Field Officer – Kwando Wildlife Corridors World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Position: Field Officer- Kwando Wildlife Corridors

Reports to: Sesheke Landscape Manager

Location: Imusho Outpost  Sioma Ngwezi National Park– Sesheke Zambia

1. Major Functions

The WWF Zambia Country Office wishes to recruit a Project Field Officer for its Strengthening Wildlife Landscape Connectivity in the Kavango Zambezi Trans frontier Conservation Area Project. The Field Officer will be based in the Imusho within the Kwando Wildlife Dispersal Area and he/ she will be responsible for facilitating the implementing wildlife corridors conservation, community livelihoods and human wildlife conflict mitigation innervations in the Zambian component of the Kwando river basin covering parts of Sioma and Sesheke districts.

2. Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. In consultation with the Sioma Ngwezi landscape manager, liaise and interact with project stakeholders including traditional leadership and communities structures in Mbala, Imusho and Sinjembela Village action groups.
2. Undertake delegated responsibility in implementing specific project activities related to facilitation of wildlife corridors stewardship work in the project. He/she will have regular links with members of the Traditional Authority (BRE indunas), District level heads in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), the Forestry Department ,  Department of Agriculture, Department of Livestock for implementation of community livelihoods activities.

3. Project Planning Implementation and administrative tasks at field level

1. Facilitate the formation of Corridor management committees and organise peri-corridor community members in liaisonw with the village action groups
2. Plan and facilitate CBNRM community meetings, training workshops and visits;
3. Plan and facilitate community group capacity building activities such as training workshops, exchange visits etc.;
4. Collect or facilitate collection of thematic data on wildlife management in the Imisho basin which may range  wildlife monitoring, camera trap surveys, fire monitoring, human-wildlife conflict incidences, wildlife snaring sightings and illegal activities in collaboration with DNPW;
5. Organise and arrange procurement of key equipment and resources required for peri corridor livelihoods and corridor management activities;
6. Accurately capture relevant data for project management, monitoring and reporting;
7. Maintain updated inventories of all equipment provided by the project at field level;
8. Assist the Business Development Officer in developing market linkages for ecologically produced forest and agricultural products;
9. Submit special activity, monthly, quarterly reports to the Landscape coordinator;
10. Attending all scheduled teams and management meetings;
11. Support the wildlife programme team in development of material of active participation in workshops or meetings, as requested.
12. Carry out any other appropriate responsibility as need may arises during the implementation of the project by other senior project staff and partners consortium through the immediate supervisor.

4. Profile

Required Qualifications and Experience       

• Diploma/ BSc in Agriculture, Wildlife Management/ Forestry/ Natural Resources Management or Social Work
• At least Class B Motor vehicle drivers license with at least two years driving experience
• Previous internship experience
• Prepared to work and live in a rural wildlife landscape

Required Skills and Competencies

• Skills in ecological agriculture, irrigation and community facilitation
• Good inter-personal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels, including with local field project staff, local communities, traditional authorities and government agencies
• Accountability and a commitment to WWF’s mission as well as its key four behaviours (strive for impact, listen deeply, collaborate openly, innovate fearlessly);
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English and Silozi
• Basic skills in organising data
• Must be a self-starter, and able to work with minimum day to day supervision;
• Ability to work in a culturally and professionally diverse team;       

Working Relationships

Internal: Interacts regularly with other WWF ZCO staff.

External: Interacts with traditional authorities, community members, civil society organization, government departments and conservation partners.