Forest Extension Officer

Job description

WeForest

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

Job Summary

WeForest Zambia is a local NGO which aims at improving successful Forest Landscape Restoration in Zambia as a scalable solution for climate mitigation and adaptation, for livelihood improvement and equitable gender development.

The FEO will be responsible for the registration and recognition of the community forest management group (CFMG)  and the implementation of CFM in Imanda.

The FEO will also play a key role in increasing forest cover on smallholder farmers’ Miombo woodlots by promoting sustainable forest management practices on farms and supporting the scaling up of adoption of climate smart agricultural practices among small holder farmers.. The FEO will be part of a dynamic team, working under the supervision of the Project manager. Work is mainly located in the field in Luanshya, Ndola and Mpongwe.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Implementing Farm Forestry Projects at district level
Implementing Community Forest Management in the project area
Implementing participatory natural resource mapping and forest inventory in conjunction with the community
Coordinate forest law enforcement activities in the project area
Co-ordinate fire management activities around ANRs/Conservation plots and Community Forest Areas
conduct capacity building with the community and the governance structures,
Reconcile government natural resource policies and project restoration efforts in the quest
to achieve organisational and project goals.
Support the Agric Extensionist with the selection of pilot and lead farmers in CSA
Communication directly with the Project Manager and M&E Officer amongst others.

Programme development

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

Copperbelt  project area.

DUTIES:

Implement best practices in day to day management of the project activities
Demonstrate leadership and show own initiative
Ensure proficient and timely training and extensionist services towards farmers
Provide technical advice to ensure a good partnership with all stakeholders and project outputs
Collect quantitative & qualitative field data (socio-economic data, forest inventory/vegetation survey, GPS coordinates, etc.)
Facilitate consultancies, project visits and other services on behalf of WeForest/ third parties for scientific studies & analysis.
Report regularly to line manager (Project manager) on progress of work and the field team

Candidate Profile

Essential

Education: B.Sc. in Forestry or equivalent.
Language: Fluent in English (both speaking and writing) and Bemba
Minimum 3 years’ relevant work experience in the forestry sector, doing fieldwork
Skills: Excellent coordination, training and communication skills

Desirable:

Knowledge of Lamba
Integrity and honesty
Handling internal information and data as confidential
Coordinate the safekeeping of WeForest field equipment and other Assets.
Able to ride a motorbike.
All academic and professional certificates should be certified by the Zambia Qualification Authority (ZAQA)

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: WeForest Mpongwe office, Mpongwe District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

Start date: As soon as possible, preferably by 01/10/2025

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

Interested ?

Please send applications to recruitment.zambia@weforest.org with your CV, a motivation letter, and min.3 recent references by 15/09/2025. References must include at least one former employer and one forest restoration enterprise that you have supported.

Make sure to mention the job title in the subject of the email, and to indicate where you saw the job post. In your motivation letter, we’d love to read about what makes you interested to work with WeForest Zambia and why you think you are best suited, referring to examples of forest restortaion enterprise that you have successfully supported in the past. Due to the anticipated high number of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We thank you in advance for your interest.