Employer: WeForest Zambia

Job Title: Community Extensionist

Location: Mwenda / Mabonga community, Mpumba Chiefdom, Lavushimanda District, Muchinga Province

Reports to: Mpumba CFA Project Manager

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 two experienced Community Extensionists profiles to further capacitate the Zambia team.

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  Mpumba  CFA project in Muchinga province covers three Community Forest Areas (CFAs) and aims to  enhance the ecological integrity of natural resources and the resilience and health of natural resource-dependent communities through sustainable forest management practices and strong public-private-community partnerships and enterprise. This to maintain and improve the state of natural resources, such as the population size of key species while at the same time help to increase household food security in the area.

For this project, WeForest seeks to recruit two (2) Community Extensionists to be based in the Mwenda Community and Mabonga Community in Mpumba Chiefdom, Lavushimanda District, Muchinga.

The extensionist will support the development, as well as co-drive the implementation of alternative livelihoods such as beekeeping and agriculture, with the aim to help increase household food security through providing training and supporting establishing strong market linkages. The extensionists are required to be based in the community, but will liaise with the WeForest Mpumba office in Mununga (115km south from Mpika, along the Great North Road) in Lavushimanda District.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the development of alternative livelihood programs
• Assist in conducting socio-economic surveys to assess baseline
• Do consultations with farmers on agricultural enhancement of agriculture value chains
• Drive the implementation of alternative livelihood programs with possible beekeeping, agricultural and agroforestry components
• Co-drive the selection of farmers for these livelihood activities
• Support trainings among farmers on beekeeping, agroforestry and other agricultural livelihoods
• Collect field data and assist in the mapping processes
• Responsible for training and coordinating the activities of lead beekeepers and lead farmers, ensuring they are active and motivated, well trained and take care of their equipment
• Give talks, guidance and actual demonstration on the latest technologies related to sustainable agricultural practices such as conservation farming, smart agriculture and beekeeping
• 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.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES ON BEEKEEPING

a) Responsible for sustainable and timely harvesting of beehives by the project beneficiaries     through conducting regular retraining and spot checks.

a) Responsible for hive maintenance through coordinating the beekeeping experts and a team of carpenters.

b) Responsible for increasing honey production with the farmers through sharing best practices, making sure beneficiaries are following recommendations and regularly rebait.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Education: Min. grade 12. Preferably a Diploma in Forestry, Agriculture, Agroforestry or equivalent
• Language: Fluent in English (both speaking and writing) and Bemba or Lala or Bisa
• Experience: Theoretical and relevant practical experience with agriculture extension and beekeeping especially in honey harvesting, rebaiting. Candidate will be required to hang and harvest a beehive as part of recruitment process. 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

TASKS

• Implement best practices in day to day management of the agriculture and 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 advises ensuring a good partnership with all stakeholders to guarantee project outputs
• To facilitate effective communication between the local community and WeForest.
• Frequently liaise with local stakeholders working in the areas 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, motor bike and other WeForest equipment

Terms & Conditions

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

Salary: Level 2a. Field extensionist

Starting date: 1 October, or earlier if possible

Location: Willing to live and work in Lavushimanda in the Mwenda and Mabonga community

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 including the Lead Community Officer, the M&E officer and the Muchinga Manager