WeForest Zambia

WeForest is a fast-growing international non-profit organisation headquartered in Belgium and with current projects in Brazil, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Senegal and Zambia. It is registered in Zambia and has its country office in Ndola, Copperbelt Province. The mission of the organisation is to advance innovative, scalable and lasting solutions to restore forest and landscapes for climate, people and the planet. We promote scientific evidence demonstrating how forests contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, beyond their impacts as carbon stocks to increasing water availability and enhancing local biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood and resilience.

Job Summary

The Sustainable Dairy Forage and Fodder Development Coordinator will be responsible for implementing sustainable dairy forage and fodder production under the Copperbelt Project and providing technical oversight and support to climate-smart agriculture activities across other WeForest Zambia projects. He/she will (i) establish climate-smart forage and fodder production systems with a focus on crop-livestock integration and regenerative agriculture/agroforestry for smallholder farmers; (ii) strengthen fodder production value chains including creating sustainable supply linkages between fodder producers and dairy farmers for reduced fodder and feed costs; (iii) pilot and upscale best climate-smart dairy practices and technologies for low GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions in dairy feed production; and (iv) implement customised social and behavioural change strategies for increased adoption of sustainable forage production and fodder production practices among smallholder farmers.

The Sustainable Dairy Forage and Fodder Development Coordinator will work closely with WFZ personnel and external partners across all project areas under the direct supervision of the Copperbelt Project Manager. He/she will be based in Mpongwe district.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Lead for the Agroforestry Component of the Dairy Fodder and Forage Copperbelt Project

• Support the development and implementation of the project stakeholder plan.
• Lead the recruitment and selection of project beneficiaries in collaboration with project partners and stakeholders in Mpongwe, Luanshya and Ndola districts of the Copperbelt province.
• Lead the participatory development of sustainable forage and fodder production systems taking into account international best practice (e.g. low emissions technologies)
• Lead the training of smallholder dairy farmers and commercial fodder producers in sustainable forage and fodder production practices including but not limited to conservation farming, agroforestry, and silvopasture management.
• Provide technical support for the establishment and management of forage and fodder production demo plots/Farmer Field Schools, and agroforestry nurseries.
• Conduct feed supply value chain analysis and create sustainable market linkages creation between farmers and commercial producers.
• Co-develop with community-based organisations (CBOs) fodder business models tailored towards the smallholder farmers’ needs.
• Participate in social and behavioural change programmes, including the development and implementation of behavioural change-based campaigns and radio programmes.

Wider support across WeForest Zambia project portfolio

• Provide technical support for the implementation of climate-smart agriculture (conservation agriculture and agroforestry) and the establishment of agroforestry nurseries across WeForest projects.
• Work with the monitoring, evaluation and learning team to monitor and assess Prepare progress reports and other routine reports in accordance with WFZ procedures and specific requirements of the project

Candidate Profile

Essential

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Agroforestry, Agriculture, Agronomy, Agribusiness or equivalent with a heavy emphasis on dairy fodder and forage production
• Fluent in English (both speaking and writing), Bemba
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in sustainable forage and fodder production with a focus on conservation farming, agroforestry, and silvopasture management
• Practical experience in designing agroforestry systems
• Knowledge of fodder value chains
• Knowledge of low GHG emission (methane) technologies/best practices in feed production and current trends and practices in conservation, land management and natural resource preservation
• Technical knowledge and experience in agriculture training and/or soil work.
• Excellent management, coordination, training, reporting and communication skills
• Flexible in terms of travelling and living conditions
• Basic Kobo, excel, and GIS skills will be an added advantage

Preferable

Fluency in Lamba and Bemba

Terms & Conditions

Position: Full-time employee, 5 or 6 days per week.
Base: WeForest Office, Mpongwe District, Zambia
Start date: As soon as possible, preferably by 01/10/2024
Package: Competitive package for a small organisation