The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has supported the development of wildlife-based conservancies across Africa. Given Uganda did not have conservancies, in 2014, AWF proposed the concepts of conservancies to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as a means of expanding habitat protection, diversifying tourism experiences, and engaging landowners and communities directly in wildlife conservation through conservancies. UWA was very supportive of the idea and as a result, AWF initiated in partnership with UWA the piloting of three conservancies in landscapes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP), Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP), and Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP).
The development of wildlife conservancies in Africa takes careful planning, deep engagement with communities, capacity building, and formation of new partnerships. Considerable work remains to advance these conservancies, each of which faces a unique suite of challenges and opportunities.
AWF is currently implementing a five-year USAID-funded Biodiversity for Resilience activity in partnership with RTI, CTPH, and Viamo which activity is building on the work that was initiated during the previous Bridge Program that focused on Conservancy development. One of the key roles of AWF is to support the Strategic Approach 2 of Supporting Conservancies to be professionally, operationally, and financially sustainable.
AWF is seeking a consultant with experience in community interpretive guiding training with a specific focus on Community Tourism Enterprise Interpretive Guiding, and Community Tourism Enterprise Sales and Marketing to train guides in Rurambira Conservancy.
The consultant is expected to give an indicative timeframe within which he/she expects to accomplish the assignment. This activity however is urgent.