Project Coordinator for Non-Timber Forest Product Value Chains Incubator Accelerator

Job description

AVSF is looking for:

Project Coordinator for Non-Timber Forest Product Value Chains Incubator Accelerator

Agronomists and Veterinarians Without Borders (AVSF) is a professional association of international solidarity recognized as of public utility (non-profit), which has been working since 1977 in support of peasant agriculture.

The association works in Africa, Asia and Latin America with peasant communities in promoting sustainable practices to remedy the food insecurity and economic vulnerability of rural communities. AVSF also contributes to the consolidation of producer organizations and their increasing participation in the local and export sectors (fair, organic and quality trade) for fairer remuneration and the consequent improvement of the living conditions of farming families. Website: https://www.avsf.org/

AVSF operates in Zambia since 2022 to support rural communities through agroecology, human–wildlife coexistence, and community-based biodiversity management. The organization helps farmers adopt sustainable practices, protect natural resources, and gain legal recognition for traditional land use and conservation methods.

In September 2025 AVSF Zambia begun a 3-year project entitled ‘Bush2Business: supporting non-timber forest value chains in North-Luangwa landscape in Zambia’ funded by the French Development Agency, with activities being centered in Muchinga Province, particularly in Mpika and Lavushimanda districts. The project is supporting the creation of a specialized non-profit organization acting as a platform for incubation and acceleration of Producer Organizations and Small Medium Enterprises in Non-Timber Forest Product value chains. In this context, AVSF Zambia is recruiting as Project Coordinator to support this Non-Timber Forest Product Value Chains Incubator Accelerator Platform.  

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:

Project Coordinator

Country:

Zambia

Job location :

Lusaka with frequent travel to Mpika and Lavushimanda districts

Creation or replacement:

Creation

Start date:

September 2026

Duration of the contract:

12 months renewable

Status: 

National wage earner

Social benefits:

Those of Zambian law

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TASKS:

The Project Coordinator is responsible for the operationalization of a Non-Timber Forest Product Value Chains Incubator Accelerator Platform and financial sustainability beyond the FEXTE project timeframe, and for supporting AVSF Zambia prospection for new funding opportunities for projects. She/he works under the hierarchical responsibility of AVSF’s Project manager/Institutional Representative, in close relationship with the Board of the Platform.

The roles of the Project Coordinator are the following:

A – SUPPORT TO FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

The Project Coordinator will design, finalize, and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy and annual plans (Mobilize public, philanthropic, and private finance to sustain and scale platform activities):

§ Platform funding- Build new partnerships or collaboration agreements with donors and stakeholders (New partnerships between the platform and prospective partner) 

• Community and SME funding- Facilitate placement of investment funds with local intermediaries to strengthen the impact investment ecosystem (Increased access to impact investment fund securing for SMEs and Producer Groups) 

§ Market linkage- Design, finalize and implement off-taker mapping and engagement for local and international market linkages for Platform cohorts (Off-taker agreements in place and implemented between Producer Organizations/SMEs with local and international off-takers)

B – ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT TO PLATFORM

§ Coordinate delivery of incubation and acceleration pipelines for SMEs and Producer Organizations  

§ Organize and facilitate governance arrangements including Platform board meetings 

§ Support back-office systems and processes including but not limited to website management 

§ Prepare, implement and monitor annual workplans and timely reporting of monthly, annual and quarterly (under the Bush2Business Project timeframe) 

C – AVSF ZAMBIA PROJECT PROSPECTION

• Support AVSF Zambia to identify and qualify opportunities, ensuring strategic fit
• Support preparation, due diligence and submission of applications

CANDIDATE PROFILE

§ Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Agriculture/Agronomy, Economics, Development Studies, Agribusiness, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred)

§ Minimum 5 years’ experience in:

–       Improving access to finance for SMEs and Producer Organizations

–       Developing local and international market linkages (Off-taker mapping, agreements, transactions)

–       Building donor partnerships and collaboration agreements

–       Incubation and accelerator programme delivery for SMEs and Producer Organizations

–       Governance support and organisational management roles such as board facilitation and workplan/reporting cycles

•  Knowledge and experience in fair trade certification systems will be an added advantage 

§ Strong proposal writing and report writing skills  

Interested candidates must submit their letter of interest and resume by August 10^th, 2026.

With the reference: Project Coordinator for Non-Timber Forest Product Value Chains Incubator Accelerator to the emails k.roesch@avsf.org and k.mukoma@avsf.org