Technical Support Consultant – Zambezi
Background
This consultancy role provides hands-on technical support and high-level advisory services to strengthen governance, compliance, programme implementation, and institutional capacity of conservancies and community-based institutions. The position also supports IRDNC’s strategic engagement and visibility at regional and national levels.
The consultant will coach and mentor IRDNC Regional Representatives to engage effectively in regional governance structures and provide programme oversight through regular engagement with project teams and structured reporting to senior government stakeholders. The role includes supporting Transboundary Natural Resource Management initiatives, such as KAZA, by facilitating collaboration and information sharing among traditional authorities.
In addition, the consultant will lead and support structured engagements with Regional Governors and line ministries, promote IRDNC nationally as a leading organisation advancing rural livelihoods through sustainable natural resource management, and support the establishment and coordination of national and regional CBNRM platforms. A strong focus will be placed on strengthening governance, financial management, planning, monitoring, and reporting systems at conservancy and community institution level.
Key Responsibilities
- Coach and mentor IRDNC Regional Representatives to effectively engage in regional governance structures
- Provide programme oversight through monthly engagements with project management teams and quarterly high-level reporting to senior government structures
- Support Transboundary Natural Resource Management (TBNRM) initiatives, including KAZA, by facilitating information sharing between traditional authorities.
- Lead and support quarterly engagements with Regional Governors, and line ministries.
- Promote IRDNC nationally as a leading NGO improving rural livelihoods through sustainable natural resource management.
- Establish and support national and regional CBNRM coordination platforms, including revival of CBNRM talk shows in Zambezi.
- Strengthen governance, financial management, planning, monitoring, and reporting at conservancy and community institution level.
Duration and Location
- Contract period: 12 months
- Location: Primarily field-based in the Zambezi Region with national-level engagement
Required Profile
- Relevant tertiary qualification in natural resource management, development studies, public administration, finance, or related fields.
- Minimum 5–10 years’ experience in CBNRM, NGO technical advisory, or donor-funded programmes.
- Strong understanding of conservancy governance, compliance, and community-based institutional support.
- Proven experience engaging government, traditional authorities, and community stakeholders.
Application Requirements
Interested consultants should submit:
- A brief technical proposal outlining approach and understanding of the assignment.
- A financial proposal indicating daily rate and estimated level of effort.
- A detailed CV and at least two professional referees.
How to Apply
Please submit a concise proposal covering both technical and financial aspects and responding to the ToR (as below).
Submission
- Email subject: “IRDNC Technical Support Consultant Zambezi – Proposal – [Your Name/Organisation]”
- Send both PDFs to: winettej@irdnc.org.na
- Deadline: Wednesday, 07 January 2026, 17:00
Tourism and Park Development Consultant
Background
The Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) is supporting the establishment of People’s Parks in the Kunene Region of northwest Namibia. People’s Parks are a landscape-level conservation approach that links wildlife conservation with improved livelihoods for the communities who live in and co-manage these areas.
Unlike conventional national parks, this model is built on community ownership of wildlife and natural resources, in partnership with government, and strengthens Namibia’s established community-based conservation framework while creating opportunities for sustainable tourism development.
IRDNC is seeking a Tourism & Park Development Consultant to provide strategic and technical support to the development and implementation of the People’s Parks initiative. The consultant will report to the Executive Director and work under the supervision of the Project Manager.
Objective
The objective of this consultancy is two-fold:
- To provide overall technical backstopping towards the establishment of the people’s parks including capacity development, institutional arrangement and governance.
- To ensure that tourism development is achieved sustainably in the respective existing and aspiring people’s parks.
Key Responsibilities and Scope of Work
Broadening and promoting the PP (People’s Park) vision via the Legacy Landscape Skeleton Coast-Etosha Bridge project – which also includes the neighbouring concession areas by:
- Continue developing a landscape approach for Kunene Conservancies which would facilitate the above.
- Providing capacity development to the PPs in terms of institutional arrangements and governance related shortcomings.
- Support promoting the conservation and tourism advantages of the PPs vision.
- Provide technical support to other Kunene conservancies with high tourism potential – especially for donor funding and procure interest from tour operators/investors.
- Project Coordination
- Support and mentor the People’s Parks Project Managers to prepare and monitor work plans and budgets as well as reports to donors and proposals for engaging new donors, and other aspects of his ToR.
- Provide support and advise to the Project Leader on strategic issues, conflict resolution and advocacy.
- Drafting progress, final reports, applications, contracts, funding proposals, ToRs etc. for the various components of the PP initiative for donors and other stakeholders.
- Support People’s Parks Project Managers and Project Leader at high level meetings with People’s Park boards, including conservancy committees with:
- Governance issues
- Park management in development
- Tourism Plans and procuring JV partners
- Support to conservancies not involved with the PP initiative, but having high potential for tourism enterprises
Deliverables:
- ToRs for consultants and critic their reports and other deliverables related to the SCNP & ENP Bridge Project
- Proposals for donor funding and written progress reports on projects that are supported by procured donor funding
- Support Project Manager and his assistant to obtain and collate reports and minutes of all consultation activities such as field excursions and meetings
- Solicit interest amongst the tourism fraternity (operators and investors) in potential tourism attractions and lodge sites by way of networking promotional materials and field excursions, as well as facilitating meetings between conservancy committees and operators/investors that express interest in potential JV tourism opportunities
Qualifications and experience:
- A master’s degree or equivalent qualification in the tourism development and park planning, conservation/protected area management related fields.
- At least 12 years of experience in the tourism and park development and planning fields, 5 years ofcommunity development programmes.
- Knowledge of the Kunene Region environment and cultural norms
- Proven ability to work with other government and private entities, NGOs and local communities.
- Must be able to effectively articulate technical language and advances of the project to stakeholders.
- Must demonstrate excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Possess skills of conceptual thinking, must be resourceful, creative and detail oriented
- Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
How to Apply
Submit a concise proposal covering both technical and financial aspects and responding to the ToR (as below).
Submission
- Email subject: “IRDNC Tourism & Park Development Consultant – Proposal – [Your Name/Organisation]”
- Send both PDFs to: winettej@irdnc.org.na
- Deadline: Wednesday, 07 January 2026, 17:00