Consultancy Service: Ecosystem Management Expert

Introduction

The African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) will be leading the implementation of the regional Project “Strengthening Integrated One Health Capacities for Enhanced Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the Lake Chad Basin” funded by the Pandemic fund. The SCOPE project will be implemented across five Lake Chad Basin (LCB) member states namely Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic (CAR) and Chad.  The afore-mentioned project overall goal is to strengthen cross-border capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through an integrated and inclusive One Health approach in the Lake Chad Basin. The SCOPE Project will be implemented through three result areas; Result Area 1: By 2029, Enhance capacity for cross-border One Health prevention, detection, notification and response for pandemics in the Lake Chad Basin; Result Area 2: By 2029, strengthen the cross-border governance and coordination mechanisms for inclusive and equitable One Health Systems; Result Area 3: By 2029, foster sustainable innovative financial flows, strategic partnerships and stewardship for PPR in the Lake Chad Basin. AU-IBAR will be working in close partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). 
Ecosystem degradation, land-use change, climate change, unsustainable energy practices, and transhumance are key drivers of disease emergence, biodiversity loss, and reduced resilience at the human-animal-environment interface. Healthy, well-managed ecosystems underpin the sustainability of natural resources, reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover, and support the long-term resilience of communities in the Lake Chad Basin. Dependence on unsustainable fuelwood harvesting, charcoal production, and diesel-based power for health facilities, cold chains, and rural communities further accelerates ecosystem degradation, deforestation, and environmental health risks, while also undermining the functionality of health and surveillance infrastructure in remote and cross-border areas.
The SCOPE programme recognises ecosystem management as a foundational pillar of the One Health approach and seeks to strengthen ecosystem health monitoring, natural resource governance, multisectoral coordination, and the integration of renewable energy and climate-smart solutions into regional surveillance, preparedness, and environmental management systems.
To support implementation of these activities, AU-IBAR seeks to recruit an Ecosystem Management Expert with One Health and renewable energy experience to provide technical leadership on ecosystem management, environmental monitoring, clean energy integration, and the promotion of sustainable, low-carbon solutions within regional One Health initiatives
To support implementation of these activities, AU-IBAR seeks to recruit an Ecosystem Management Expert with health (One Health) experience to provide technical leadership on ecosystem management, environmental monitoring, renewable energy integration and the integration of ecosystem health considerations within regional One Health initiatives

Purpose of Job

The Ecosystem Management Expert provides technical leadership for strengthening ecosystem management and integrating ecosystem health and renewable energy considerations into regional One Health systems across the Lake Chad Basin. The position supports Member States and regional institutions to strengthen natural resource and ecosystem management, environmental monitoring, renewable energy uptake, cross-sectoral collaboration, and evidence generation to improve the prevention, preparedness, and response to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and associated zoonotic and health threats at the human-animal-environment interface.

Main Functions

1. Strengthen ecosystem management systems and integrate ecosystem health and renewable energy considerations into regional One Health surveillance and preparedness frameworks. 
2. Enhance ecosystem monitoring, environmental risk assessment, and natural resource management to support early identification of ecological drivers of disease emergence and environmental health threats. 
3. Promote collaboration among environmental, energy, wildlife, livestock, and public health sectors to strengthen multisectoral ecosystem management and clean energy transition. 
4. Promote the adoption of renewable and off-grid energy solutions (solar, biogas, mini-grids) to power health facilities, cold chains, laboratories, and surveillance infrastructure in remote and cross-border areas, reducing reliance on fuelwood and fossil fuels.
5. Strengthen ecosystem/environmental data intelligence, cross-border information sharing, and evidence generation to inform One Health and climate-smart decision-making. 
6. Build institutional and technical capacities for ecosystem management, renewable energy integration, and ecosystem health integration within One Health systems.

Specific Responsibilities

1.1    Ecosystem Management, Health and Renewable Energy Integration

1. Support Member States to establish and strengthen ecosystem management systems as part of integrated One Health approaches.
2. Promote integration of ecosystem management, environmental health, and renewable energy considerations into national and regional surveillance and preparedness frameworks. 
3. Strengthen monitoring of ecosystem degradation, land-use change, deforestation linked to energy use, and environmental drivers linked to zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and emerging infectious diseases.
4. Support implementation of ecosystem-based and risk-based environmental monitoring approaches. 
5. Promote ecosystem management approaches that address health risks associated with wildlife, livestock, humans, and environmental change. 
6. Identify and support opportunities for solar, biogas, and other renewable energy solutions to power health posts, veterinary laboratories, cold chain systems, and community surveillance points, particularly in off-grid and cross-border locations. 
7. Support ecological risk assessments, natural resource assessments, energy-use mapping, and environmental hotspot mapping.
8. Facilitate integration of ecological, environmental, and energy-access information into One Health risk assessment and preparedness planning. 
9. Promote evidence-based approaches for sustainable natural resource management, ecosystem management, and clean energy transition at the wildlife-livestock-human interface. 
10. Apply practical One Health experience to support linkages between ecosystem management, renewable energy interventions, and disease prevention outcomes. 
11. Promote climate-smart and low-carbon solutions that reduce environmental degradation while strengthening resilience of health and veterinary infrastructure.
12. Facilitate integration of environmental and ecological information into One Health risk assessment and preparedness planning.
13. Experience with climate financing, green/clean energy partnerships, or sustainable energy resource mobilization is desirable

