Minimising the Illegal Killing of Elephants and other Endangered Species (MIKES) Technical Advisor, Parc W, Penjari and Arly Complex of Protected Areas

The Minimising the Illegal Killing of Elephants and other Endangered Species (MIKES) project is the latest phase of the Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme. MIKE has been implemented in collaboration with African Elephant range States by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) with the support of the European Commission from since 2001 and was designed to generate reliable and impartial data on the trends in the illegal killing of elephants to inform decision-making on elephant conservation. 

The MIKE Programme has documented alarming increases in levels of elephant poaching and highlighted the urgent need for action to reduce the increasing threat to elephant populations across Africa as a result of the escalating international illegal trade in their ivory. The new MIKES project aims to respond to this need by leveraging the strong foundation established and successes that have been achieved by MIKE over the past decade, but with an expanded focus to include initiatives aimed at minimising the impact of poaching and the illegal trade on the target species.

To fulfil its law enforcement capacity building aims, MIKES is providing financial and technical support for strengthening law enforcement capacity at eight “focal sites” across Africa, selected because of their importance for the conservation of elephants and other priority CITES-listed large mammal species, as well as the severity of the poaching threats to these species. One of the eight focal sites prioritized is Parc W, Penjari and Arly Complex of Protected Areas. Under this sub-project capacity building support is being delivered to the area in collaboration with IUCN Regional Office for West and Central Africa.

The TA will execute, monitor and evaluate the Parc W, Penjari and Arly Complex activity plan in close collaboration with the management authorities of areas concerned. In additional to line management reporting within IUCN, the TA will have a technical reporting line to the CITES MIKE Programme Coordinator.

The technical and material support dispensed by this project under the responsibility of the TA falls under prerogative of national sovereignty. Therefore, outmost respect for due process and deference to national cultures and administrative procedures will be observed at all times. 

The operations conducted take place in areas ranked “red” and “orange” security levels by foreign embassies. As such, extreme prudence and caution will be exercised at all times during the appointment. 
Technical responsibilities

The TA will:

• Provide support for the development and use of ranger-based monitoring systems at the site, with a special emphasis on the practical application of these systems in the design of ranger patrols and other law enforcement operations;

• Contribute to or organise specific trainings to park staff in anti-poaching, organisation of patrols, data collection and analysis with appropriate ranger-based monitoring systems;

• Support, guide and monitor the effective implementation of ranger patrols as per the agreements signed by national authorities and in accordance with the support provided by the project, including joint-area patrols where appropriate;

• Collaborate with and provide advice to senior staff in the Parc W Complex in annual operational planning and the implementation of capacity building activities defined in the MIKES activity plan

• Advise on the fulfilment of the site’s CITES MIKE Programme obligations, including the effective and efficient collection and synthesis of elephant mortality and law enforcement effort data, in accordance with the MIKE data protocols.

• Work with technical experts to develop a simple intelligence and information management system in the area and finalise the establishment and implement an auditable fund to compensate informers in the fight against wildlife crime.

. Engage and build collaboration with other sectors that are competent to contribute to improving security around the site, such as judiciary, customs, police, gendarmerie and army; and with area-adjacent communities. 

Management responsibilities 

The TA will:

• Utilise other mechanisms for regularly communicating with site managers and other partners as appropriate, including e-mails, Skype calls, telephone calls, instant messaging, etc.

• Lead the procurement, delivery, management and use of equipment and materials identified in the activity plan, in accordance with the procurement procedure; and oversee the use and maintenance of equipment, materials and vehicles provided.

• Oversee the budget allocated to the Parc W Complex under the MIKES project, including maintaining up-to-date information on site expenditures as well as costs of the TA’s own travel and timesheet records etc.

• Provide inputs as necessary into the collection, management and submission of MIKE elephant mortality and quantitative law enforcement effort and outcomes information for the Parc W Complex

• Communicate on at least a monthly basis with the MIKE Programme and provide financial and narrative reports in accordance with the reporting procedures provided by the CITES Secretariat, including time sheets and activity records as requested

• Collaborate with and work to ensure synergy of activities with other partners and supporters working in the area, particularly through the WAP Coordination Mechanism, and with European Union funded initiatives

• Ensure coordinated reporting of results under IUCN M&E framework and identified targets.