Recruitment

ECO-TOURISM OFFICER
KASANE - BOTSWANA

To assist Chobe district community in promoting effective use of natural resources for tourism with minimal environmental impact, while contributing to sustainable rural development and encouraging conservation.
 

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The Placement:

The overall aim of the project is to support and strengthen the role of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Division in eco-tourism development through implementation of the Chobe Forestry Management Plan of 1992.

The role of the Eco-Tourism Officer will be to assist and support the Division, through the European Union Divisional Unit, in the implementation of tourism awareness in the community, stimulating planning and development of sustainable activities, including the formation of trusts and NGOs, in forestry extension and community forestry activities.

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Country

Botswana has a population of 1.2 million and is about the size of France, so there is a low density population spread especially outside the capital Gaborone in the south. The climate ranges from tropical in the north to sub-tropical in the south. Summers (from November to February) are hot, approximately 35 - 40 C, which is also the rainy season. Winters (from May to August) can be cold with temperatures often falling below zero at night.

It is a politically stable, democratically ruled country which gained independence in 1966. The economy is dominated by mineral exports including diamonds and beef exports. Tourism is becoming increasingly important and is concentrated around the Okavango Delta region in the north.

Botswana is a relatively wealthy African nation. However, this affluence tends to be concentrated in the urban areas and does not reach the villages, where many people still have to walk many kilometres for water. Subsequently, Gaborone is a modern city with all the usual amenities you would associate with a UK city of similar size. The villages have a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, although supplies and amenities are more limited.

Region

Kasane is in the north west of Botswana sharing its borders with Zambia and Zimbabwe and near to Namibia. The district has a population of 17,000 mainly in and around Kasane, commercial hub. National Park containing extensive numbers and varieties of wildlife surrounds the town. It is the starting point for access to the Chobe National Park and a large tourist centre with associated hotels, lodges, restaurants and services. It is also the road access to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls from Botswana, and to Zambia. There is daily road transport between Gaborone and Francistown.

Duties and Responsibilities

  1. To conduct a feasibility study of eco-tourism in the Chobe district.
  2. Create tourism awareness by mobilising communities to identify investable tourism ventures.
  3. To assist the communities in planning, organising and setting up programmes for sustainable tourism activities.
  4. Collaborate and network with local institutions and authorities, the Government Department of Wildlife and National Parks, donor agencies, environmental NGOs and CBOs and other organisations
  5. Assist communities in formulating regulations for sustainable natural resource management
  6. Assist communities in establishing registered tourism trust
  7. Encourage communities to form joint ventures and form partnerships with the private sector and NGOs
  8. Identify capacity building needs for the management of natural resources
  9. Assist communities in formulating project proposals and business plans
  10. Advise communities on conservation, protection, rehabilitation and development of natural resources
  11. Mobilise communities to undertake a multiple use of forest reserves and natural wood land
  12. Assist communities to establish appropriate and affordable tourism infrastructure developments, e.g. trail walks, campsites, bird watching and nature walks
  13. Undertake other related duties as required to meet the exigencies of the service.

Person Specification

Essential

  • Degree level education in forestry/environmental studies/tourism or similar ·
  • At least two years relevant professional experience in environmental/eco-system management for tourism, or two years professional experience in tourism management in an environmental setting
  • Experience of using research methods to gather information on existing resources that can be harnessed for tourist development, including evaluation of natural resources of flora and fauna, historical, anthropological and cultural sites.
  • Experience of working with communities at 'grassroots' level using Community Participation methods and Community Action Plans
  • Experience of developing joint private sector and community projects including the preparation of business plans for mobilising funding and resources
  • Computer literate
  • Experience of project management, monitoring and evaluation.

Desirable

  • Communication and interpretation skills for multicultural visitors
  • Experience of marketing through electronic media including the development of web sites
  • Knowledge of the tourism industry and tourism related ventures
  • Experience of environmental education awareness
  • Skilled in customer relations, interpersonal and intercultural appreciation
  • Knowledge of anthropological, historical, folklore and community lifestyles
  • Knowledge of adventure activity holidays

Accountability:
The Eco-tourism Officer will be directly responsible to the Forest Officer and through them to the Forest Development Officer at the Division of Forestry and Range Ecology headquarters.

Terms and Conditions:
The Development Worker's terms will be subject to public service rules and regulations like other civil servants, although flexible working hours will be necesssary to fulfil the needs of the placement. These will be introduced as a part of the induction course in Botswana. The Development Worker will receive the normal local salary for the placement in place of the Skillshare allowance. He/she will also be required to meet the rental for their government house from their salary. Please note this is different from the standard DW agreement.

Other Information

The Forestry Protection and Development Project (FPDP) is implemented by the Division of Forestry and Range Ecology of the Department of Crop Production and Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture. Financial assistance is provided by the European Union through the European Development Fund, including the provision of technical assistance. The EU has a unit within the Division and is recruiting a total of seven development workers, of which this post will be one. There are three other Skillshare International DWs in placement in Francistown, Kang and Kanye.

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