Community Engagement Coordinator

Job Details

Description

The Community Engagement Coordinator will serve as a critical interface between IFAW and communities living in and around the Lukusuzi and Luambe National Parks in Zambia’s Eastern Province. This role is central to advancing IFAW’s commitment to human-wildlife coexistence by ensuring that communities are not only engaged but also empowered as co-stewards of the ecosystems that surround them. Reporting to the Field Operations Manager, the Coordinator will play a leading role in building trust, facilitating dialogue, and delivering practical, locally relevant solutions that align conservation with community wellbeing.

This position sits at the frontline of IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative, which envisions a connected and thriving future for wildlife across East and Southern Africa. Within this framework, the Community Engagement Coordinator will support the implementation of coexistence strategies that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of local communities, particularly in areas affected by frequent human-wildlife conflict. The role requires not just technical capacity, but also political and cultural sensitivity, relationship-building acumen, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion.

The Coordinator will work closely with local leadership structures, including traditional authorities, Community Resource Boards, and district government, as well as with key national stakeholders such as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). Together with these partners, the Community Engagement Coordinator will promote conservation-compatible livelihoods, support social safeguards, and strengthen the role of communities, especially women and youth, as vital actors in securing long-term conservation success.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Implementation and Support (60%)

• Coordinate the implementation and periodic review of IFAW’s community engagement approach in Eastern Province, ensuring alignment with Room to Roam and national conservation priorities, in close consultation with the Field Operations Manager.
• Act as IFAW’s day-to-day focal point on community engagement in Eastern Province, providing input to Zambian and program teams from direct field experience.
• Coordinate day-to-day engagement with communities, traditional leaders, CRBs, and DNPW to design and deliver effective coexistence activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with district-level leaders and councils, securing support for conservation initiatives and aligning IFAW’s community programs with district development priorities.
• Coordinate IFAW’s contribution to land use planning processes at community and district level, helping to secure and maintain wildlife corridors, mitigate habitat fragmentation, and reflect conservation priorities in broader development plans.
• Coordinate the and Primary Response Teams (PRTs including tracking of patrols, reactive deployments, awareness meetings, and inventory management.
• Identify community needs, risks, and priorities to inform the design and implementation of sustainable, wildlife-compatible livelihoods.
• Deliver and oversee community awareness and environmental education programs, including school-based activities and local radio campaigns.
• Coordinate the implementation of active coexistence measures (e.g., poliwire fencing, climate-smart agriculture) and monitor their effectiveness.
• Use EarthRanger and participatory tools to document human-wildlife conflict incidents and monitor trends.
• Contribute to the development of project funding proposals and support the integration of social safeguards into program activities.
• Community Engagement Assistants- Provide technical input and coordinate logistical support for field trainings, planning meetings, and stakeholder consultations.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Social Safeguards (20%)

• Coordinate participatory assessments, data collection, and analysis using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Ensure community engagement initiatives comply with IFAW’s social safeguard standards, including informed consent, risk assessments, and inclusive participation.
• Work with M&E and program staff to apply context-specific indicators and track project impacts.

Documentation and Reporting (20%)

• Capture lessons learned, success stories, and challenges from field engagement to inform adaptive program management.
• Prepare regular reports, briefing notes, and case studies for internal and external audiences.
• Support communications and visibility efforts, including content for newsletters, donor updates, and advocacy materials.

What Success Looks Like (3-Year Vision)

• Communities demonstrate increased ownership of and participation in wildlife conservation through active involvement in CRBs and coexistence efforts.
• Governance and administrative systems for the 3 CRBs improved , with CRBs taking an active role in the management of wildlife and other natural resources
• Human-wildlife conflict impacts are reduced and mitigation efforts are visibly benefiting local livelihoods and community resilience.
• Environmental education programs reach a growing number of schools and youth across the landscape.
• Sustainable small enterprises linked to conservation are generating income and improving community support for wildlife protection.
• Trusted relationships are built and maintained with local leaders, government, and partner organisations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Essential:

• Minimum 5years’ progressively responsible experience in community engagement, rural development, or natural resource management. A specialization in working with rural communities is required
• Proven ability to build trust and work effectively with communities, traditional authorities, and government agencies.
• Experience in working with DNPW, conservation/ development NGOs, CRBs, the private sector and cross-border conservation initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating participatory planning and implementation processes.
• Previous experience in social safeguards, FPIC processes, or inclusive program design.
• Experience engaging in district- and community-level land use planning processes, with a proven ability to integrate conservation, livelihood, and infrastructure considerations into balanced development plans.
• Strong communication skills in English and relevant local languages (Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka).
• Solid writing and reporting skills; ability to document and share learning effectively.
• Commitment to conservation, animal welfare, and equitable community partnerships.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with digital tools for field data collection and mapping (e.g., EarthRanger, KoboToolbox).
• Practical knowledge of small enterprise development and climate-smart agriculture.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to work in a remote, field-based setting with frequent travel across the landscape.
• Unquestionable personal integrity, dependability, and team orientation.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities under tight deadlines.

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people. We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Hiring range is 372,000 – 465,000 ZMK

Closing date for applications: 27 July 2026