JOB TITLE: Community Conservation Officer, Chitimbwa Iyendwe Conservation Project

SITE: Iyendwe, Mpulungu District, Zambia

JOB TYPE: full-time

START DATE: Immediately

Seeking a well-organized, highly motivated, and independent person to join the Chitimbwa Iyendwe Conservation Project (CICP) in Iyendwe as the CICP Community Conservation Officer (CCO) to coordinate and implement the IUCN funded project: Community-managed natural resource protection and livelihood generation of the Iyendwe Conservancy.  This opportunity exists within the CICP which is affiliated with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Zambia through the Nsumbu Tanganyika Conservation Programme (NTCP).

The NTCP began working in the Iyendwe Valley in 2018, recognizing its important role in the protection of the national park and the broader ecosystem. The Iyendwe Valley runs along the South-Eastern border of Nsumbu National Park (NNP), and unlike many areas bordering a national park in Zambia, Iyendwe is not part of a Game Management Area (GMA), nor has a Community Resource Board (CRB) that manages the area. With no buffer zone between the national park and the open area, nor any management authority overseeing its use, Iyendwe Valley and the NNP are vulnerable to resource exploitation. With a long history of conservation engagement in the area, there is a strong foundation on which to build a robust conservation approach. Challenges remain in community relations, understanding and law and order; the successful candidate will need to have the experience, attitude, and motivation to rise to this challenge.

In 2020, the NTCP and the community in Iyendwe committed to collaborate on the development of the Chitimbwa Iyendwe Conservation Project (CICP), through a partnership between NTCP, Chitimbwa Community Resources Trust and the Chitimbwa Community, to provide the community with a means of self-determination. Four Zonal Committees were formed whose representatives are elected from the project’s operation area and a constitution for the project was developed in collaboration with all stakeholders.

Location: Chitimbwa Iyendwe Conservation project, based in Iyendwe of Mpulungu district, Northern Province.

Reports to: CICP Committee.

Working closely with: Stakeholders in the area.

Purpose of the Job: The CICP Community Conservation Officer (CCO) will create and support community governance structures with a hands-on approach, towards improving transparent, accountable, and effective Community Based Natural Resources Management.

Key Responsibilities

The CCO shall be responsible for smooth implementation of activities in Chitimbwa-Iyendwe project area, working to improve conservation awareness. This will be done through the following:

1. Administrative project activities: Facilitate regular activity planning and reporting, which includes working within project budgets, guidelines, and procedures. Initiate workable programmmes.

2. Capacity development and strengthening of community institutions: Facilitate capacity development of CBOs, so that members can undertake their roles effectively. Facilitate trainings and mentorship of community institutions and maintain consistent engagement with them.

3. Strengthening stakeholder relations and community mobilization: Work closely with stakeholders and CBOs, in encouraging and mobilising local people to support sustainable conservation of the biodiversity of the area; thereby supporting Conservation Compatible activities.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation: Assess the project progress and performance, identifying challenges and leading initiatives to apply solutions. Gather and analyze data, to review and improve programme activities.

5. General: Ensure all activities are implemented on time, within budget, with funds used in a transparent manner.

Capabilities, competencies and experience needed for the job.

The CCO should be a goal-oriented, highly motivated qualified individual with relevant work experience. S/He should be self-directed in their work, work hard with minimum supervision and comfortable in conducting field-based work. The CCO should be willing to work with different individuals from community level to government partners, cultivating and maintaining relationships for the success of the program.

The following criteria will be used in shortlisting candidates:

Minimum qualifications

• A University degree in International Development, Wildlife Management, Sociology, Community Development, Natural Resources Management, or any related program.
• Minimum 3 years work experience with communities in a relevant field; experience working in a rural setup will be an added advantage.
• A sound understanding of community engagement and conservation principles.
• Good written and spoken communication skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Ability to use MS Excel effectively.
• Strong financial and accounting skills with good record keeping.
• Able to communicate in Bemba or Lungu.
• Experience driving a motorbike with a valid license.

Working Conditions

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours.
• Willingness to work in a rural set up with local communities and government partners.
• Ability to work under stress during peak workload periods.
• Willingness to ride a motorbike in rural areas.

Terms & benefits

You will be based within Iyendwe and expected to reside within a rural environment. A competitive salary with benefits on an annual contract basis will be negotiated.

Your application should include;

I. A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) including your earliest possible starting date. The cover letter will be used to judge the quality of your application and should answer the following questions:

A. What interests you most about the position?

B. What is the most important technical ability that you will bring to the role?

C. Describe how you envision being able to improve the conservation education program and increase awareness on conservation knowledge in the target communities.

D. What is your most important personal characteristic that you will bring to CICP in this role?

E. At least 2 traceable references with a short description of your working relationship, and their contact details.

II. A chronological CV in PDF format

Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered for the position.