Frankfurt Zoological Society conserves wildlife and ecosystems focussing 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).

FZS Zambia (FZS-Z) has been active in the North Luangwa Ecosystem since 1986 and Nsumbu since 2017, working to conserve these globally important wilderness areas. FZS-Z supports effective and efficient protected area management, with a focus on law enforcement and community outreach with a focus on empowering host custodians in GMAs to manage their own resources. Particularly, the North Luangwa Ecosystem Programme (NLCP) has the mission of ‘Linking Livelihoods and Landscapes’. NLCP works using the following strategies:

1. Secure=Safeguard=Sustain- This aims to implement robust and adaptive large landscape enforcement tactics and capability to protect, conserve, and preserve wildlife habitats and ecological services;

2. Empower=Educate=Enterprise- This aims to implement creative and beneficial initiatives to empower, educate and deliver enterprise opportunities for neighbouring communities and wider Zambian society;

3. Communicate=Connect=Change- This aims to implement focused messaging to communicate and connect with stakeholders and partners for effective and positive change; and

4. Structure=Systems=Support- This aims to implement a clear and enduring organization and financial structure with efficient systems to support a mentally and physically healthy team.

Learn more at https://fzs.org/en/projects about our conservation programme.

JOB DESCRIPTION: COMMUNITY CONSERVATION OFFICER (3 Positions)

1. Job title:

Community Conservation Officer

2. Reporting to:

Community Outreach Manager

Working Closely with:

NLCP Community Education Coordinator

NLCP Livelihood Strategy Advisor

DNPW Area Warden

DNPW Extension Officer

3. Reports

NLCP Community Liaison Assistant;

NLCP Community Conservation Educator; and

NLCP Field enumerators.

NLCP Agriculture extension officers

4. Location/Station

Chikwa (Chama), Chifunda (Chama), Mukungule (Mpika), and Nabwalya (Mpika) Chiefdoms, in the North Luangwa Ecosystem but will be required to work at other locations as the job requires.

5. Salary:

A competitive salary will be paid based on qualifications and experience

6. Objective

This is a mid-management field-based position to implement and help improve a consistent and effective bottom-up community engagement programme with the custodian communities in the Chiefdom of the Game Management Areas surrounding North Luangwa National Park (collectively termed North Luangwa Ecosystem) in line with NLCP’s strategy. This is in line with the partnership between Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

7. Duties

The Community Conservation Officer shall be responsible for smooth implementation of field activities for the community outreach services in the North Luangwa Ecosystem. Specifically, the duties shall be as follows:

a. Integration and strengthening of community natural resources management institutions

• Strengthen the governance of Community Resources Boards (CRB) and Village Action Groups (VAG) by:
• Strengthen the capacity of CRB and VAG to monitor wildlife and participate in quota setting.
• Build and maintain positive relationships, liaison and collaboration with chiefs and district authorities locally and with relevant Ministries, civil society and partners locally.
• Ensure regular and close communication, coordination and involvement with Government departments (DNPW, FD, MOA, DOF, council etc.) and in the NLE for all aspects of the NLE community programme
• Support the roll out of Grievance procedures mechanism and its ongoing functionality between community members and other stakeholders

b. Strengthen institutional and organisational capacity of community outreach

• To coordinate planning and implementation with the CLA, CCE and enumerators for all community outreach activities.
• To support CLA in all the CRB day to day activities, help in organising the paper work and ensuring it is updated continuously;
• To contribute to improvement of performance monitoring frameworks,

c. Improve and strengthen livelihood, including health, opportunities while decreasing the cost of living with wildlife for resident custodians in the chiefdom and GMA

• Facilitate and support community-based conservation initiatives around wildlife protection, human/wildlife interaction management, WASH, and other natural resource management initiatives;
• Facilitate conservation enterprise and partnerships, especially within the tourism sector, for the development of revenue streams to NLE communities
• Facilitate and oversee strategic intervention to improve rural livelihoods within resident custodians of the NLE through, for example, support to social service provision (health and education), micro-credit schemes (such as COCOBA), improved markets and conservation agriculture

The Community Conservation Officer is expected to be competent in each of the following areas and exhibit these competencies while carrying out their duties;

Teamwork, Initiatives, Problem analysis, Planning and organising, Management control, Flexibility,
Honest and reliable, show respect and fairness when dealing with others

8. Qualifications

The position holder shall:

• Holder of Diploma in social science, wildlife management, community development or rural development.
• A Bachelor’s degree in social science, wildlife management, community development or rural development will be an added advantage.
• At least 3 years of practical field experience in working with rural communities.
• Must possess fair knowledge and workings of CBNRM, principles of good governance, and general wildlife and natural resources management in Zambia
• Clear understanding of existing natural resources and wildlife policies; legal frameworks and legislation will be an advantage.
• Practical experience working with traditional authorities will be an added advantage.
• Strong governance and livelihoods skills will be an advantage.

Other attributes:

• Self-motivated, disciplined and determined to work within the flexibility nature of the work
• Good communication skills
• Ability and willingness to work in a rural setting
• Ability to work as team
• Ability to adhere to work ethics