Project Assistant, Girls in Conservation (GIC)

About Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF) is a nonprofit NGO and the world’s longest-running gorilla research site with a history in Rwanda that reaches back to 1967. We are a diverse group of professionals dedicated to the survival of gorillas and their habitat through a holistic approach that stands on four key pillars: daily protection, science, education, and helping communities. In Rwanda, we are based at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Kinigi, Musanze District, and primarily operate in and around the western part of Volcanoes National Park.

Program Description

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is seeking a talented young professional to join our team as a project Assistant for the Girls in Conservation project. This initiative will select aspiring female students in the secondary schools that Fossey Fund partners with and provide them with life skill lessons, a mentor, and a scholarship- with the goal of increasing school attendance, educational attainment and paid opportunities post-secondary school. The program will be divided into five phases over the course of one year. The position is based out of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, located in Kinigi, Rwanda. The successful applicant will join an exciting project and team that is growing and contributing to gender equity in Rwanda.

To learn more about the Fossey Fund, please see the following videos:

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Overview – YouTube

Community Engagement Work

Ellen Campus overview

Job Overview

As the GIC project assistant, you will support the Girls in Conservation program at Fossey Fund by assisting the Project Coordinator and Senior Program Manager with duties related to running the program successfully and efficiently. Some of the main tasks include liaising with external partners of the program including teachers, educators, mentors, parents and students in written and verbal communication, data collection and entry, organizing logistics for workshops and research and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the GIC Project Coordinator, and other relevant teammembers, project assistant will:

Learn and understand all phases of the GIC program
Assist with organizing the materials, classrooms and tea breaks/meals associated with GIC workshops
Collect, enter, and clean data from surveys
Conduct field visits to schools and supervise lesson delivery during the GIC club times and, when needed, fill in to deliver the lessons
Assist with communications for teachers, educators, mentors, parents and other stakeholders of the program
Assist with organizing various workshops for the GIC program and participate in workshops
Assist with translation of materials from Kinyarwanda to English and vice versa
Perform check in and follow up calls with parents, students and mentors
Assist with taking photos or videos of different program activities, in close collaboration with communications team
Conduct research on different facets of the program including the impact of girls’ education on environmental, climate and socio-economic outcomes
Assist with report(s) writing
Conduct additional field visits to follow up on program activities, including scholarship recipients
Other duties as assigned
Qualification Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in related fields (education, training, conservation, business or program management)
A Minimum of 1-2 years of work experience in project implementation
Technical skills in MS Office Suite and Google Suite including email and basic Excel functions
Experience using data collection tools such as Kobo toolbox, Comcare or Survey123
Demonstrated discernment and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and ability to perform and collaborate in complex environments
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda(oral, writing, and reading)
Excellent report writing skills
Ability to travel to the field 3-4 days a week
Preferred Qualifications

Experience with delivering and facilitating training, project management or data analysis
Interest in people-centered conservation programs, wildlife conservation and environmental issues
Passion for girls’ education, empowerment and gender equity

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application, including a cover letter, an updated CV with the names and contact information of at least three professional referees, and scanned copies of relevant certificates/diplomas. Applications should be sent via email to [email protected], no later than December 6, 2024. Please ensure the subject line of your email clearly states the position you are applying for.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Done at Musanze, 19^th Nov 2024

Felix NDAGIJIMANA

Country Director