Bee Keeping Extensionist WeForest Zambia Ltd

Job Title: Beekeeping Extensionist

Reports to: Beekeeping Lead

WeForest

WeForest is a fast growing international non-profit association with headquarters in Belgium and legal entities in France, USA, Ethiopia and Zambia. The organization is promoting Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) best practices and our activities are growing as we are looking for an experienced beekeeping profile to further capacitate the Zambia team. This profile will drive the beekeeping activities to the highest standards. The extensionist will report to the Beekeeping lead based in Mpika.

Zambia programme

WeForest has been active around reforestation and non-timber livelihood creation with local communities in Zambia since 2011. Currently, five projects are running, two in the Copperbelt and three in Muchinga province. The current role we are envisaging is a beekeeping extensionist role under the new project:

• HEARTH consortium in the North Luangwa lanscape. This USAID co-funded project is lead by Frankfurt Zoological Society and started in Q1 of 2022 and will run for 5 years. The aim is to enhance the resilience and health of natural resource-dependent ecological and human communities in the Luangwa Valley and escarpment of Zambia through strong public-private-community partnerships and enterprise, in order to maintain and improve the state of natural resources, such as the population size of key species, or the area of land under effective management.

Within this project, WeForest is playing a beekeeping expert role in Mukungule Game Management Area (GMA) under Sub-objective 1d: Develop forest and fisheries-based enterprises.

Beekeeping and honey production has great potential and WeForest will scale up activities in the region, honey production and market linkages.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the implementation of alternative livelihoods
• Assist with the selection of farmers for these livelihood activities
• Support trainings among farmers with Beekeeping lead
• Assist in conducting socio-economic surveys to assess baseline and follow-up
• Collect field data and assist in the mapping processes
• Lead in rolling out beekeeping schemes as selected livelihood
• Responsible for training and coordinating the activities of Bee mentors, ensuring they are active and motivated, well trained and take care of their equipment.
• Responsible for sustainable and timely harvesting of beehives by the mentors conducting regular retraining and spot checks.
• Responsible for hive maintenance through coordinating the beementors and a team of carpenters.
• Responsible for increasing honey production with the farmers through sharing best practices, making sure mentors are following recommendations and regularly rebait.
• Plan and communicate directly with Beekeeping lead regarding project activities and reporting.
• Maintain cleanliness and take good care of the assets provided by WeForest Zambia, as well as basic checks to control equipment with mentors in the field.
• Be a responsible staff member and understand that you are always representing your organization at the same place as where you live.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Education: Min. grade 12. Preferably a certificate of Forestry, agriculture or equivalent
• Language: Fluent in English (both speaking and writing) and Bemba
• Experience: Theoretical and relevant practical experience with beekeeping especially in honey harvesting, rebaiting. Candidate will be required to hang and harvest a beehive as part of recruitment process.
• Driving license: A valid motorcycle license & proven ability to drive in challenging conditions
• Familiarity with working with applications on smartphone such as ODK and Kobo
• Skills: Excellent planning, training and communication skills
• Strong and persistent with fieldwork
• Strong and comfortable working and living in the field with the local community
• Honest and down-to-earth, being aware of different cultures and mindsets.
• Ability to work with little or no supervision
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Ability to work in all weather conditions
• Able to work effectively in stressful conditions/under pressure
• Should be comfortable working with large groups of people
• Should have strong cultural values
• Willing to relocate and live in Mukungule.

TASKS

• Implement best practices in day to day management of the beekeeping activities
• Demonstrate leadership and show own initiative
• Coordinate and assist mentors under your responsibility
• Ensure training and extensionist services towards farmers are up to standards and timely
• Provide technical advises ensuring a good partnership with all stakeholders to guarantee project outputs
• To facilitate effective communication between the local community and WeForest, through the beekeeping lead
• Frequently liaise with local stakeholders working in the GMA for effective work delivery
• Collect quantitative & qualitative field data (socio-economic data, forest inventory/vegetation survey, GPS coordinates, etc.)
• Provide appropriate and frequent reporting in full transparency and integrity, being coachable for improvement
• Handle internal information and data as confidential
• Conduct safe and clean keeping of office, vehicles and other WeForest equipment

Terms & Conditions

Start date: 1st of May (or sooner)

Duration of Contract: One year with possibility of a renewable 2-year contract afterwards upon performance

Salary: Level 2a. Field extensionist

Location: Willing to live and work in Mukungule (but regular travelling to Mpika).

Extras: Bonus of 5% based on performance, please note that there are no field allowances as this position is also expected to carry out fieldwork regularly.

Hours of Work: Full-time, working a minimum of 8 hours per day and up to 44 hours per week. Hours will however vary depending on project needs and flexibility is essential.

Reporting line: Will work under the supervision of and report to the Beekeeping lead with regular contacts with other team members.