FZS ZAMBIA NORTH LUANGWA CONSERVATION PROGRAMME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Community Conservation Educator (CCE) – Nabwalya Community Hub and Partnerships

Location: Nabwalya Chiefdom – Mpika District
The project is a partnership between the Africa Range-Wide Cheetah Conservation Initiative (CCI), supported by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), and field-based NGOs Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Zambian Carnivore Program (ZCP), and Conservation South Luangwa (CSL).  Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) conserves wildlife and ecosystems focusing on protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. The Africa Programme is FZS’ largest and oldest and is active in five focal countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (www.fzs.org).

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) works in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) to protect and conserve the North Luangwa landscape. The NLCP supports effective and efficient protected area management, with a wider focus on empowering communities to manage natural resources in the Game Management Areas adjacent to the park. The NLCP’s mission ‘Linking livelihoods and landscape’ seeks to address key challenges by taking holistic approaches for more resilient socio-ecological systems.

Learn more at www.northluangwa.org about our conservation programme.

Purpose and Objectives of the CCE – Nabwalya Community Hub and Partnerships Position
In line with the NLCP strategy, the Community Conservation Educator (CCE) – Nabwalya Community Hub and Partnerships is a field-based position to support an integrated One Health education and awareness activities through the Nabwalya Community Hub and Strategic Partnerships within the Nabwalya Chiefdom of Munyamadzi Game Management Area (GMA). The position will support activities pertaining to the Community hub as a facility to support multi-stakeholder engagement, including educational and vocational activities related to the community hubs, cheetah conservation and advocacy, health, nutrition, waste management, whilst also being responsible for supporting conservation talent identification and growth/incubation with strategic partners. This position will work closely with other CCE and CRB to mobilise the community groups such as the youths, mini change, women and Conservation Education Club members to facilitate Cheetah presentations with a focus on the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources   The conservation messaging and understanding of responsible natural resource practices including cheetah conservation being central to healthy well-being and livelihoods, will inform the overall work-approach of this position when engaging with a broad range of stakeholder groups.

Key Performance Areas of the CCE – Community Hub and Partnerships

This is a key role in the NLCP Landscape Integration Unit (LIU) which will use a broad range of stakeholder platforms for advocacy on natural resource management and cheetah conservation in particular. It is expected of the the ideal candidate to exhibit knowledge, skills and attributes in the followings:

1.    Conservation advocacy and mentorship support to Girls and Boys Clubs in Schools

• Engage with schools, traditional authorities and offer support to the wider communities with sporting activities (soccer and netball) aimed at raising awareness around sustainable conservation of natural resources and improved rural livelihood, with a key focus on the multi-partner cheetah conservation project
• Conduct conservation and associated livelihood lesson planning and implement topics that could inspire the girls to remain in school
• Conduct regular registration for the club members to include enrolment records, attendance rates, literacy rates and dropout rates for the girls
• Provide training sessions for the girls on how to use the digital tablets effectively for learning purposes
• Facilitate discussions with the girls’ parents and guardians to raise awareness about the importance of girls’ education and the benefits of utilizing digital learning resources
• Facilitate discussions and dialogues with the boys and young men on issues related to gender equality, equity, sexual and gender-based violence, and human rights
• Educate boys and girls about their legal rights and responsibilities under the Zambian constitution, including laws on gender equality, equity and protection against gender-based violence
• In collaboration with other key stakeholders, identify the best talents within the community that could be supported with scholarship opportunities when available

2.    School Garden & Demonstration Sites

• Support schools to identify land suitable for gardening / farming to help improve school nutritional programme in support of a One-Health approach, through close collaboration with Community Health Workers
• Assist the schools to determine the types of crops to be cultivated on the school farm based on local agricultural practices and school nutritional needs
• Facilitate training sessions for teachers and students on basic farming techniques and crop management
• Promote the use of climate-smart agriculture practices such as rainwater harvesting, mulching, minimum tillage and agroforestry to improve resilience to climate change and mitigate environmental degradation
• Support and provide tangible support for schools to implement HWC interventions, with a key messaging and understanding of holistic wildlife management

