WWF South Africa: Water Source Areas Programme Manager
WWF South Africa is one of the world's largest and most respected
independent conservation and environmental organisations, with almost
five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100
countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's
natural environment and to build a future in which we all live in
harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological
diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is
sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful
consumption.
Eight percent of South Africa’s land area provides half our river
run-off (12% of the land area including Lesotho and Swaziland provides
50% of our run-off). A project recently completed by the WWF- Freshwater
Programmes with CSIR has defined these areas, our Water Source Areas.
These areas are the ‘crown jewels’ of our ecological infrastructure for
water security, the headwaters of our major river systems that sustain
our food security and economic development downstream.One of the
principal objectives of the Freshwater Programmes is to secure the
healthy water provisioning from these Water Source Areas (WSAs).
WSAs face multiple threats in the different areas: forestry; alien
invasive plants; poor agricultural land management; mining. We will
need to engage multiple tactics with different stakeholders to secure
the ecological functioning of these areas, including engagement with
national macro plans (National Protected Area Expansion Strategy;
Strategic Integrated Projects; etc) and prioritising these areas with
DWA and DEA. We have started this process and now need to employ
additional water and planning expertise to develop the tactics in more
detail and assist with implementation.
This is a two-year contract position. The person will report to the Senior Manager of Freshwater Programmes.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the development of a strategy and regional tactics to ensure optimal functioning of water source areas and the implementation of this strategy;
- Develop necessary partnerships in support of this strategy;
- Determine sustainable funding models with private and public partners to ensure the security of the water source areas (WSAs);
- Liaise with other programmes within WWF-SA and other NGOs to establish implementation of stewardship and protected environments within these areas;
- Liaise with CMAs, SANBI and DWA on implementation of Resource Directed Measures and the River Health Programme in the WSAs.
Requirements:
- M.Sc or higher in water resources management or integrated land-use planning;
- Strategic thinking and an understanding of the implementation of stewardship for water and biodiversity in South Africa;
- Holistic understanding of the water sector in South Africa and drivers of change;
- Understanding of the regulatory and policy environment for spatial planning;
- Experience in developing spatial plans with multiple stakeholders and sectors;
- Ability to inspire various networks to act on freshwater challenges;
- Excellent interpersonal & communication skills;
- Experience in managing multi-stakeholder processes and projects;
- Highly driven, self-motivated individual;
- Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel.
www.wwf.org.za