7 Aprile 2005
EGYPTIAN - ITALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION PROGRAM (EIECP) II
WADI RAYAN PROTECTED AREA

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: INTERNATIONAL CO- MANAGER
LOCATION: WADI RAYAN PROTECTED AREA, FAYOUM GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

I. BACKGROUND
The collaboration between the Government of Egypt and IUCN – The World Conservation Union started in 1973 with Egypt's admission as Member State.

Under the Program titled "Institutional Support of Italian Aid Assistance to the EEAA-TCOE/Egyptian-Italian Environmental Cooperation Program, Phase I", financed by DGCD and executed by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), the IUCN was entrusted to provide the services of technical assistance and policy guidance for the Siwa Environmental Amelioration and Wadi El Rayan Protected Area Projects.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 5th November 2003 between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the implementation of the "Phase II of the Egyptian-Italian Environmental Cooperation Program" (also referred as: EIECP II) stipulating that IUCN will be sub-contracted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a technical partner for Phase II of the Program.

Within this framework, IUCN will provide its technical support services, including transfer of technology and scientific dissemination for the following Program's components of the Egyptian-Italian Environmental Cooperation Program (EIECP), Phase II:

1. Wadi Rayan Protected Area (WRPA)
2. Capacity Building and Institutional Support to Nature Conservation Sector (CBNCS)
3. Gabal Elba Protected Area (GEPA);
4. Siwa Environmental Amelioration Project (SEAP) – Siwa Protected Area sub- component.

This project will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Nature Conservation Sector (NCS) of the MSEA/EEAA for planning and implementing nature conservation activities on a sustainable basis in the Wadi Rayan Protected Area. Such actions will contribute to the preservation and protection of Egypt's biodiversity assets and will broaden on-going efforts to establish and manage a representative national system of protected areas.

II. ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CO- MANAGER
The International Co-manager of the Wadi Rayan Protected Area will work very closely with the national co-manager appointed by the Nature Conservation Service,
as well as other experts involved in the management of this project. She/he will be responsible for managing project activities and funds, and providing the required technical advice, training and transferring of technology to Egyptian staff. In addition, she/he will develop the training and technology transfer activities of the project and serve as the principle key contact for the technical assistance provided by IUCN.

III. EXPECTED TASKS
The International Co-manager of the Wadi Rayan Protected Area (WRPA) is expected to undertake, but not limit the work, to the following tasks:

1. Develop and implement training and learning programs to build capacity within the Protected Area Management Unit, the Fayoum Environmental Management Unit and among local stakeholders, to manage and conserve Wadi Rayan Protected Area (WRPA);
2. Refine the WRPA Management Plan to promote the development of eco-tourism, improve management effectiveness and enhance the potential for environmental education and communication;
3. Implement the WRPA Management Plan in a participatory manner with local stakeholders;
4. Set a strategy for linking Wadi Rayan and Medinet Madi;
5. Establish a site-specific plan for the conservation of the Wadi Hitan area of WRPA as a world heritage site;
6. Promote synergies with other projects in an effort to develop complementarities;
7. Provide support to the Project Executive Committee (PEC), Project Management Unit (PMU) as well as liaise closely with the Nature Conservation Sector (NCS)/ EEAA, Italian Cooperation and UNDP.

SELECTION CRITERIA
This position requires a strong background in management of biodiversity and natural resources, with at least 5 years of work experience in administration and management of protected areas. The post involves interaction with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including government, NGOs, local community, as well as national and international experts, and hence requires strong coordination, communication and networking skills. Candidates should also have skills in collaborative management, biodiversity monitoring and evaluation, as well as strong negotiation skills. Fluent spoken and written English is essential, and knowledge of Arabic is a strong advantage. The successful candidate will be expected to be fully computer literate and familiar with Microsoft Office and major software packages.

This position requires good organisational capacity, networking and information-sharing abilities.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Applicants are asked to submit their CV and a supporting letter of motivation to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

Applications should be submitted before 18 April 2005 to uicnmed@iucn.org

or by fax to ++ 34 952 028 145.

Applicants selected for interview will be contacted directly by IUCN.