AgriHubs Forestry Coordinator

Job description

Duration: Contract

Reporting to: IKI Growing Greener Project Manager

Location: Mwandi, Western Province, Zambia

BACKGROUND

The Simalaha Community Conservancy (SCC) is Zambia’s pioneering community wildlife conservancy, jointly established by the Sesheke and Sekute Chiefdoms to advance conservation and community development. SCC promotes community-led conservation, sustainable livelihoods, food security and socioeconomic benefits through a wildlife-based economy. As part of the Kafue Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), SCC supports wildlife restoration and ecological connectivity between Chobe National Park in Botswana and Kafue National Park in Zambia.

The IKI Growing Greener Project: Restoration and Sustainable Use of Agro-pastoral Systems in Open Arid Landscapes across Southern Africa is a regional initiative implemented by the consortium of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Peace Parks Foundation, Conservation International (CI), and Center for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) in Botswana, Madagascar, South Africa, and Zambia. The project seeks to restore degraded rangelands, improve biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance livelihoods through community-led restoration, sustainable agriculture, and market-oriented value chains.

Job Purpose

This position combines technical forestry expertise with community development, recognising that the IKI Growing Greener Project is fundamentally a landscape restoration and livelihood programme. The AgriHub Forestry Coordinator will therefore not only establish trees but also develop sustainable restoration economies through agroforestry, community forestry, forest-based enterprises, and climate-resilient land management, directly contributing to the project’s objectives of restoring degraded landscapes while improving household incomes and resilience. Demonstration and extension are a core function of the role as AgriHubs are intended to be farmer learning centres, focusing not only on restoration but also on technology transfer, farmer adoption and enterprise development.

Duties And Responsibilities

Strategic and Technical Implementation

• Lead the planning and implementation of forestry, agroforestry and landscape restoration activities in line with the IKI Growing Greener Project goals and objectives.
• Promote climate-smart agroforestry systems, including silvopastoral systems.
• Coordinate establishment and management of community tree nurseries, seedling production and annual tree planting programmes.
• Support restoration of degraded landscapes through assisted natural regeneration, indigenous tree restoration, riparian restoration and sustainable woodland management.
• Promote sustainable forest-based enterprises, including honey, indigenous fruits, tree seed production, community nurseries and other non-timber forest products.
• Build the capacity of community cooperatives, Village Forest Committees and producer groups in forestry, agroforestry, fire management and sustainable natural resource management.
• Provide technical support to AgriHubs to integrate forestry and ecosystem restoration into agricultural production systems.
• Establish and manage AgriHub demonstration plots showcasing agroforestry and nature-based solutions for soil health improvement, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
• Strengthen community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) by working closely with Community Resource Boards (CRBs), Village Action Groups and other community institutions.
• Promote compliance with agreed land-use plans, sustainable grazing practices, fire management measures, and tree protection regulations.

Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of forestry activities with the AgriHub Coordinator, Herding for Health, Wildlife Conservation, and Community Development teams.
• Strengthen partnerships with the relevant government departments and line ministries, traditional leadership, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and private sector partners.
• Facilitate community participation in restoration planning, implementation, and sustainable forest management.
• Represent the forestry component of the project in technical meetings, stakeholder engagements, and project coordination platforms.
• Serve as the primary technical focal point for the forestry and restoration component of AgriHubs.
• Coordinate multi-stakeholder restoration activities to ensure alignment with conservancy management plans and project objectives.
• Facilitate technical training for community scouts, lead farmers, extension staff, and community groups on restoration, agroforestry, and natural resource monitoring.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Monitor progress against forestry and restoration targets, including hectares restored, tree survival rates, agroforestry adoption and community participation.
• Maintain accurate technical records and databases on restoration activities, nursery production, training, forest enterprises and project indicators.
• Prepare high-quality monthly, quarterly and annual technical reports, success stories and case studies.
• Support adaptive management by documenting lessons learned, best practices and innovations in landscape restoration and community forestry.
• Provide technical support to project monitoring, evaluation and learning systems through routine field vegetation and ecosystem health data collection, verification and analysis to support biodiversity monitoring.
• Utilise Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile data collection platforms to map, monitor and verify restoration sites and forestry interventions.
• Monitor compliance with restoration agreements and environmental safeguards, documenting infractions and recommending corrective actions
• Maintain adaptive management trackers and contribute lessons learned to improve project implementation.

Project Fund Development and Management

• Prepare annual forestry work plans, implementation schedules and budget forecasts.
• Ensure efficient and accountable utilisation of project resources in accordance with Peace Parks Foundation and donor requirements.
• Identify and leverage partnerships, funding opportunities and private sector investment to support landscape restoration, agroforestry, community forestry and sustainable forest-based enterprises.
• Provide technical input into project proposals, concept notes, donor reports and resource mobilisation initiatives related to forestry, restoration and climate resilience.
• Develop technical budgets and cost estimates for forestry and restoration interventions and contribute to annual operational planning.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Natural Resource Management, Conservation, Agroforestry, Environmental Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in forestry, landscape restoration, agroforestry, or natural resource management, including project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in community extension, participatory facilitation and capacity building.
• Experience working on donor-funded conservation, climate resilience or rural development programmes is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of community forestry, agroforestry, forest landscape restoration and biodiversity conservation.
• Experience using GIS, GPS and mobile data collection applications is desirable.
• Strong planning, analytical, report writing and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multicultural and remote field environments.
• Strong commitment to conservation, excellent problem-solving skills and adaptability.
• Good physical fitness and willingness to spend approximately 70-80% of working time in the field.
• Valid motorcycle and driver’s licences, with demonstrated competence in off-road riding and driving in remote and sandy terrain.

Interested candidates are invited to a Curriculum Vitae, with full address, telephone number and email address. These should be submitted by 26 November 2026.

Please apply online.

We appreciate the time and effort taken by all applicants in expressing their interest in this role. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are only able to contact candidates who are selected for further consideration. If you do not hear from us within 3 weeks, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. We encourage you to apply for future opportunities that match your skills and experience.