Vaga Para: Community Development Coordinator: South

• Position title: Community Development Coordinator (South)
• Duration: Permanent
• Reporting to: Community Development Programme Manager
• Location: Mozambique (Greater Limpopo Trans Frontier Conservation Area) with regular travel across conservation areas and communities.

Peace Parks Foundation

Founded in 1997 by President Nelson Mandela, Dr. Anton Rupert, and HRH Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, Peace Parks Foundation is a leading African non-profit conservation organisation that specialises in conservation at scale through the development of Transfrontier Conservation Areas and the long-term management of key protected areas within these landscapes. Peace Parks is currently involved in the co-management of ten key protected areas spanning over 60 000 km2 and is in the process of expanding to 11 protected areas spanning 100 000 km2 by 2030. Should these protected areas be successfully developed and professionally managed, it will unlock the ecosystem functionality of five priority transboundary landscapes spanning 68 million hectares, where people and nature not only co-exist but thrive.

The Foundation’s inclusive co-management approach, rooted in conservation at a landscape level, community development, and innovative conservation finance, emphasises the need for an ecosystem-based approach to conservation and development, transcending political and human boundaries. Peace Parks’ vision is to achieve 17 fully functional transboundary landscapes by 2050 spanning 980,000 km² throughout southern Africa, making it arguably one of the world’s largest conservation initiatives supporting sustainable economic development, the conservation of biodiversity, and regional peace and stability.

Job Purpose

The Community Development Coordinator (South) will lead the design and implementation of community development strategies within the southern regions of the Greater Limpopo Trans Frontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). The role focuses on integrating community livelihoods with conservation efforts and ensuring sustainable development aligned with the Peace Parks Foundation’s objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Community Development and Engagement:

• Implement a community engagement strategy based on landscape conservation approaches, ensuring alignment with organizational and conservation area plans.
• Strengthen responsible community governance structures and build capacity for sustainable livelihoods, conservation agriculture, and wildlife economy.
• Collaborate with community leaders to develop and implement community action plans that support conservation objectives and improve socio-economic outcomes.
• Develop and support youth-focused activities, including career pathways, learning exchanges, and entrepreneurship opportunities tied to conservation economies.

Partnerships And Stakeholder Coordination

• Liaise with local and regional government authorities, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), and private sector stakeholders to secure buy-in for both community development projects.
• Work with the Community Programme Team to maintain coordination between community development projects and conservation corridor activities.
• Support resource mobilization efforts, including donor engagement, proposal writing, and project reporting.

Monitoring, Evaluation, And Reporting

• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of community development and corridor projects.
• Facilitate community surveys and feedback mechanisms to align local strategies with conservation goals.
• Produce regular reports on project progress, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.

Technical And Operational Support

• Provide training and technical support to field teams on implementing standard methodologies for community development and governance.
• Oversee the implementation and integration of relevant projects, ensuring compliance with Environmental and Social Safeguards and participative benefit-sharing mechanisms.
• Ensure that mapping and data collection tools are consistently used and updated to reflect ongoing project needs.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental management, rural development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in community-based natural resource management, conservation, or rural development.
• Strong expertise in conservation corridor development, including GIS mapping and land-use planning.
• Proven experience in community governance, capacity building, and socio-economic development in rural areas.
• Knowledge of REDD+ implementation and frameworks, with a focus on community benefits.
• Fluent in Portuguese and English, with Shangana language skills as an advantage.

Required Skills And Attributes

• Strong leadership and project management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Technologically astute, with experience in data analysis, GIS tools, and report writing.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a challenging environment.
• A deep understanding of the balance between conservation goals and community needs.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a Curriculum Vitae, with full address, telephone number, and email address. This should be submitted by 29 October 2015

We appreciate the time and effort taken by all applicants in expressing their interest in this role. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are only able to contact candidates who are selected for further consideration. If you do not hear from us within 3 weeks, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. We encourage you to apply for future opportunities that match your skills and experience.

Marcado como: Peace Parks Foundation (PPF)