WeForest

WeForest is a fast-growing international non-profit association with headquarters in Belgium and legal entities in France, Brazil, USA, Senegal, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia and Zambia. The organization is promoting Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) best practices and our activities are growing as we are looking to expand its team with a new professional Forestry Extension Officer who will work in a dynamic team on our objective towards co-managing Katanino Forest Reserve and increasing forest cover in Zambia. Achieving this objective will entail forest restoration through assisted natural regeneration; local community livelihood improvement & development; and gender equitable development. The Forestry Extension Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and will mainly be active in the field in Katanino Forest Reserve and the surrounding community in Masaiti district.

Job Summary

The Forest Extension Officer will work in a dynamic team on our objective towards increasing forest cover in smallholder farmers’ conservation plots, assisted natural regeneration plots and the forest reserve as a scalable solution for climate mitigation and adaptation and livelihood improvement. The Officer will promote gender equitable development and work towards an integrated management of the forest resources in the project area. The Forest extension officer will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and will mainly be active in the field in Katanino, Masaiti district.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Forest Restoration, Capacity building and Supervision of community trained personnel in forest restoration.

1. Lead participatory natural resource mapping and forest inventory in conjunction with the community

2. Select and train farmers and community forest mappers in Katanino

3. Provide proficient Agroforestry training to the local community in Katanino

4. Help in the establishment of indigenous tree nurseries

5. Spearhead and assist with forestry activities such as mounting beehive and tree planting

6. Co-ordinate forest law enforcement activities in Katanino

7. Communicate directly with /report to the Project Manager on project activities, progress and potential areas of improvement

8. Conduct capacity Building with the aim of strengthening governance structures in the project area.

Technical expertise

1. Take part in socio-economic and ecological resource assessments and monitoring in the project area.

2. Conduct mapping (boundary, forestry) and socio-economic data collection

3. Coordinate the effective and efficient running of the governance structures in conjunction with the JFMC and the Forestry Department.

4. Coordinate and supervise fire management activities in the project area.

5. Assist in agroforestry activities in the buffer zone.

6. In consultation with the project manager develop capacity building training manuals and conduct capacity building with the community and the governance structures,

7. Assist in the development, validation and adoption of a multi-sectorial Forest Management Plan and annual action plans for the VRMCs.

8. Reconcile government natural resource policies and project restoration efforts in the quest to achieve organisational and project goals.

Programme development

1. If and when required: assist in the development of additional forest restoration programs in Katanino project area.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Education: A minimum of Diploma in Forestry or equivalent, BSc in Forestry as an added advantage.
• Fluent in English (both speaking and writing)
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience in community-based forest restoration, management and conservation in Zambia.
• Experience in Joint Forest Management practices in Zambia is essential.
• Excellent management, coordination, training, reporting and communication skills
• Flexible in terms of traveling and living conditions
• Excellent team player
• Ability to use and understand GIS software.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Lamba
• Track record with gender-sensitive participatory, governance and inclusion approaches
• Able to ride a motorbike.

TASKS

• Implement best practices in day-to-day project activities
• Demonstrate leadership within the project team and show own initiative
• Appropriate and frequent reporting of project activities in full transparency and integrity and being coachable for improvement
• Implement up-to stand and timely training and extension services towards the local community.
• Technically ensure a good partnership with all stakeholders to guarantee project outputs
• Lead the collection of quantitative & qualitative field data (socio-economic data, forest inventory/vegetation survey, GPS coordinates, etc.).
• Not engaging the organization legally or financially beyond agreed terms.
• Handling internal information and data as confidential.
• Assist in the development and implement Outreach programmes, meetings, workshops, Expos and other events
• Ensure safe and clean keeping of office and other WeForest equipment.
• Ensure a safe environment for colleagues and the local community during implementation of project activities.

Terms & Conditions

Position: Full-time employee, 5 or 6 days per week.

Base: Katanino, Masaiti district, Zambia

Start date: As soon as possible, preferably by 03/07/2023

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