3.    Community Hub and Digital Tablet Utilization

• Conduct regular monitoring visits to the community hub to assess the effectiveness of the usage of digital tablets and identify areas for improvement
• Facilitate films or video programmes / shows / documentaries at the hub on the importance of natural resources with key messaging around the Cheetah in the ecosystem and its conservation

4.    Conservation partnerships

• Collaborate with other partners / stakeholders such as DNWP, Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (mobile unit conservation education programme), CCI, ZCP, CSL and other entities in disseminating key conservation messages around the management of Cheetahs and other natural resources
• Strengthen strategic partnership with the traditional authority, Community Resources Board, Village Action Groups, Community Foresty Management Groups and Fishery Management Committees to raise awareness around the sustainable management of natural resources with a key focus on landscape management for cheetah preservation

5.    Sustained Community Health Programme

• Facilitate training and mentorship for the Menstrual Hygiene Mentors (MHM) on menstrual health and hygiene to create a supportive environment and address stigma associated with menstruation among the girls in schools and the wider community
• Support the distribution of menstrual products such as reusable cloth pads to the girls in selected schools
• Work hand in hand with Menstrual Hygiene Mentors (MHM) to support the provision of education and awareness programs on menstrual hygiene management within the communities
• Track the distribution of period products, usage of washroom facilities, and overall impact on menstrual hygiene practices and health outcomes
• Identify women and men to create sewing cooperatives or groups for the period products
• Gather data on menstrual hygiene practices and challenges, using this information to inform program improvements and policy advocacy
• Assist the MHM to link menstrual Hygiene activities to conservation and sustainable management of natural resources such as responsible disposal of waste
• In their own communities ensure that MHM are speaking consistently to communities about the value of wildlife and their environment so they may be conserved for present and future generations
• Motivate and inspire the MHM to promote the responsible resource use (RRU) principle within their communities
• Ensure coordinated efforts between Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGS), Health Facility (HF) staff and NLCP field staff
• Work closely with SMAGs and Health Facility staff to using relevant and approved integrated IEC materials (Information, Education, Communication) in support of One Health outcomes

General Administration and Other Tasks

• May be required to give support to other CCEs in planning (lesson delivery) and distribution of termly timetables, letters and other schedules for mini change groups, conservation clubs in schools and the broader community
• Ensure timely ordering and purchase of supplies / and facilitating resources / materials and keeping of detailed inventories for the equipment or tools used by identified target groups
• Assist with the organization and coordination of community meetings, workshops, seminars, and general administrative tasks such as taking minutes, writing invitation letters, logistics etc

Required skills, experience and qualifications

• A Diploma in Agriculture, education, wildlife management / conservation / natural resources management, ecology, community development, social sciences or rural development or equivalent
• At least 2 years of practical field experience in rural areas working with NGOs, private sector, government, parastatal organizations preferably in Game Management Areas (GMA)
• Must possess basic knowledge and workings of rural development, CBNRM, principles of good governance, and general wildlife and natural resources management in Zambia
• Basic knowledge of existing agricultural, natural resources and wildlife policies; legal frameworks and legislation will be an advantage.
• Basic practical experience working with traditional authorities and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) will be an added advantage.
• Strong Community Mobilization skills will be an advantage.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft word, excel, SPSS and other research tools will be an added advantage
• Able to communicate in Bemba, Bisa Nyanja and/or Senga

We Offer:

Engaging and meaningful work with room for your ideas
Opportunity to contribute towards the protection of an impressive landscape in Zambia
Form part of a dynamic and motivated team, as well as the larger FZS team working to secure outstanding wild places across the globe
Flat hierarchy, opportunities for further training
The position will be based in Nabwalya Chiefdom, Mpika, Zambia.

Your application:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications to [email protected]. Hard copies can be dropped off at the FZS / DNPW Office in Mpika or Nabwalya CRB.  Please include the following documents in your application:

1. A cover letter explaining why you should be considered for this position.
2. A comprehensive CV highlighting your relevant experience and achievements.
3. Contact details for two referees (who will not be contacted without your permission).

Please mark your application as Community Conservation Educator (CCE) – Nabwalya Community Hub and Partnerships
Application Deadline: Tuesday, 13th August 2024

Note: Due to limited resources and a high volume of applications, we will only contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

FZS values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity.