About Us

The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall by conserving chimpanzees and inspiring communities to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals, and the environment. We strongly believe everything is connected and everyone can make a difference.

The Jane Goodall Institute Tanzania is a reputable and rapidly expanding non-governmental organization committed to wildlife research, conservation, socio-economic development, and environmental education. The Jane Goodall Institute Tanzania was founded in 2001 by the late Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE. The JGI Tanzania with its partners makes a difference through community centered conservation, chimpanzees research projects, youths’ environmental education, the innovative use of science and technology, we work closely with local communities in Tanzania, inspiring hope through a collective power of individual action.

The Jane Goodall Institute Tanzania with funding from our various donors to support implementation of conservation project and beyond, is currently seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and competent Tanzanian to fill the following vacant position:

Job position: Governance Officer

Program: Community Centred Conservation Project in Western Tanzania

Duty Station: Kigoma

Reporting Line: Data Science and Knowledge Management Lead

Job Summary

The Governance officer will provide technical support in strengthening natural resources governance systems and institutions at community and local government levels. The position will coordinate and facilitate interventions aimed at promoting transparent, accountable, participatory inclusive, and effective governance of forests, land, wildlife and other natural resources within the project areas. The officer will strengthen the capacity of village councils, Village Natural Resources Committees (VNRCs), Village Forest Monitors (VFMs), ward and other relevant stakeholders on natural resources governance, policies, laws, regulations, accountability, and community rights.

The position will also support participatory conflict prevention and resolution, grievance mechanism, equitable benefit sharing and meaningful participation of women, work closely with communities’ youth and vulnerable groups in natural resource decision-making. The Officer will work closely with communities, local government authorities, conservation partners, and project teams to improve institutional performance, compliance, accountability, and community ownership of sustainable natural resource management initiatives.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Main responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate natural resource governance activities at community, village, ward, and district levels to strengthen sustainable and accountable management of forests, wildlife, land, and other natural resources.
• Strengthening community-based natural resource governance institutions, including Village Councils (VCs), Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs), Village Forest Monitors (VFMs), village governments and other relevant community structures.
• Facilitate capacity building for village Council members, VNRCs, VFMs, and other stakeholders on natural resource governance, roles and responsibilities, relevant policies, laws, regulations, and accountability mechanisms.
• Promote the use of score cards to track performance, measure progress, and improve accountability by turning data into clear metrics. Promote transparency and accountability in the access, management and utilization of natural resources, including community natural resource revenues, benefits, conservation financing, and other project-supported resources.
• Facilitate governance dialogue and stakeholder engagement among communities, local government authorities, traditional/community leaders, conservation actors, and other relevant stakeholders to address natural resource management challenges and conflicts.
• Support the development, strengthening, and implementation of community governance systems, bylaws, regulations, management plans, and institutional procedures for sustainable natural resource management.
• Monitor governance performance of community natural resource management institutions and identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for strengthening institutional effectiveness and accountability.
• Promote equitable benefit sharing from natural resources and conservation initiatives, ensuring that benefits and opportunities are accessible to communities and fairly distributed among different social groups.
• Support conflict prevention and resolution related to land, forests, wildlife, natural resource access, resource use, and implementation of conservation activities.
• Strengthen community awareness of land and natural resource rights, responsibilities, relevant laws, regulations, and mechanisms for reporting violations or grievances.
• Establish and strengthen grievance and feedback mechanisms that enable community members and other stakeholders to safely raise concerns, provide feedback, and seek resolution of project or natural resource management-related grievances.
• Promote gender-responsive and socially inclusive governance, ensuring equitable representation and participation of women, youth, marginalized groups, and other vulnerable groups in natural resource decision-making.
• Collaborate with law enforcement and relevant authorities to strengthen community awareness, reporting, and compliance with natural resource management laws and regulations, while maintaining appropriate institutional roles and responsibilities.
• Document governance lessons, good practices, challenges, and success stories and facilitate learning among communities, government authorities, and project stakeholders.
• Prepare annual and quarterly workplans, budgets, progress reports, and other governance-related documentation in accordance with project requirements and organizational policies.
• Perform any other relevant duties as may be assigned or delegated by project management.

