About CWMAC

The Community Wildlife Management Areas Consortium (CWMAC) is the national umbrella body for all Authorised Associations (AAs) managing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Tanzania.

Founded in 2010 and registered under the Societies Act (S.A.16619), CWMAC represents 24 member WMAs spread across Tanzania. CWMAC’s mission is to enable WMAs to sustainably manage and benefit from Tanzania’s natural resources while improving community livelihoods.

The opportunity

CWMAC is seeking an experienced, driven, and creative Partnership and Fundraising Officer to lead resource mobilisation. This is not a back-office role. You will work alongside the Impact Manager, Programme staff, and CEO to secure funding from institutional donors, conservation foundations, bilateral agencies, and private sector partners.

Key responsibilities

Resource Mobilisation and Proposal Development

• Develop and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy and pipeline, tracking opportunities from bilateral donors, multilateral agencies, conservation foundations, and private sector partners that are aligned with CWMAC’s mandate.
• Lead the full cycle of proposal development, from concept note through to full application, in close collaboration with the Impact Manager, Programmes team, and M&E Officer. This includes developing compelling narratives, logical frameworks, budgets, and monitoring plans.
• Proactively identify new funding calls, requests for proposals, and grant opportunities relevant to CWMAC’s work in community conservation, governance, sustainable livelihoods, and wildlife management.
• Ensure all submissions are of the highest quality, fully responsive to funder requirements, submitted on time, and accurately reflect CWMAC’s work and organisational capacity.

Donor Relations and Grant Management

• Serve as CWMAC’s primary relationship manager for a portfolio of institutional and philanthropic donors, maintaining regular communication, sharing updates, and nurturing long-term partnerships.
• Coordinate donor reporting processes in collaboration with the Finance team and M&E Officer, ensuring that narrative and financial reports are accurate, compelling, submitted on time, and fully compliant with grant conditions.
• Manage all active grant compliance requirements, including tracking conditions precedent, milestone reporting, audits, and any changes to grant scope or budget.
• Maintain a well-organised grants management system, including grant agreements, donor correspondence, reporting schedules, and budget tracking documents.
• Support donor site visits, presentations to funders, and engagement at conservation finance forums and events.

Conservation Trust Fund

• Work closely with the CEO, and Impact Manager to support the establishment and operationalisation of the CWMAC Conservation Trust Fund. This includes developing the case for support, preparing donor engagement materials, and coordinating with legal and financial advisors.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with potential anchor donors and long-term investors in the Trust Fund, including conservation finance institutions, government partners, and international foundations.
• Assist in developing the Trust Fund’s communication strategy, investment prospectus, and engagement materials for prospective funders and Board members.

Strategic Communications and Evidence

• Develop and maintain a compelling, evidence-based case for support for CWMAC, drawing on programme data, WMA success stories, and conservation impact evidence.
• Collaborate with the Communications Officer and M&E Officer to produce funding-oriented impact reports, success stories, and digital content that position CWMAC strongly with current and prospective funders.
• Contribute to the development of CWMAC’s annual State of WMAs report, providing the fundraising narrative and funder-facing framing for evidence of impact.
• Represent CWMAC at relevant conservation finance, donor, and sector networking events, building the organisation’s profile in the funding landscape.

Compliance and Internal Coordination

• Ensure all fundraising activities are conducted in accordance with CWMAC’s financial policies, HR policies, donor requirements, and the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania.
• Work closely with the Finance and Administration Manager to ensure budget accuracy in proposals, proper financial tracking of grants, and timely drawdowns.
• Provide regular updates to the CEO and Senior Management Team on the fundraising pipeline, secured funds, and strategic opportunities.

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Environmental Science, Business Administration, International Relations, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of four years of demonstrable professional experience in fundraising, resource mobilisation, or grants management within the NGO, conservation, or international development sector.
• A proven track record of successfully developing and securing grants from institutional donors, including but not limited to bilateral agencies, multilateral bodies, or conservation foundations.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality proposals, concept notes, reports, and correspondence in English.
• Strong understanding of the logical framework approach, results-based management, and donor reporting requirements.
• Experience managing a portfolio of active grants, including budget tracking, compliance monitoring, and relationship management.
• Fluency in English and Swahili, both written and spoken.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, and familiarity with grant management or CRM tools.

