African Parks: Manager – Land Use Planning, Garamba National Park

2026/02/04 Democratic Republic of Congo

 

Job Reference Number: AP-348

Department: Conservation Development and Assurance

Business Unit:

Industry: Professional

Job Type: Contract

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

Join our team in Garamba National Park as Lead – Land Use Planning, driving the design and implementation of strategic land-use solutions that support community livelihoods, reduce human–wildlife conflict, and protect vital conservation areas across the Greater Garamba landscape.

Job Description

Position Title : Lead – Land Use Planning

Organisation : African Parks – DRC

Job Location : Operations Base, Garamba National Park

Reporting To : Park Manager

 

Background

 

African Parks (AP) is a non-profit organisation that takes on responsibility for the rehabilitation and management of protected areas through long-term management partnerships with African governments and local communities. Founded in the year 2000, AP currently manages 24 protected areas in 13 countries, covering over 20 million hectares.

 

The ultimate objective is to ensure that these protected areas are managed in a holistic way, ensuring that they are ecologically, socio-politically and financially sustainable. To achieve this desired impact of long-term sustainability, African Parks implements the following three key pillars of management in all the parks that it manages: i) Biodiversity Conservation ii) Community Development, and iii) Park Revenue Generation. If well implemented, these protected areas will not only contribute to improved Ecosystem Services, but will bring safety and stability to these regions and drive socioeconomic growth. African Parks aims to be managing 30 protected areas by 2030 covering 30m hectares.

 

Conservation at this scale cannot be achieved through the management of core protected areas and national parks alone but must take into account the integrated management of the broader landscapes, including mixed-use areas. This requires sound Land Use Planning (LUP), such that sustainable utilization of the land and natural resources can be achieved, delivering renewable Ecosystem Services along the way to the communities that inhabit those areas. Indeed, both scientific studies and practical experience shows that communities benefiting from the Ecosystem Services that well-managed protected areas provide will not only improve perceptions but can even show developmental improvements based on objective criteria. Beyond building social license in this manner, Land Use Planning aims to build resilience for ecosystems as well. Measures that mitigate flooding, protect critical watersheds, sustain wildlife/fish stocks, facilitate movement of wildlife through migratory corridors, and other such landscape-level interventions allow ecosystem functioning to thrive in a world that increasingly constricts the space for nature. Through integrated, well thought through Land Use Planning there is scope to do so in a manner consistent with socio-economic development targets.

 

African Parks – DRC is looking for a passionate and experienced professional to join Garamba Park’s Team in the Conservation Department to lead on the Land Use Planning work across Garamba Park. The successful candidate will be responsible for the management of the park’s Land Use Planning and will support the park in the delivery of high-quality products and services that meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders

 

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

 

There are grouped in two main domains.

 

A – Creating, getting validation, and implementing the LUP

 

Supporting the development of a Land Use Plan that are integrated and developed in a participative manner, with all relevant stakeholders. This will require proper understanding of these systems, with a plan developed that balances ecological and social objectives so that these systems can be sustainably managed into the future.

Discerning whether AP can conduct this LUP-related efforts in-house and where external expertise is required to either train AP staff or conduct these LUP-related efforts independently. In both cases, this position would act as the ‘spider in the web’ ensuring coordination and facilitation between different actors (consultants, park teams etc.), strategic oversight, and quality assurance.

Supporting the integration of a given protected area’s Land Use Plan (LUP) into the Management Plan (MP) required by the Partnership Agreement with government.

Assuring the alignment of the LUP with the Long-Term Sustainability Strategy (LTSS), and the measurability of the LUP implementation milestones (medium-term Targets) at a five-year scale (in line with the park business plan).

Orienting the LUP process towards efficient and effective implementation such that this plan can be proficiently executed by the team in the field or partner organisations, across the protected areas and landscapes that we manage in DRC.

B – Organise the distribution of nature-based revenues

 

The LUP should facilitate the generation of nature-based revenues, including but not limited to carbon credits and Verifiable Nature Units (VNUs). These revenues will be allocated among multiple stakeholders, with a dedicated share for local communities. The management of this community share must be structured to simultaneously support the development of the protected area and improve the living and working conditions of the communities. This process should be fully participatory, ensuring transparency and inclusivity throughout.

Determine stakeholders and undertake consultation;

Write a draft land-use management plan as appropriate that includes the management mechanisms for the various land-use designations;

Obtain official validation of the plan;

Work with appropriate teams with the project structure to implement using a phased-approach the land-use management plan.

Job Requirements

Required qualifications and skills

 

A deep understanding of the link between socio-political sustainability and ecological sustainability in protected area systems, and by extension, the importance of a LUP.

A keen interest in and passion for nature conservation, with an understanding of its complexities.

An understanding of protected area gazettement, land use tenure, and other legal aspects of LUP.

Honours or Master’s degree in fields such as conservation, town/regional planning, applied anthropology, rural development, or related field.

A minimum of 5 years relevant experience.

Familiarity with GIS software and remote sensing technologies for surveying, spatial planning.

Ability and enthusiasm to set up new systems and processes.

Ability to work to austere, remote environments for periods at a time lengthy enough to properly understand the socio-political dynamics of an area, if required.

Clear understanding of Participatory Mapping and Stakeholder Engagement.

Clear understanding of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples as an ethical principle to uphold.

The ability to learn quickly and adapt to solve new challenges.

Good people and relationship management skills.

The ability to work independently and also collaboratively.

An excellent eye for detail.

Fluent in French

More specifically for the 2nd component of the position:

 

1. Financial Management and Accountability (with the assistance of the finance department)

 

Strong understanding of budgeting, accounting, and transparent fund allocation.

Ability to implement financial controls

Skills in reporting and auditing to maintain trust among stakeholders.

2. Governance and Legal Knowledge

 

Familiarity with community governance structures and local laws related to land use and benefit-sharing.

Understanding of contracts and agreements for equitable distribution of funds.

3. Transparency and Communication

 

Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-technical audiences.

Skills in stakeholder reporting and maintaining open channels for feedback.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

 

Competence in setting up tracking systems for fund utilization and impact measurement.

Ability to use data-driven approaches to assess whether funds are achieving intended social and ecological outcomes.

Beneficial Skills:

 

Proficient in English

Speak Lingala and/or Kiswahili

Have a willingness to travel to remote places.

Experience with software such as ArcGIS Pro and QGIS

If you are a driven and motivated professional with a passion for conservation and geospatial science, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

 

How to apply

 

To apply, please email your detailed CV, proof of experience and cover letter to hr-garamba@africanparks.org ,with a mandatory copy to marca@africanparks.org and philipped@africanparks.org by 26 February 2026.

 

Please mention the job title in the subject line of your application email, using the following format: Full Name_Job Title_GNP