Funding & Reporting Assistant – FRA

Context

African Parks (AP) is a not-for-profit conservation organisation that takes full responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks currently manages 24 national parks and protected areas in 13 countries, covering more than 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

In eastern Central African Republic (CAR), African Parks has been working for over 10 years to restore and manage the Chinko Conservation Area (CCA), which covers over 55,000 km² with a core conservation area of 24,300 km². The CCA is located at the heart of a larger wilderness with no human settlement, covering 200,000 km² straddling CAR, South Sudan and Sudan, linking the forests of the Congo Basin with Sahelian ecosystems in a single ecotone. Despite the many challenges inherent of the operating context (political instability, cross-border transhumance, deforestation, remoteness), African Parks has succeeded in building robust and resilient management systems within a protected area that is now recognized for the innovation developed in terms of peaceful transhumance management (TANGO teams), land-use planning, fire management, and carbon finance. In this context, the management and development of a substantial and diversified funding portfolio is essential to continue the restoration of key species (elephants, northern lion, wild dog, leopard, chimpanzee, Giant eland, bongo, etc.) and to support inclusive local development based on the sustainable harvest of natural resources.

The FRA strengthens the quality, measurability and overall coherence of activities delivered under the business Plan by ensuring that departmental interventions are properly designed (SMART), grounded in clear results logic and supported by realistic impact measures and evidence requirements. The role proactively identifies design, methodology and documentation gaps across departments, then works with teams to improve activity frameworks (including results chains, simplified log frames and theories of change) and to operationalize “activity → indicator → evidence” linkages. It also consolidates internal reporting into decision-oriented insights, supports structured learning and follow-up on corrective actions, and establishes KPI-based compliance tracking focused on standards, documentation and archiving. Working closely with the Funding & Reporting Manager, the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, communications and the Park Management Unit, the FRMA ensures program information is structured, reliable and actionable for management decisions, donor accountability and results communication.

MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES :

Programme quality & design
• Maintain and continuously update the Business Plan activity database by department and by intervention geography (zones/villages), ensuring data quality, consistency and version control.
• Identify and document activity design gaps across departments (non-SMART formulation, missing results logic, unclear targets or unrealistic evidence requirements).
• Support departments to strengthen activity design and methodology, including SMART formulation, results chains (outputs/outcomes), assumptions/risks and implementation parameters.
Impact measurement & standards
• Define and operationalize impact measurement for prioritized activities, establishing clear linkages between activities, indicators, data sources and verification materials in coordination with departments and the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer.
• Develop and implement programme standards and templates (activity sheets, simplified log frames, ToC light, evidence checklists and reporting structures) to ensure methodological consistency.
Learning & reporting
• Consolidate weekly and monthly internal reporting and transform operational information into decision-oriented summaries and learning insights.
• Produce periodic learning outputs (lessons learned, good practices and recommendations) and facilitate internal review cycles with departments and the Park Management Unit.

Documentation, compliance & coordination
• Ensure programme documentation and archiving standards are maintained and support donor reporting, audits and evaluations in coordination with the Funding & Reporting Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer and Communications team.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
• Master’s degree in international development, information systems, environmental sciences, social sciences, public policy, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of professional experience in programme management, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL/MEAL), programme quality, or grant-funded project implementation within international NGOs or development organisations.
• Demonstrated experience in designing or strengthening results frameworks, indicators, and monitoring systems, including support to project teams in improving programme design and accountability mechanisms.
• Experience working in multi-country or complex programme environments and coordinating with multiple stakeholders, partners or implementing teams.
• Proven experience in knowledge management, learning processes, and programme documentation, including the consolidation of programme results, lessons learned and reporting.
• Strong analytical, organizational and synthesis skills, with a high level of attention to detail and ability to translate operational information into structured programme insights.
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and strong familiarity with data management, reporting and information management systems.
• Fluency in French required; strong working proficiency in English required.
• Experience working in fragile or complex environments and/or in conservation, development, governance, or humanitarian programmes is considered an asset.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments, facilitate technical discussions and support teams in applying programme standards and methodologies.
• Willingness to work in a remote field environment, including regular presence at the Chinko Conservation Area operational base.
• Strong motivation to contribute to conservation, sustainable development and community-based programmes in the Central African Republic.