APOPO is an international non-governmental organisation involved in humanitarian mine clearance. APOPO has for the past 6 years carried out research on the potential use of rats as detectors for landmine clearance. While research is still a target for APOPO, we are now moving more towards an operational role for the rats. Rats are trained for direct detection (field search) and indirect detection (REST). Direct detection rats have already been deployed in Mozambique while a combined system using both direct and indirect detection rats will be established in Sudan in 2005. The APOPO Head Quarter is located in Tanzania (including the research and training centre).

APOPO has recently established a formal cooperation with one of the major mine action organisations, Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA). The two organisations are currently preparing the implementation of a major road clearance project in Southern Sudan. More than 400 km of roads will be verified within the framework of this project using a combination of REST sampling and analysis (using REST rats), large loops, rollers, manual mine clearance teams and field rats. APOPOs role in this project is to assist NPA with analysis of filters by rats in a REST set-up and to train, provide and manage field search rats for verification of road sectors that have been identified as potentially mined after REST analysis. APOPO is looking for a project officer who will be responsible for the activities undertaken by APOPO on the ground in Sudan. The candidate will be given initial training at the APOPO HQ and research/training facility in Morogoro, Tanzania for 3months.

Job Location : Yei, Equatoria Province, South Sudan
Start date : Immediately
Duration : 1 year initially but extension possibilities are likely

Required qualifications
- Engineering/technical background with practical hands-on skills.
- Team leadership experience with high social and communication skills.
- Sound judgment, maturity, patience, flexibility and adaptability
- High degree of self motivation
- able to work with minimum supervision in remote areas
- At least 5 years of work experience, including at least three years of project management and administration, preferably in a humanitarian demining or NGO context
- Skilled in the use of computers for word processing, spreadsheets and, to some extent, use of database
- Good networking skills and ability to engage in partnership processes with NPA and local actors
- Able to develop sound strategic plans for the project
- Good organizational skills
- Able to organize and deal with work load efficiently and cope with hard working pressure - Willingness to be committed to this job medium to long term (minimum one year)

Desired qualifications
- Experience in humanitarian demining
- Knowledge of animal detection training

Duties and responsibilities
The Programme Officer will be in charge of managing and implementing the project and will liaise closely with NPA on all aspects related to the implementation of the road risk reduction project and the daily management of it. Specific responsibilities include:
- Implementation of free running mine detection rats as a follow up detection tool on positive road sectors.
- Day-to-day operational management and administration of the project.
- Financial management, including budget preparation and revisions, management and control of funds and expenses and the preparation of financial reports.
- Preparation of project reports including monthly and tri-monthly reports, financial reports and other relevant reports relating to the project.
- Prepare project proposals to donors and investigate funding possibilities.
- Assist local APOPO and NPA staff in fulfilling the goals of the project.
- Identify, monitor and review project resources and implementation strategically (material, financial and human).
- Any other activity that may be required during the project period or as assigned by the APOPO board.

Applicants are asked to provide two professional references. Please send an application letter and a CV by e-mail to: apopo@apopo.org