1.2 Policy and Regulatory Frameworks

1. Strengthen collaboration among environmental agencies, wildlife authorities, energy ministries/agencies, veterinary services, public health institutions, academia, and conservation organizations. 
2. Support establishment and operationalisation of multisectoral ecosystem management, wildlife disease surveillance, and renewable energy coordination mechanisms. 
3. Facilitate cross-border collaboration for ecosystem monitoring, wildlife disease surveillance, natural resource management, renewable energy deployment, and information sharing. 
4. Promote joint investigations of ecosystem-related and wildlife-related environmental and health events, including those linked to energy access and use. 
5. Support development of ecosystem management, wildlife surveillance, and renewable energy guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical manuals, and operational tools. 
6. Support resource mobilization and partnership-building for wildlife conservation, renewable energy, and climate financing opportunities linked to ecosystem and health system resilience.
7. Coordinate regional, national, and sub-national capacity-building programmes on ecosystem management, wildlife disease surveillance, ecosystem health, and renewable energy solutions. 
8. Provide technical mentorship to environmental, wildlife, and energy authorities and partner institutions. 
9. Promote integration of ecosystem management, wildlife surveillance, and renewable energy into One Health training programmes

Duty Station

AU-IBAR office based in Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to participating countries within the Lake Chad Basin region.

Criteria for Scoring

Criteria	Scores (%)
Qualifications	20
General Experience	25
Specific Experience	40
Other skills	10
Proficiency in language	5
Total	100

Academic Requirements

Qualifications

1. A Bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Management, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Environmental Health, Conservation Science, One Health especially wildlife management, or a related discipline. 
2. A Master’s degree in Ecosystem Management, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Environmental Health, One Health especially wildlife management or a related discipline is desirable.

General Experience

1. At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in ecosystem management, natural resource management, environmental monitoring, conservation, renewable energy, or One Health-related programmes. 
2. At least three (3) years of experience with cross-border collaboration for environmental/ecosystem monitoring and information sharing.
3. Proficient with environmental/ecosystem data intelligence systems, cross-border information sharing, and evidence generation to inform One Health and energy-access decision-making.
4. Demonstrated practical experience in renewable energy solutions (solar, biogas, mini-grids, off-grid systems) applied to rural, conservation, or health-system contexts is an added advantage.
5. Demonstrated practical experience in health, One Health, or public/animal health-related work is an added advantage.

Specific Experience

1. Demonstrated experience working on ecosystem management at the wildlife-livestock-human interface.
2. Experience supporting environmental monitoring, natural resource management, or ecosystem-related investigations.
3. Experience working with environmental agencies, energy agencies, protected area authorities, and conservation organizations.
4. Experience designing, deploying, or supporting renewable/off-grid energy solutions in health facilities, laboratories, cold chains, or rural/remote community settings. 
5. Experience with multi-stakeholder joint investigations of ecosystem-related environmental and health events.
6. Experience supporting regional or multinational programmes in Africa.
7. Practical experience in a health or One Health context (e.g., supporting disease surveillance, zoonotic risk reduction, or health-environment linkages) is highly desirable. 
8. Experience with climate financing, green/clean energy partnerships, or sustainable energy resource mobilization is desirable. 
9. Experience in One Health coordination is highly desirable.

Competencies

1. Ecosystem management, environmental monitoring, and natural resource governance.
2. Renewable energy systems and clean/sustainable energy solutions (solar, biogas, mini-grids). 
3. Conservation science and ecosystem health. One Health approaches and understanding of zoonotic disease ecology.
4. Environmental/ecological risk assessment and monitoring systems.
5. Multisectoral coordination and stakeholder engagement, including with energy sector institutions. 
6. Technical report writing and evidence synthesis.
7. Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills.
8. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments. 

Required Skills 

Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations in Africa. 

1. Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions or stakeholders operating in the regions, including energy sector partners.
2. Very strong writing, analytical, communication, and computer skills are necessary.
3. Proficiency in at least one of the African Union official languages.

Duration

1. The project life-span is for three (3) years but the duration of this consultancy is 6 months, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The successful consultant will be based in AU-IBAR offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and will be required to maintain the AUC office hours.
2. The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment as soon as the contract is signed.

Remuneration

The monthly remuneration for this Consultancy is P2 step 5. Expenses for missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.  

Supervision and reporting

The consultant will be under the Direct Supervision of the Project Coordinator – SCOPE project with overall supervision of the Director of AU-IBAR.

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit Applications should include the following:

i.    Detailed curriculum vitae;
ii.    Copies of academic and professional qualifications;
iii.    Completed declaration on exclusion criteria in the format attached; and,
iv.    Copies of identification documents.

to the email procurement@au-ibar.org and a copy to albert.obiero@au-ibar.org clearly indicating in the subject line “Ecosystem Management Expert” The deadline for applications will be 06th November 2026 at 23:45 Nairobi Local Time.