Minimum Job Qualifications and Other Requirements

Main minimum job qualifications and other requirements will include, but are not limited to:

• A holder of Bachelor’s Degree in Governance, Development Studies, Project management, Natural Resource Management, or related fields, a master’s degree is desirable.
• At least five (5) years’ working experience in the same field.
• Previous knowledge and experience in working with conservation and sustainable natural resources management projects is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience working in rural and remote areas of Tanzania with local government, VNRCs, Village Forest Monitors, implementing community development projects.
• Strong understanding of natural resource governance, community-based conservation, environmental policies, laws, regulations, and institutional frameworks in Tanzania.
• Practical knowledge on proposal writing ability, research methodologies and engagement.
• A track record of successfully applying and instituting scorecards, results-based management (RBM) and good governance approaches to ensure effective implementation of complex donor funded projects in developing countries.
• Computer literate and ability to use data analysis programs (SPSS), word, Xcel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.
• Ability to use digital or mobile data collection devices and tools such as Survey123
• Ability to work under pressure, tight deadlines and less supervision, self-motivated person, team player, reporting and presentation skills.
• Good Communication skills – fluent in Swahili and English, both verbal and written. This position involves working with a wide range of people within the institution, local communities, and local & international partners, including technical and non-technical colleagues.

• Coordinate natural resource governance activities at community, village, ward, and district levels to strengthen sustainable and accountable management of forests, wildlife, land, and other natural resources.
• Strengthening community-based natural resource governance institutions, including Village Councils (VCs), Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs), Village Forest Monitors (VFMs), village governments and other relevant community structures.
• Facilitate capacity building for village Council members, VNRCs, VFMs, and other stakeholders on natural resource governance, roles and responsibilities, relevant policies, laws, regulations, and accountability mechanisms.
• Promote the use of score cards to track performance, measure progress, and improve accountability by turning data into clear metrics. Promote transparency and accountability in the access, management and utilization of natural resources, including community natural resource revenues, benefits, conservation financing, and other project-supported resources.
• Facilitate governance dialogue and stakeholder engagement among communities, local government authorities, traditional/community leaders, conservation actors, and other relevant stakeholders to address natural resource management challenges and conflicts.
• Support the development, strengthening, and implementation of community governance systems, bylaws, regulations, management plans, and institutional procedures for sustainable natural resource management.
• Monitor governance performance of community natural resource management institutions and identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for strengthening institutional effectiveness and accountability.
• Promote equitable benefit sharing from natural resources and conservation initiatives, ensuring that benefits and opportunities are accessible to communities and fairly distributed among different social groups.
• Support conflict prevention and resolution related to land, forests, wildlife, natural resource access, resource use, and implementation of conservation activities.
• Strengthen community awareness of land and natural resource rights, responsibilities, relevant laws, regulations, and mechanisms for reporting violations or grievances.
• Establish and strengthen grievance and feedback mechanisms that enable community members and other stakeholders to safely raise concerns, provide feedback, and seek resolution of project or natural resource management-related grievances.
• Promote gender-responsive and socially inclusive governance, ensuring equitable representation and participation of women, youth, marginalized groups, and other vulnerable groups in natural resource decision-making.
• Collaborate with law enforcement and relevant authorities to strengthen community awareness, reporting, and compliance with natural resource management laws and regulations, while maintaining appropriate institutional roles and responsibilities.
• Document governance lessons, good practices, challenges, and success stories and facilitate learning among communities, government authorities, and project stakeholders.
• Prepare annual and quarterly workplans, budgets, progress reports, and other governance-related documentation in accordance with project requirements and organizational policies.
• Perform any other relevant duties as may be assigned or delegated by project management.

• Strong understanding of natural resource governance, community-based conservation, environmental policies, laws, regulations, and institutional frameworks in Tanzania.
• Practical knowledge on proposal writing ability, research methodologies and engagement.
• A track record of successfully applying and instituting scorecards, results-based management (RBM) and good governance approaches to ensure effective implementation of complex donor funded projects in developing countries.
• Computer literate and ability to use data analysis programs (SPSS), word, Xcel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.
• Ability to use digital or mobile data collection devices and tools such as Survey123
• Ability to work under pressure, tight deadlines and less supervision, self-motivated person, team player, reporting and presentation skills.
• Good Communication skills – fluent in Swahili and English, both verbal and written.

• A holder of Bachelor’s Degree in Governance, Development Studies, Project management, Natural Resource Management, or related fields, a master’s degree is desirable.
• At least five (5) years’ working experience in the same field.
• Previous knowledge and experience in working with conservation and sustainable natural resources management projects is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience working in rural and remote areas of Tanzania with local government, VNRCs, Village Forest Monitors, implementing community development projects.