Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Community Officer - Eco Charcoal Project

Community Officer-Eco Charcoal Project
Contract: Full Time – 1 year renewable
Project: USAID Community Forests Program (CFP)
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Reporting To: Community Engagement Manager
BioCarbon Partners (BCP) is a dynamic African-registered and headquartered REDD+ development and management company. BCP is a social enterprise that engages in community-focused conservation work that aims to involve and empower local people in the areas in which it operates, so that together they can work as allies in their effort to conserve the landscapes for their benefit. BCP is implementing the Communitybased Forests Program (CFP) funded by USAID/Zambia. The CFP award represents a significant addition to the BCP portfolio and budget and enables BCP as a company to expand its business.
BCP seeks a dynamic, talented individual to facilitate and support community engagement activities for the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project, specifically focused on development and management of Eco-Charcoal project which started in the area in 2012. Currently, the project is expanding to new communities and areas. This individual will be expected to guide field activities for this expansion aiming to develop sustainable EcoCharcoal production in several project sites. S/he will take initiative, manage a variety of responsibilities, and work effectively within a team, along with completing regular monitoring and reporting activities. This individual will serve as a representative of BCP in local communities. The individual should be comfortable with public speaking and holding meetings with relevant community, government and partner organizations and individuals.
This is a field-based position, and we are looking for self-motivated, responsible candidates who have previous field experience or who are open to the idea of working in the field, including in remote and/or rural locations. The position will include travel within the project zone for the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project and greater Rufunsa District, and the Community Officer will be expected sometimes to camp in basic conditions and to be independently mobile, including the use of bicycles, motorbikes and vehicles as means of transportation.
Responsibilities:
  • Eco-Charcoal Project Development, Implementation and Oversight: Accept specific responsibilities to support and manage Eco-Charcoal project activities and interventions. Ensure that the project is designed and implemented so as to achieve genuine progress towards BCP’s “big picture” aims for its commercial viability and provision of benefits to community members. Selected activities include:
    • Engage with community members (both existing participants and new members) to ensure their active participation and buy in into the project.
    • Ensure project impacts are measured, demonstrable and documented.
    • Assist in developing project and business plans o Ensure eco-charcoal production takes place according to Sustainable Harvesting Plan.
    • Ensure regular monitoring and checks take place (by producers, BCP, FD) according to the Monitoring Plan.
    • Assist with business operations and logistics support necessary for this commercial venture (transport, fee payments, scheduling).
    • Ensure project impacts are linked to sustainable forest management/protection
    • Develop and ensure adherence to program models, milestones, and timelines
  • Program Development Support fundraising and partner involvement for the Eco-Charcoal project, including coordination of site-visits, and assistance in writing grants/investment/fundraising proposals.
  • Community Relationships: Develop and maintain positive relationships with local traditional leaders and community stakeholders. Serve as a representative of BCP among those stakeholders. Ensure to correctly deliver “the message” about BCP-supported activities, to ensure that there is understanding of and buy-in to the “big picture” aims of BCP and the eco-charcoal project.
  • Stakeholder/Partner Consultation and Sensitization: Coordination of public meetings; conducting visits to local villages; and sensitization activities to community members. Cooperation with Forestry Department representatives in project monitoring and oversight.
  • Training and Capacity Building: Ensure project participants, community organizations and community-based implementers possess the skills and tools necessary to support and engage in ecocharcoal project activities.
  • Coordination of Community-Based Decision Making Processes: Support local communitybased decision-making bodies (such as “Associations”, “Zone Development Committees” or other locally appropriate decision-making structures) to provide workable governance structure for the eco-charcoal project to succeed through local support and legitimacy.
  • Planning: Work with CET members to develop monthly and quarterly project plans that achieve short- and long-term operational aims of BCP.
  • Reporting/Record Keeping: Work with CET members to complete monthly and quarterly technical and monitoring and evaluation reports, based on conducting prior data collection (both in electronic/handheld and paper-based format. Keep relevant records on all activities (e.g. meeting minutes; records of sustainability checklists, production and sales records)
  • Communication: Provide frequent and accurate information updates to staff members and stakeholders, so that they are well informed of eco-charcoal project, BCP’s ongoing work and new developments.
  • Conflict Resolution: Identify and work through locally appropriate mechanisms to address any conflicts that may arise within communities related to the project and BCP activities.
  • Translations: Coordinate the translation of relevant documents, as needed.
Competencies:
  • Strong communication skills—written and spoken—in English and local languages.
  • Ability and interest to travel frequently, including rural travel with basic camping/accommodation.
  • Positive demeanor; including positive relationships with local communities/government.
  • Relevant project experience (private sector development, community livelihoods, market-based conservation, small business development, and/or similar).
  • Basic understanding of commercial development and how to grow rural business.
  • Experience working on teams; excellent team-work dynamic.
  • Self-driven, motivated, responsible, able to take initiative.
  • Strong computer and Android phone skills. Excellent writer.
  • Demonstrated field experience and/or strong interest/commitment to a (rural) field-based position
  •  Understanding and awareness of, and buy-in to, the ‘big picture” aims of BCP.
Qualifications:
  • BA or BS in relevant field OR very strong (minimum 2 years) relevant experience (community engagement, field-based community work) – both are preferred
  • Fluency in English required; Proficiency in additional languages required
  • Ability to live in rural and/or remote field-based areas
  • Specific technical / livelihoods project experience
  • Private sector / Business experience is a definite advantage.
Compensation:
A competitive salary will be offered. Interested candidates, please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter explaining how you match these requirements and your vision to growing rural enterprises by email to: jobs@biocarbonpartners.com.
Please include ECO-CHARCOAL OFFICER in the title of your email/submission.
Application deadline: April 2nd, 2015 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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