Position Title: Programs Officer, Mid-Lower Zambezi Valley Landscape

Division: Conservation Strategy Impact and Learning

Supervisor: Mid-Lower Zambezi Valley Landscape Programs Manager

Supervises: Field Assistants / Drivers and Program Interns

Location: Zambezi River Specialized Anti-Poaching Unit Camp-Mid Zambezi Valley

Project Summary:

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is implementing programs to support the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in Protected Areas within the Middle Zambezi Valley Landscape including Mana Pools, Sapi, Chewore and Doma Safari Areas. AWF is implementing programs in Mbire, Hurungwe and Muzarabani Rural Districts. The broad objectives are to improve wildlife and natural resources management and supporting community development programs including community enterprises as well as facilitating inclusive growth and private sector engagement.

AWF works in 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa focusing on land conservation, conservation enterprise, education, and wildlife protection and management. AWF’s mission is to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern Africa.

Job Summary

This position has the responsibility of providing technical and other support to implement the AWF Zimbabwe Country Conservation Strategy in the Mid Zambezi Valley in protected areas and adjacent communal areas including support for transboundary programs through liaison with protected area authorities, local communities, partners, Government departments, private sector and other stakeholders to ensure the program activities and workplans are implemented as per schedule and scope and reporting on progress, plans, etc.. The position reports to the Mid Zambezi Valley Programs Manager and will be based at the Zambezi River Specialized Ant-Poaching Unit (D Camp).

Responsibilities

Program implementation in Protected Areas (PAs):

• Provide technical support to PA authority to ensure effective and timely delivery of all projects.
• Work with other technical teams and the project M&E to ensure quarterly, half year and yearly means of verification (MOVs) are defined and delivered in a timely manner.
• Support planning and implementation of conservation activities across the Landscape.
• In coordination with the Programs Manager, prepare and update priority-based work plans.
• Supporting identification of strategic partners in the Landscape to ensure close consultation with AWF and other key stakeholders in Mid Zambezi.
• Develop Terms of Reference for workshops, meetings, trainings and assist in the implementation of approved activities, in compliance with AWF guidelines and budget.
• In coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation team, update and maintain the Programs database.
• In coordination with the Programs Manager, manage the regular engagements with the local CSOs, Community and partners involved in the Projects, which include effective coordination and cooperation between project partners.
• Support the Programs Manager with Landscape government officers’ liaison on issues within Mid-Lower Zambezi Valley.
• Facilitate biodiversity conservation related training, seminars, and workshops.
• Ensure donor reports are compiled and submitted as per timelines.
• Provide and document lessons learned and application of experiences for project, landscape or/and program; proactively ensuring biodiversity conservation findings get their way into and inform AWF program.
• Perform any duties that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Program implementation in Communal Areas

• Identify and establish the link between biodiversity conservation/NRM initiatives and their direct impact on promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
• Identify and document appropriate best practices in community-based approaches to natural resource management.
• Support community enterprise training and development.
• Work directly with communities and local development agents to facilitate the implementation of community projects and design of sustainable strategies for operation and maintenance of resulting services.
• Work directly with communities and local development agents in the landscape to promote community led development, including preparation and prioritization of community development plans for local improvement.
• Ensure mainstreaming of gender equality and social inclusion in the implementation of all projects.
• Coordinate implementation of all activities with other NGOs, donors, and civil society organizations with ultimate tangible results.
• Contribute and support effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning processes, ensure effective data and information management and contribute to regular and periodic planning and reporting on project activities.
• Support processes to build absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities of local communities and support services to deal with climate change related challenges.
• Convene stakeholder meetings to identify, co-create and agree on methods to address identified challenges such as to reduce Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC), livelihood and conservation enterprises challenges among others within the target communities.
• Continuously provide feedback to the communities, stakeholders and AWF on emerging issues and priorities to appropriately inform intervention strategies.
• Organize/facilitate the registration, verification, mobilization of project beneficiaries and engage on monitoring of the subsequent meetings with the community and other stakeholders.
• Generate and compile activity reports as means of verifications for each action in liaison with the MEAL Officer.
• Liaise with all stakeholders in the target areas and be the point of contact to build effective communication, enhance harmonious internal and external relationships and ensure quality delivery of milestones to achieve set goals.
• Facilitate and support trainings of communities in climate change resilience building.
• Support the establishment of wildlife-based enterprises and develop wildlife programs in the areas identified through the land use planning process.
• Strengthen platforms for community participation in natural resources governance, management, and benefits.

Fundraising :

• Participate in and provide information to the development and design of funding proposals for submission to donors for support of the program and its expansion,
• Work with the Programs Manager and the Program Design team to generate project concepts for funding proposals to support further implementation of AWF’s strategy in the Mid Zambezi landscape.

Representation:

• Represent AWF at local and national fora and with local stakeholders/partners to ensure effective collaboration with partners,
• Seek out opportunities to expand and enhance the cultivation and quality of existing activities and relationships with partners.

Other Duties

• Work with the Communications and Marketing teams to produce photos, videos and stories of impact shared through various media platforms.
• Commitment to respect, protect, and always promote Human Rights, irrespective of ethnic group, gender, race, sexual orientation, age, or class by adopting a rights-based conservation approach.
• Undertake any other relevant assignment as may be requested by the supervisor.

Requirements and skills

• A university degree in Natural Resource management, environmental studies, wildlife management, conservation biology, project management or equivalent degree.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in biodiversity conservation initiatives.
• Ability to carry out research, need assessments and prepare technical feasibility studies and reports.
• Ability to develop annual work plans & and reporting.
• Ability to facilitate relevant training/events/workshops.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as an effective team member.
• GIS and knowledge of SMART or other monitoring software is an added advantage.
• Excellent analytical and research skills.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.
• Excellent organization skills.
• Excellent meeting facilitation skills.
• Self-driven with an ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Fluency in Shona is essential, and other locally spoken dialects is an added advantage.
• Proficiency in English (both spoken and written).
• Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations and the private sector.
• Ability, willingness, and desire to be based in remote location.
• Awareness and experience implementing landscape-level conservation approaches; familiarity with innovative methods, including community conservation and conservation enterprises.
• Good report writing skills and working knowledge of computers and MS Office software package.
• Understanding and motivational fit in conservation.
• Understanding of the interface between conservation and development.
• Commitment to AWF and its mission.