Key competencies and personal qualities

• Strategic vision with the ability to identify and act on funding opportunities before they are widely known.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a confident, professional manner in representing CWMAC to donors and partners.
• High level of personal organisation, able to manage multiple proposals and grants simultaneously without losing quality or missing deadlines.
• Genuine commitment to community-based conservation and the rights of WMA communities.
• Integrity and accountability in the handling of donor information, finances, and organisational data.
• A collaborative team player who is equally comfortable working independently and taking initiative.
• Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic, fast-growing organisation.

• Develop and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy and pipeline, tracking opportunities from bilateral donors, multilateral agencies, conservation foundations, and private sector partners that are aligned with CWMAC’s mandate.
• Lead the full cycle of proposal development, from concept note through to full application, in close collaboration with the Impact Manager, Programmes team, and M&E Officer. This includes developing compelling narratives, logical frameworks, budgets, and monitoring plans.
• Proactively identify new funding calls, requests for proposals, and grant opportunities relevant to CWMAC’s work in community conservation, governance, sustainable livelihoods, and wildlife management.
• Ensure all submissions are of the highest quality, fully responsive to funder requirements, submitted on time, and accurately reflect CWMAC’s work and organisational capacity.
• Serve as CWMAC’s primary relationship manager for a portfolio of institutional and philanthropic donors, maintaining regular communication, sharing updates, and nurturing long-term partnerships.
• Coordinate donor reporting processes in collaboration with the Finance team and M&E Officer, ensuring that narrative and financial reports are accurate, compelling, submitted on time, and fully compliant with grant conditions.
• Manage all active grant compliance requirements, including tracking conditions precedent, milestone reporting, audits, and any changes to grant scope or budget.
• Maintain a well-organised grants management system, including grant agreements, donor correspondence, reporting schedules, and budget tracking documents.
• Support donor site visits, presentations to funders, and engagement at conservation finance forums and events.
• Work closely with the CEO, and Impact Manager to support the establishment and operationalisation of the CWMAC Conservation Trust Fund. This includes developing the case for support, preparing donor engagement materials, and coordinating with legal and financial advisors.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with potential anchor donors and long-term investors in the Trust Fund, including conservation finance institutions, government partners, and international foundations.
• Assist in developing the Trust Fund’s communication strategy, investment prospectus, and engagement materials for prospective funders and Board members.
• Develop and maintain a compelling, evidence-based case for support for CWMAC, drawing on programme data, WMA success stories, and conservation impact evidence.
• Collaborate with the Communications Officer and M&E Officer to produce funding-oriented impact reports, success stories, and digital content that position CWMAC strongly with current and prospective funders.
• Contribute to the development of CWMAC’s annual State of WMAs report, providing the fundraising narrative and funder-facing framing for evidence of impact.
• Represent CWMAC at relevant conservation finance, donor, and sector networking events, building the organisation’s profile in the funding landscape.
• Ensure all fundraising activities are conducted in accordance with CWMAC’s financial policies, HR policies, donor requirements, and the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania.
• Work closely with the Finance and Administration Manager to ensure budget accuracy in proposals, proper financial tracking of grants, and timely drawdowns.
• Provide regular updates to the CEO and Senior Management Team on the fundraising pipeline, secured funds, and strategic opportunities.

• Strategic vision
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Confident, professional manner
• High level of personal organisation
• Ability to manage multiple proposals and grants simultaneously
• Genuine commitment to community-based conservation
• Integrity and accountability
• Collaborative team player
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Adaptability and resilience
• Excellent written communication skills
• Strong understanding of the logical framework approach
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office
• Familiarity with grant management or CRM tools

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Environmental Science, Business Administration, International Relations, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of four years of demonstrable professional experience in fundraising, resource mobilisation, or grants management within the NGO, conservation, or international development sector.
• A proven track record of successfully developing and securing grants from institutional donors, including but not limited to bilateral agencies, multilateral bodies, or conservation foundations.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality proposals, concept notes, reports, and correspondence in English.
• Strong understanding of the logical framework approach, results-based management, and donor reporting requirements.
• Experience managing a portfolio of active grants, including budget tracking, compliance monitoring, and relationship management.
• Fluency in English and Swahili, both written and spoken.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, and familiarity with grant management or CRM tools.