CESVI has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1998 in three key areas: environment, agriculture and the health sector. CESVI activities in the agricultural sector mainly revolves around supporting rural communities to transform traditional practices from subsistence farming to commercial farming and building resilience.
In Zimbabwe, CESVI is working in forestry protection, addressing human wildlife conflict, in parks and protected areas, as well as in the surrounding buffer zones. Moreover, CESVI has been working in action for reafforestation, prevention of land degradation and restoring degraded land, affected by various, mainly anthropogenic, factors. In this scenario, community engagement becomes crucial for the success of the projects. Besides, CESVI has been working in promotion of livelihood, NTFPs sustainable value chain promotion, differentiation of income sources for rural population.
Job Title: Project officer X 2
Workstation: Chiredzi and Bikita
Start date: 01 August 2024
Duration: One year subject to extension based on availability of funding and performance
Project background
CESVI is a local implementing partner the BMU-IKI funded project: Community-Based Adaptation: Scaling up Community Action for Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Southern Africa and Beyond (CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+) in Bikita and Chiredzi districts of Zimbabwe. The project is led by Care International in Zimbabwe covering three countries Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe between 2023 and 2028. The overall objective of the intervention is building climate resilience, including: the integration of adaptation (incl. disaster risk reduction) in policies, planning and budgets at different levels; promote actions to build climate resilience and address climate risks in key sectors such as water, agriculture and fisheries; strengthening climate information, early warning and disaster management systems; and ecosystem and biodiversity protection; among others. The expected outcome of the project is increased resilience to climate change, for all genders and social groups, in over 100 communities of different sizes in Southern Africa. Inclusive, gender-responsive and nature- based.
POSITION SUMMARY
The position will report directly to the Project Manager of the IKI CBA Scale + under CESVI and will work in collaboration with consortium partners and relevant government departments. The project officer(s) will be based in each of the project districts (Bikita and Chiredzi) to support the CBA Scale+ project activity implementation. S/he will liaise with project stakeholders including NGOs, local government, relevant government departments at ward, district and provincial level and provide technical guidance and capacity development support as required.
Key Responsibilities
The project officer will be responsible for implementing climate adaptation actions which are environmentally and economically sustainable such as agriculture/natural resource-based value chains,
natural resources/biodiversity conservation (including afforestation, reforestation and regeneration (ARR), nature-based solutions, improving food security and incomes from cropping and livestock systems and inclusive market systems development.
Main tasks and responsibilities
The project officers) working together with other consortium partners will take a leading role in the planning, implementation and reporting on participatory development and implementation of Community Based Climate adaptation actions. Key actions will include development of small-scale non-timber forest products (NTFP) enterprises, climate smart agriculture and regenerative systems, human wildlife conflicts, nature-based solutions, and strengthening agriculture production systems for community resilience. S/he will ensure that the project is gender responsive, and socially inclusive.
The main tasks and responsibilities will include:
• Facilitate the Participatory Climate Vulnerability Assessments (PCVAs) processes and development of Community based adaptation action plans (CAAPs).
• Facilitate the implementation of the developed community-based adaptation plans.
• Designing and implementing procedures for natural resources management, biodiversity conservation and livelihood analysis for application in project areas.
• Facilitate coordination of stakeholders including NGOs, government agencies and CBOs to integrate consideration of climate change and disaster risks (adaptation actions) into community development processes, projects, plans and budgets as well as government processes, plans and budgets.
• Develop peer-to-peer learning initiatives and the development of communities of practice across the project implementation areas such as farmer field schools, community-based enterprises, gender and social inclusion and other related thematic areas
• Provision of support to the MERL specialist on data, information, quotes, stories etc. that contribute to project monitoring and evaluation processes
• Undertake preparation of work plans and reports on project activities as required and support the
IKI CBA scale team preparing the donor-targeted and development partner information sharing materials
• Develop case studies and other knowledge products (in conjunction with the project's
dissemination of learning and replication as appropriate
• Plan and implement project activities ensuring that gender, climate change and other cross cutting themes are an integral aspect for such.
• Coordinate capacity building and learning initiatives on farmer field schools, nature-based solutions, ecosystem and restoration and natural resources management.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Required Skills and Experience
Education: University degree Agriculture, Natural Resources management, Environment, development or related field
Experience:
• A minimum 3 years of work experience in project implementation and support, including coordination, capacity building and institutional support
cesvi
• Demonstrated experience of supporting implementation of projects in the development sector, including supporting community-based enterprises and nature-based solutions.
• Experience of addressing issues concerning gender, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups and development of communications materials in a gender sensitive and inclusive way
• Experience in resilience programming and environmental safeguards and understanding of cultural and socio-economic context and development challenges
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages relevant for development of communications products (MS Office incl. Word, PowerPoint, relevant design software) as well as experience in handling of web-based management systems
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English (written and oral) is required
: Knowledge of local languages and culture would be an asset
THE POSITION IS OPEN TO ZIMBABWEAN NATIONALS ONLY.
Interested suitably qualified and experienced persons should submit, by the 9th July 2024.
• a CV (maximum 3 pages), inclusive of at least 3 contactable references from organisations worked for
• a cover letter (maximum 1 page) in the same file of the CV|
• Indicate on the subject: Field Officer
• DO NOT send any certificate or IDs as annexes, as this will be asked at a later stage
• Send application to e-mail address: recruiting@cesvizimbabwe.org
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted on the status of their application.
SAFEGUARDING
Cesvi has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a child or a vulnerable adult by any of our staff, related persons or partners.
Cesvi commitment to being a safe organization begins with the staff recruitment process which includes meticulous checks, such as criminal records check or check disclosure of previous convictions, to ensure children and vulnerable people are safeguarded and abuse is prevented. Safeguarding checks are part of the selection process performance.
PLEASE NOTE: due to the high number of applications received, feedback will be only provided to short-listed candidates. Only short-listed candidates will be updated on the status of their applications and will be subjected to first go through safeguarding checks with the ZRP criminal records clearance.