Technical Field Officer – Natural Resources Management (10)
Environmental, Forestry Jobs
- ORAP - Organisation of Rural …
- Expires 25 Sep 2021
- Bulawayo
- Full Time
Job Description
Organisational Background
The Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP) presents an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and competent individuals to take up the position of Technical Field Officer under a USAID Amalima Loko funded project which is part of a CNFA-led consortium. ORAP is a leading local NGO involved in development and relief (emergency) work in rural communities in Zimbabwe. It exists to fight all forms of poverty among the rural and urban grassroots communities of disadvantaged women, men and youth through the empowerment of people by facilitating their development in their diverse cultural contexts.
Project Summary
This is an ongoing five (5) year project ending in year 2025. The project seeks to improve food security through increased food access and sustainable watershed management. Its purposes are P1: Enhanced and inclusive local ownership over food security and resilience planning and development, P2: Watershed management improved, P3: Adaptive and absorptive capacity improved.
JOB TITLE: Technical Field Officer – Natural Resources Management (10)
LOCATION: Binga, Nkayi, Hwange, Lupane
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term
Position summary
As the Technical Field Officer for ORAP, you will spearhead the Natural Resources Component of the Amalima Loko program within the ward cluster or micro-watershed in a particular district (Hwange, Binga, Lupane or Nkayi). This position provides the direct link between the program and the beneficiaries or participants and the incumbent will represent the consortium at the lowest level of interaction. The Field Officer will lead all the ward based natural resources activities and ensure that these are aligned with the on-going shared visioning process for collective action in which community actors can contribute their perspectives, articulate aspirations, define individual and communal strengths and hoped-for contributions, voice concerns, and highlight successes. S/he will also promote the implementation of proven natural resources-based interventions in a manner that results in changes in people’s livelihoods leading to increased resilience among the targeted community. The incumbent is expected to oversee the sustainable natural resource management (NRM) and climate change mitigation and/or adaptation assisting government extension officers and communities in the implementation of their plans to achieve food security goals. Amalima Loko’s priority areas of work, including climate change (mitigation and adaptation), land degradation, soil and water conservation and sustainable forest management.
Duties and Responsibilities
Major Duties/Responsibilities include:-
Project planning and implementation
Serving as a focal point and the primary point of contact to projects/programmes/initiatives within the assigned portfolio.
Mobilizing project participants and stakeholders for assigned portfolio activities
Working closely with the District Representative and the Technical Coordinators to develop movement schedules, training, and distribution work plans, budgetary and BOQ requirements for implementation and procurement.
Ensuring that all program activities in the field are implemented, monitored and reported on as planned to the District Representative and Technical Coordinators, effectively and timely according to donor and organizational requirements.
Coordinating with other development players of other ongoing projects to ensure operational efficiency and mitigation of resource duplication.
Working closely with the District Representative and Technical Coordinators to identify programmatic challenges, opportunities and progress, and report back to the District Representative and Technical Coordinator on a weekly basis.
Taking lead in beneficiary selection process through collection of vulnerability data, and feed back to the District Team Lead to support development of beneficiary lists and database.
Capacity building and Training
Identifying and conducting trainings on natural resource management to targeted communities in the wards of operation.
Building or/and training communities in leadership and community-based management of resources/assets.
Using demonstrated and research-based teaching methods to instruct community members on locally relevant NRM topics.
Developing field trials, test demonstration and result demonstrations or other hands-on learning experiences related to agriculture/natural resources production and practices to use for educational purposes using instruction techniques verified through research.
Facilitation, Collaboration and Teamwork
Serving as a group facilitator to convene or intervene with groups that need a neutral facilitator to help the group identify, solve problems and /or make decisions on natural resources management.
Facilitating the formation of Community Action Groups in liaison with Community Visioning Coordinator.
Co-ordinating activities that will strengthen coordination and planning mechanisms of watershed management.
Building collaborations with other agencies and organizations to solve community problems and multiply effectiveness.
Serving as a source of expertise in the community for agriculture and natural resources subject matter areas.
Exhibiting and promoting teamwork within Extension organization at ward, cluster and micro-watershed level acting as mentor and contributing to the professional development of all agents.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting
Working closely with the Technical Coordinators in identification of existing gaps in Amalima Loko project.
Submitting daily, weekly and monthly work plan and report to the concern supervisors on regular basis and maintain an up-to-date data base for the project and activities.
Preparing budget for trainings, awareness sessions and various natural resources related matters within the cluster.
Responsible for the Amalima Loko project implementation, monitoring, evaluation, documentation and dissemination of success stories and best practices.
Supporting projects in preparation of reporting in line with donor requirements.
Following up on performance indicators/success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports.
Qualifications and Experience
Qualifications: –
A Diploma or Degree in Natural Resources Management or a relevant area of study. Development Studies, Social Sciences qualifications, experience in NGO work, and working with rural communities will be an added advantage. The ability to speak Nambya, Tonga and isiNdebele is an added advantage.
Experience: –
Minimum of two years (if with Degree) or 5years (if with Diploma) in the field of conservation and development and/or project management experience in a government office or NGO, on issues relevant to the technical area.
The candidate should have a firm understanding of community development and expertise in self-reliant and participatory development process.
Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment, with project stakeholders including local government officials, other NGO peers, and community members.
Strong interpersonal communication skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to write good reports, clearly, and meet deadlines.
Advanced computer literacy in the MS Office packages, Internet and email.
Fluency in written and spoken English and the local language.
Must be prepared to work in rural areas and in multi-cultured environment.
Ability to travel most of times to field sites.
A clean class 3 drivers’ license and ability to ride is a prerequisite.
An appreciation of Gender mainstreaming and Child Protection issues in Livelihoods Programming is required.
Proven skills in process and group facilitation, training and capacity building. Very innovative with conflict resolutions skills.
