EDOTA background

Education Outreach Tanzania (EDOTA) is the local not for profit NGO that works collaboratively with local and international partners, local communities, local government authority, and other organizations to promote inclusive community development and economic justice. The organization was registered on 26th May 2010 with registration number 00003478 to operate in Tanzania mainland.

Since its establishment, EDOTA have successful implemented several funded projects aimed at enhancing livelihood, economic strengthening, promoting good governance, conserving the environment, addressing GBV and health promotions. TNC and EDOTA have established Partnership since 2020 with EDOTA successful implementing prior programs aimed at strengthening Community-Led fisheries conservation, enforcement readiness and local conservation, in Katavi, Kigoma, Tabora, Geita and Rukwa regions.

Project overview

The LATABIOCON project addresses the critical environmental and socio-economic challenges facing the Lake Tanganyika Basin (LTB), a massive ecosystem covering 223,000 km² that holds one-fifth of Earth’s accessible freshwater and supports over 12 million people across Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, and Zambia. This unique basin encompasses several major government-managed protected areas and internationally recognized Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).

However, the ecosystem is under immense pressure from the overexploitation of nearshore fish communities, habitat loss, and widespread catchment degradation. These human-driven pressures are heavily amplified by climate change, which has caused persistent lake warming, stronger stratification, expanding low-oxygen zones, and erratic rainfall trends that accelerate soil erosion, threatening fisheries, rain-fed agriculture, and lake-dependent livelihoods.

To counter these systemic risks, EDOTA plays a pivotal role within the LaTaBioCoN consortium by leading critical conservation, socioeconomic development, and promoting regenerative economy. Specifically, EDOTA is responsible toward sustainable human development, the organization is tasked with implementing community livelihood interventions that help vulnerable populations adapt to climate and environmental pressures.

Furthermore, EDOTA drives the promotion of Nature-based Enterprises (NbEs) to generate eco-friendly income streams, alongside catchment management strategies designed to mitigate erosion and heavy sediment delivery into critical habitats, while facilitating community led governance among the riparian communities.

Position title

Project Manager – LaTaBioCoN Project

Reports To: Program Director

Location: Field Office-Nguruka Kigoma region with travel to project sites: Katavi, Tabora, Rukwa, and Geita region.

Position Type: Full-Time

DURATION: Employment contract will be for 36 months, with the possibility for extension depending on availability of funds.

Position overview

The Project Manager will lead the implementation of the LaTaBioCoN project, which focuses on strengthening collaboration and dialogue between rights-holders (local communities, women, youth, and Community-Managed Institutions [CMIs]) and duty-bearers (local governments, national ministries, the Nature Conservancy, Lake Tanganyika Authority [LTA], and other technical agencies). The primary goal is to improve biodiversity governance, enhance conservation effectiveness, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing.

The ideal candidate will manage a diverse consortium of local CMIs, civil society organizations, private sector Nature based enterprises, and other practitioners. A heavy emphasis will be placed on social inclusion, specifically advancing opportunities for youth, women, and persons with disabilities in governance, enterprise development, and climate-resilient livelihoods.

Key responsibilities

1. Project management & consortium coordination

• Lead the overall planning, execution, and monitoring of the LaTaBioCoN project activities according to timelines and budget allocations.
• Coordinate consortium partners, including local NGOs, civil society, private sector entities, and scientific/research institutions to ensure cohesive execution.
• Ensure technical and financial compliance with donor regulations and reporting requirements.

2. Governance and stakeholder engagement

• Facilitate constructive dialogue and strengthen collaboration between rights-holders and duty-bearers (local governments, the Nature Conservancy, National ministries, LTA, and other technical agencies and stakeholders).
• Support the development and capacity building of existing CMIs, while assisting emerging community groups seeking official CMI status.
• Guide the integration of CMI-led expertise into regional and national conservation strategies.

3. Social inclusion and livelihoods diversification

• Drive strategies that expand youth access to biodiversity-positive enterprises, co-management roles, and climate-resilient livelihoods to mitigate unsustainable migration.
• Promote gender equality by designing interventions that address the wage gap in fisheries/agriculture, prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and elevate women into leadership and financial services.
• Proactively integrate and advance the participation of persons with disabilities across community governance and enterprise development.

4. Inclusive financial services

• Expand access to affordable, tailored financial services for the Nature based enterprises.
• Target diverse community groups including fishers, traders, and livestock keepers.
• Design specific financial outreach programs for women and youth.
• Ensure sustainable income growth for all member segments.

5. Capacity building and advisory support

• Deliver practical financial education and literacy programs to members.
• Organize and facilitate targeted entrepreneurship training workshops.
• Provide continuous business advisory support to ensure sound financial decisions.
• Equip members with tools to manage their businesses effectively.

6. Knowledge management and research integration

• Candidate with local scientific and research institutions to build long-term capacity and establish robust knowledge management systems.
• Ensure scientific data and community knowledge are successfully translated into actionable decision-making tools for policy-makers and duty-bearers.

Required qualifications and experience

• Education: Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainable Development, Natural Resource Management, International Development, Sociology, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of project management experience, preferably overseeing complex multi-stakeholder or consortium-led conservation and development initiatives.
• Inclusion Expertise: Proven experience implementing gender-transformative programming, youth livelihood strategies, and social inclusion (including disability rights).
• Stakeholder Dynamics: Demonstrated success navigating relationships between grassroots local communities (CMIs) and high-level government ministries or transboundary entities like the LTA.
• Skills: Excellent leadership, financial management, conflict resolution, and communication skills. Fluency in local and regional working languages is highly desirable.