Capacity Development Officer - Avu Lagoon - WI Ghana

• Start Date: October 2026 or as soon as possible
• End Date: December 2029

• Design and deliver capacity-building programs for community members, Community Research Monitoring Area (CREMA) executives, staff, and volunteers.
• Assess training needs across communities, staff, women’s groups, and youth to inform programming.
• Organize and facilitate trainings, workshops, and mentorship on governance, leadership, conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.  
• Support field managers and supervisors to effectively implement community conservation initiatives.
• Strengthen CREMA institutional structures and committees to improve governance and performance.
• Promote cross-site learning and consistency by facilitating the exchange of knowledge, tools, protocols, and best practices.  
• Foster inclusive participation by ensuring women and youth are actively engaged in decision-making, conservation, and livelihood activities.  
• Support and strengthen women’s groups, including shea/citronella and other livelihood associations.

• Support the engagement of traditional authorities, women leaders, youth groups, and vulnerable groups to ensure inclusive participation.
• Support community sensitization on rights, responsibilities, conservation by-laws, and governance principles.
• Facilitate dialogue platforms to address social barriers, power dynamics, and conflicts.
• Strengthen collaboration between communities, NGOs, government agencies, and partners.

• Track and document capacity development and gender-related indicators.
• Support participatory monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) processes.
• Prepare activity reports, success stories, and lessons learned for internal management and donors.
• Contribute to governance and equity assessments (e.g. CREMA reviews).  

• Support planning and coordination of training logistics and events.  
• Maintain records of participants, attendance, and training materials.
• Work closely with the Conservation Program Manager, finance, field teams and partners to ensure alignment of activities.  

• Perform any other tasks assigned by management in support of program objectives.  
• Represent Wilder Institute (WI) Ghana in meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements when required.
• Uphold WI Ghana’s values of transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and good governance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies, Community Development, Social Sciences, Environmental Management, or related field is required. A Master’s Degree or other equivalents is an asset.
• At least 3 year’s of experience in capacity development, gender programming, or community-based development
• Strong field experience in community and stakeholder relations or engagement in Ghana
• Proven ability to mentor and support field teams with patience, cultural sensitivity, and respect
• Experience coordinating or supporting programs across multiple sites or landscapes
• Experience in adult education
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments and with diverse groups
• Highly organized, proactive, and solution-oriented, with a strong track record in adaptive management within complex and dynamic environments  
• Passionate about building the capacity of others and committed to long-term, locally led conservation outcomes  
• Experience working with rural communities, particularly in Ghana
• Fluency in English and fluency of relevant local languages in the Upper West and Volta Region of Ghana (Ewe, Twi, and/or Wala) is required  
• Experience working with rural communities, women’s groups, and traditional institutions.
• Knowledge of gender analysis, social inclusion, and community engagement tools, with awareness of gender issues in conservation contexts is preferred.
• Knowledge of CREMA systems, conservation governance, or livelihood programs is an asset.

• Prolonged desk-based office work requiring extended office hours
• Based on a 40hr work week with flexible schedule to accommodate working across multiple time zones (Ghana and Canada)
• Based/ living in project locations may include field work/conditions which may involve hazards such as wildlife, insects, sunburn, working with field equipment such as trucks or ATVs, heavy lifting of field equipment, exposure to wildlife diseases, and working in rural areas and/or remote communities. Field conditions might also involve working long, irregular hours in inclement weather
• Travel or reside in field locations or project communities as necessary
• Driving on highways and dirt roads
• Travel between project sites and head office as necessary

• We offer competitive compensation!
• A fun, rewarding work environment dedicated to driving forward inclusive, sustainable conservation.

Are you ready to join a leader in wildlife conservation? If this position suits your skills, experience and personal attributes, we want to talk to you

1. Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0) 
2. Submit your resume with a cover letter via our online application system. 
3. Fill in the Application questions:
   • Confirm eligibility to work in Ghana.
   • If hired, when would you be available to start?
   • Please briefly describe how your experience and skills would align with this position.
   • Do you have a valid driver’s licence?
   • What are your salary expectations?