Project LIFE staff - John Hazam

John Hazam, Advisor to ministry of tourism

How would you describe your job?
I have been in the post nearly 6 years. I support the ministry in performing its functions for the CBNRM (Community Based Natural Resource Management) Programme looking at procedures, policy and regulations and supporting the field staff who work with the conservancies and with Non Government Organizations.

How did you get into this kind of work?
I had worked as traditional park ranger and warden in Africa in the 1970s. Because I could see that protected areas by themselves were not achieving all of our conservation objectives, nor government's development objectives, I realized that if things were going to change; that African governments needed to integrate their conservation and development objectives.

Early on, I was traveling in Africa and looking at what career fields interested me. I just wanted to meet people in outdoor careers and see what it was like, get an idea what future qualifications I'd need - and I got more and more interested in wildlife.

I got involved in agricultural projects surveying biology, some community development and several stints with wildlife and wildlife biology. Then I was lucky enough to work as a volunteer in Zambia and then I got a job with the department with wildlife and national parks. I worked there for 8 years. Over the years, I have also worked in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana usually in their game departments.

What do you enjoy about your job?
I enjoy seeing long-term effects and whether my contributions are having the desired effects. I prefer to stay with long-term programmes and projects to see whether they are on the right track and make adjustments.

What don't you like?
You do have to deal with a lot of different stakeholders, from communities to ministers and at times it can be difficult. But my job allows me to see problems in field, then I come back to ministry and feedback. Governments also move slowly ...but it is very satisfying job.

Where do you see LIFE project in five years?
Life is a donor-funded project. It will end after at some point. It has been supported by US aid funds with WWF as the implementer. If project is ended, we expect it is confidently in hands of Namibia and that local Ngo's including WWF will still have a presence, but that it no longer needing the project funds that have put it on this sustainable footing.

Could you describe a typical day?
I live in Windhoek, I go to the office and there are meetings with different stakeholders. Usually we are discussing, debating, developing procedures, mechanisms, we draft things together, we trial them together, we amend them together.

I work with the ministry on policy and training. I mentor staff and help with field staff in 13 different regions. I have a family too so look forward to getting home at night! Weekends, I look forward to spending family time together and see friends and family, vacationing somewhere special in Namibia or outside. I think the kids should know their own country.

What is special about Namibia?
I like the landscapes more than anything else. It has unique landscapes, exciting, beautiful landscapes. There is different wildlife. It is an easy country to live in and travel in, stable and comfortable and fun being here.