Short-term consultancy for the African and Asian Elephant Database

[Julian Blanc]

Hi all,

Please see below an advert for a consulting opportunity with the IUCN/
SSC African elephant specialist group, involving GIS, database and
lots of elephant survey reports. Please circulate to your networks.

Apologies for cross-postings.

Julian


Short Term Database Management Consultancy
IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG)
Terms of Reference
November 2011
FOCAL POINT: Programme Officer, AfESG

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this position is to update and support the
African elephant component of the African and Asian Elephant Database
(AAED).

ABOUT THE PROJECT
The AfESG’s mission is to promote the long-term conservation of
Africa's elephants throughout their range, in part by compiling and
synthesizing information on the conservation and status of the African
elephant across its range. The AfESG uses the AAED as the primary tool
to achieve this objective. The AfESG has been collecting new data on
the African elephant in the form of survey reports and personal
communications since 2007, the publication date of the last African
Elephant Status Report. There are now over 60 reports awaiting entry
into the AAED.
The AAED consists primarily of a PostGIS relational database, with a
web-based data acquisition and visualization front end (http://
elephantdatabase.org). Ruby on Rails and Google Fusion Tables are used
in the web components. All production AAED components are cloud-
hosted, but copies of Rails and PostGIS can be run locally for
development and experimentation. A workstation with a local
development copy of the system is maintained at the IUCN/SSC AfESG
office.

OUTPUTS and TASKS
The consultant will work with the Programme Officer and the DRWG to
prepare a versioned update of African elephant continental/regional/
national totals and updated range maps. To achieve this output, the
consultant will be required to:
1. upload all pending surveys into the new AAED. This requires reading
survey reports, extracting and inputting estimates, measures of
precision and other metadata, digitizing the survey zone boundaries
and identifying the survey replaced by the new estimate, as well as
the reasons for change;
2. work with the Programme Officer (AfESG) to prepare for a meeting of
the AfESG’s Data Review Working Group (DRWG) in February or March
2012. This requires developing an agenda and working with the
Programme Officer to ensure a productive meeting in which the DRWG
will review all the data uploaded in (1) above;
3. at the DRWG meeting, assist with updating data in response to
review decisions; and
4. support data providers who are uploading data into the AAED.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
● Minimum of bachelor level qualification or polytechnic diploma, with
training in statistics a specific requirement. Ability to learn
quickly and to adapt to set routines: training will be provided on how
to read and interpret survey reports on African elephant population
data
● A sound understanding of basic statistical concepts and analytical
skills: ability to read a technical wildlife survey report, pull out
relevant data, and perform calculations on measures of precision
● Advanced knowledge of PostgreSQL and PostGIS
● Experience in SQL database management and administration, preferably
PostgreSQL.
● Demonstrated ability in and extensive experience with the use of GIS
software, and
ArcGIS and QGIS in particular
● Dedicated team worker, positive attitude
● Organized, attentive to detail, self-motivated, communicative,
problem-solver
● Ability to support and network with people from different
backgrounds
● Ability to present information – both written and graphical – in a
clear and concise
manner
● Fluency in written and spoken English and a sufficient level of
French to be able to read
and understand technical reports in that language. Writing and
speaking skills in French a distinct advantage.

TIMELINE AND LOGISTICS
This is a full-time consultancy which will last for four months from
December 2011 - March 2012. A workspace is available at the AfESG
Nairobi office with a fully-equipped computer for the work, although
consultants may propose to use their own computer and workspace. No
work permit for Kenya will be provided.
BIDS
Please send the following to afesg at iucn dot org by 21 November
2011:
- cover letter;
- curriculum vitae;
- references; and
- detailed quote for the work (including travel to Kenya for the DRWG
meeting if based outside Kenya).