilience, and Ecosystem Reinstatement through increased capacity for sustainable community-led marine co-management in five communities within the MCHOMAPUNDA CFMA, Tanga by 2027. Additionally, the proposal aligns with the Scope of

Work issued by EACOP on April 17, 2023, which aims for Improved Governance within the MCHOMAPUNDA CFMA., Resource and Capacity Improvement, Coastal Ecosystem Restoration (coral and mangrove) and Livelihood Restoration for the CFMA communities impacted by the EACOP Project, including those in Putini, Chongoleani, and Ndaoya.

The Restoration Field Officer will actively support and participate in the projects’s restoration components (corals and mangroves including in the context of Mkuba eco-credit programme), actively engaging with the local communities located within the project area. coral reef restoration and research activities, assist with the husbandry and maintenance of coral nurseries, and assist with coral reef restoration fieldwork including outplanting, monitoring, and research activities as needed.

He/she will operate and expand in-water coral nursery (farm, genetic pool), nursed coral species inventory, weekly monitoring of survival and growth to viable outplanting sizes for restoration purposes. He/she will deploy with the project core team and communities artificial reef structures including confirming site selection through community consultations, building, deployment.

(micro-fragmentation) methods, regular health assessments of nursery-reared corals, and in-water nursery structure maintenance, and coral outplanting as needed.

Similarly, he/she will operate and expand mangrove restoration sites, and tree nurseries (under the Mkuba eco-credit programme), weekly monitoring of survival and growth, seed collection and planting. He/she will work closely with the Mangrove field officers and other core team members to align on the communities restoration planning confirming adequacy of site selection through community consultations, ground truthing and daily data collection and entry. Other Mwambao senior officers and ecological data analysts will assist in all required data collection training methods, data entry and cleaning, analysis so as to report back to the communities. He/she will be in charge of purchasing necessary equipment, gear and vehicle rental (as needed) so as to achieve all activities in a timely manner.

III. Key Relationships

Reporting to: Project manager and Scientific Restoration Advisor

Key relationships within Mwambao-MCCC: Chief Technical Advisor, Environmental and Social

(MEL), Mwambao

Tanga Co-management Fisheries Officer, Tanga Programme Coordinator

IV. Roles and Responsibilities

The key roles and responsibilities are as outlined below:

• Assist the Project Manager with all husbandry and nursery needs for corals and mangrove restoration components of the EACOP project as per the decided workplan.
• Provide and supervise regular maintenance of coral tables/trees and coral fragments (removing algae from corals and crustaceans from supports)
• Conduct regular coral health assessments (survival, bleaching) of all corals in the nursery and out planted on artificial structures and home reef
• Meet coral propagation quotas as established by Marine Cultures and Mwambao’s scientific advisors (daily, weekly, monthly)
• Provide and supervise regular maintenance of mangrove seedlings and saplings; identify potential mechanical threats to young trees survival
• Conduct regular mangrove health assessments (survival, drying, disease) in restored sites and in nursery
• Work closely with Mkuba officer and communities to meet mangrove quotas as established by work plan and loan schedule (daily, weekly, monthly)
• Perform and supervise routine minor repairs of coral tables, trees, and other structures in the in-water nursery and mangrove tree nursery (as needed)
• Produce and supervise coral cement discs or pins as needed for table coral growth
• Construct, install, and maintain in-water nursery structures
• Supervise, stock and maintain corals in in-water nursery on a regular basis
• Conduct inventory of coral and mangrove nursery stock
• Participate in ex-situ coral monitoring and collection activities as needed
• Participate in nursery-reared coral outplanting efforts as needed
• Daily and weekly data collection and upload using a mobile app
• Assist the Project manager with the reporting including assistance in writing daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports as needed

Qualification and Experience Required:

• S. or B.A. degree in fisheries, ecology, or natural resources management or related field OR those with a high school diploma who have substantial experience working in the diving industry and in coral/mangrove restoration
• At least three years of relevant professional working experience in the WIO region
• Understanding of, and sensitivity towards, the culture and livelihoods context of rural/local coastal communities in Tanga
• A proven ability to work effectively without direct supervision but as part of a team
• Very good in oral and verbal communication skills in both Kiswahili and English, with an ability to develop strong relations with both Government and community partners
• A computer literacy (especially MS Word, Excel, and using the internet) and technical report writing in English
• Ability to learn new skills quickly and accomplish tasks in buddy pairs after initial oversight from the project manager and scientific restoration advisor and consulting partners
• Ability to meet daily requirements and deadlines set by the Project Manager
• Ability to solve problems quickly and effectively
• Proficiency working with Microsoft Excel, Word, time management app and video conferencing app
• Ability to communicate effectively and work both independently and in larger teams
• Ability to take and implement instruction and critical feedback
• Ability to lift at least 60 pounds
• Possession of a PADI (or equivalent) Open Water Certification

Preferred

• Experience working in and familiarity with the concept of Ecosystem restoration and services including nature based solutions
• Experience in         coral    restoration       and      nursing            (coral   collection, transportation, fragmentation, outplanting) procedures
• Ability to identify WIO coral species to the scientific name at least genus : coral ecology basic knowledge
• Experience in mangrove restoration and nursing (seed collection, transportation, planting)
• Ability to identify WIO and local mangrove species to the scientific name, mangrove ecology basic knowledge
• Boating experience if an advantage
• Advanced dive certifications (minimum 50 validated logged dives)
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
• Ability to see and hear; use arms and hands; handle objects, tools, and controls; and sit.
• Ability to lift and move 60 pounds. Ability to dive safely if working in open water. ● Experience in underwater photography

5. How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please upload a cover letter (max. 2 pages) and CV, and complete this Application form by 2nd May 2024.

The cover letter should explain in detail why you are interested in this position with MWAMBAO and emphasize how your skills and experience match those required for the job and name two persons who can be contacted for references. This position is only open to Tanzanian nationals.

Only candidates who meet the requirements for this position will be contacted for an interview. The successful candidate must be available to start work by June 2024.

6. Our Mwambao Values

Employees of Mwambao are expected to subscribe to Mwambao values:

• Being a Change pioneer:
  • Provide new and constructive outlooks and solutions o Mwambao leads in pioneering creative new approaches and interventions.
• Promoting Community stewardship of the environment o Bottom-up approach o            Community-based planning and implementation o            Responsible caretaker of the environment.
• Upholding the values of Accountability and Responsibility:
  • Responsible for carrying out what you commit to, to the best of your ability o Demonstrate accountability and integrity in funds management while encouraging accountability in others.
• Promoting Fairness and Equity in all our work:
  • Declare any conflict of interest o Transparency and shared decision making o            Observe the rule of law o       Observe ethics o         Promote Equality and respect
  • Equal treatment at all levels, all gender, all ages. Fair decision-making – Fair recognition and respect of commitments at all levels.