WeForest

WeForest is a fast growing international non-profit association with headquarters in Belgium and legal entities in France, USA, Ethiopia and Zambia. The organization is promoting Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) best practices and our activities are growing as we are looking for an experienced beekeeping profile to further capacitate the Zambia team. This profile will drive the beekeeping activities to the highest standards.

Zambia programme

WeForest has been active around reforestation and non-timber livelihood creation with local communities in Zambia since 2011. Currently, five projects are running, two in the Copperbelt and three in Muchinga province. The current role we are envisaging is a Beekeeping Extensionist role to reinforce the existing team under the Mukungule project, part of the HEARTH consortium in the North Luangwa Landscape.

This USAID co-funded project is led by Frankfurt Zoological Society and started in Q1 of 2022 and will run for 5 years. The aim is to enhance the resilience and health of natural resource-dependent ecological and human communities in the Luangwa Valley and escarpment of Zambia through strong public-private-community partnerships and enterprise, in order to maintain and improve the state of natural resources, such as the population size of key species, or the area of land under effective management.

Within this project, WeForest is playing a beekeeping expert role in Mukungule Game Management Area (GMA) under Sub-objective 1d: Develop forest and fisheries-based enterprises.

Beekeeping and honey production has great potential and WeForest will scale up activities in the region, honey production and market linkages.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the implementation of alternatively livelihoods, with a strong focus on beekeeping
• Assist with the selection of farmers for these livelihood activities
• Support trainings among farmers with project manager and other colleagues
• Assist in conducting socio-economic surveys and with training of facilitators to assess baseline and follow-up
• Collect field data and assist in the mapping processes
• Jointly with the your Extensionist colleague, drive rolling out the beekeeping schemes as selected livelihood
• Responsible for training and coordinating the activities of Bee mentors, ensuring they are active and motivated, well trained and take care of their equipment.
• Responsible for sustainable and timely harvesting of beehives by the mentors conducting regular retraining and spot checks.
• Responsible for hive maintenance through coordinating the Bee Mentors and a team of carpenters.
• Responsible for increasing honey production with the farmers through sharing best practices, making sure mentors are following recommendations and regularly rebait.
• Plan and communicate directly with the project manager regarding project activities and reporting.
• Maintain cleanliness and take good care of the assets provided by WeForest Zambia, as well as basic checks to control equipment with mentors in the field.
• Be a responsible staff member and understand that you are always representing your organization at the same place as where you live.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Education: Certificate of Forestry, agriculture or equivalent
• Language: Fluent in English (both speaking and writing) and Bemba
• Experience:

a. Theoretical and relevant practical experience with beekeeping especially in honey harvesting, rebaiting. Candidates will be required to hang and harvest a beehive as part of the recruitment process.

b. Familiarity with working with applications on smartphone such as ODK and Kobo

• Driving license: A valid motorcycle license & proven ability to drive in challenging conditions

Skills:

a.  Excellent planning, training and communication skills

b. Strong and persistent with fieldwork

c. Strong and comfortable working and living in the field with the local community

d. Honest and down-to-earth, being aware of different cultures and mind sets.

e. Ability to work with little or no supervision

f. Ability to work flexible hours

g. Ability to work in all weather conditions

h. Able to work effectively in stressful conditions/under pressure

i. Should be comfortable working with large groups of people

j. Should have strong cultural values

k. Willing to relocate and live in Mukungule.

TASKS

• Implement best practices in day to day management of the beekeeping activities
• Demonstrate leadership and show own initiative
• Coordinate and assist mentors under your responsibility
• Ensure training and Extensionist services towards farmers are up to standards and timely
• Provide technical advice ensuring a good partnership with all stakeholders to guarantee project outputs
• To facilitate effective communication between the local community and WeForest, through the beekeeping lead
• Frequently liaise with local stakeholders working in the GMA for effective work delivery
• Collect quantitative & qualitative field data (socio-economic data, forest inventory/vegetation survey, GPS coordinates, etc.)
• Provide appropriate and frequent reporting in full transparency and integrity, being coachable for improvement
• Handle internal information and data as confidential
• Conduct safe and clean keeping of office, vehicles and other WeForest equipment

Terms & Conditions

Start date: 1 August 2024

Duration of Contract: One year with possibility of a renewable 2-year contract afterwards based on performance

Package: Competitive package for a small organisation, level 2b salary package

Location: Willing to live and work in Mukungule (but regular travelling to Mpika).

Extras: Bonus of 5% based on performance, please note that there are no field allowances as this position is also expected to carry out fieldwork regularly.

Hours of Work: Full-time, working a minimum of 8 hours per day and up to 44 hours per week. Hours will however vary depending on project needs and flexibility is essential.

Reporting line: Will work under the supervision of and report to the Project Manager with regular contacts with other team members.