Save a Species Project Coordinator: TERMS OF REFERENCE

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• Role overview

12-month contract to collect existing data from unpublished research on Propithecus diadema theses and dissertations, create a database to integrate data, collate   develop and expand the working group, liaise with government, NGO and other relevant stakeholders and facilitate logistical aspects for a Population Viability Analysis (PVA) workshop and a Conservation Planning workshop.

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• Context

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Diademed  sifaka (Propithecus diadema) are listed by the IUCN Red list as Critically Endangered (Irwin 2020). Observations imply that diademed sifaka populations are currently declining across the majority of monitored sites, although precise population numbers and mechanisms and rates of decline are poorly understood. Documented challenges facing this species include habitat destruction and fragmentation, predation, hunting, genetic instability resulting from restricted gene flow among subpopulations. Recent research has highlighted

(i) lack of recruitment in some subpopulations (infants rarely survive to adulthood), and

(ii) inbreeding among close relatives in one fragmented population, both of which warrant further research to identify the causes and solutions.

 

The Save a Species Working Group, an international collection of NGOs, zoos, universities and botanical gardens, has initiated the groundwork to bring together key researchers for diademed sifaka recovery, including expertise in ecology and behavior, genetics, biomedical analysis, habitat restoration, and conservation management. This collaborative effort will lead to a comprehensive long-term recovery strategy that will stabilize this population and serve as a foundation for recovery efforts of the other sifaka species.

 

 While it is currently unknown how many diademed sifakas remain in the wild or their prospects for survival, there are 12 long-standing protected areas with confirmed populations. However, many of the sifaka conservation efforts in these localities have not been directly linked to coordinated national management strategies. Such isolated and uncoordinated efforts are unlikely to succeed in preserving the species over the long term.

 

As a first step in developing a more coherent recovery strategy, the Working Group is organizing a process to characterize biological threats to species persistence and the institutional challenges that may impede mitigation of those threats. With this knowledge in hand, a quantitative assessment of the predicted future impacts of these threats on diademed sifaka populations can be conducted, as well as an evaluation of alternative management strategies designed to reduce those impacts. The results of this analysis would then be used to provide a firm scientific base of evidence for effective recovery actions.

 

A Save a Species Project Coordinator will be hired for a 12-month period to coordinate activities under the direction of two members of the Save a Species Working Group to deliver the objectives as specified in Section 3.

 

• Objectives

  • Expand the present working group to include representatives from the relevant in-country authorities and protected area managers from within the diademed sifaka range; act as a liaison as needed between the Malagasy members of the group and those outside Madagascar.

  • Meet with relevant authorities and protected area managers to raise awareness of the initiative and generate practical support.

  • Collate all available accessible population information on diademed sifaka across its range into a coherent database.

  • Complete analyses of the collated data to address the dataset’s readiness for Population Viability Analysis (PVA) modeling and conservation planning needs; identify gaps in information and suggest priorities for future data collection to facilitate the conservation planning process.

  • Coordinate and facilitate logistical organization of the PVA and conservation planning workshops.

  • Provide support as required by the Save a Species Working Group and Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) for production of workshop reports and conservation plan.
     

• Contract details

  • Length: 12 months fixed term contract.

  • Location: Based at Sadabe office (Ankadindravola, Ivato, Antananarivo), with multiple  travel requirements to meet with field partners working in diademed sifaka conservation as well as travel to Antananarivo as deemed necessary for the job . .

  • Availability: 8 hours per day from Monday to Friday throughout the entire contract period. 2.5 days annual leave allowed per full calendar month worked.

  • All legal requirements such as IRSA and CNaPs will be deducted from the salary as per government regulations. An additional 13% CNaPs contribution will be made by the employer. Work associated travel will also be covered by the employer.

  • A medical costs contribution of 35,000 MGA per calendar month work will be set aside for the Coordinator to be used as required (with written justification in the form of invoices and receipts required for payment) by the Coordinator, their spouse or children .

 

• Deliverables
   

  • Expanded membership of the diademed sifaka “Save a Species” working group to include an appropriate level of Malagasy participation across relevant stakeholder groups, including as many managers as possible of protected areas where diademed sifaka occur.

  • Development of good working relationships with relevant authorities within the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) and Madagascar National Parks.

  • Database containing all acquired population data from multiple sites on diademed sifakas (Propithecus diadema).

  • Logistical support and coordination to facilitate the diademed sifaka PVA workshop.

  • Logistical support and coordination to facilitate the diademed sifaka conservation planning workshop.

 

• Supervision

The person selected will work under the direct supervision of Jean - Luc Raharison, Executive Director of Sadabe 
and under the remote supervision of
Prof Mitchell Irwin, Department of Anthropology, North Illinois University and Sadabe and
Dr Karen Freeman, Executive Director and Research Director, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group.

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• Profile required

  • Minimum of Bac+5 degree level

  • Passionate about biodiversity conservation

  • Strong research background with database experience

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team

  • Good logistical management experience

  • Good communication skills

  • Able to meet strict deadlines

  • Capacity to work in isolated areas under challenging field conditions

  • Excellent French and English comprehension, speaking and writing required

  • GIS mapping experience an advantage but not critical

  • Knowledge of diademed sifaka biology and ecology an advantage