BACKGROUND

The Sesheke and Sekute Chiefdoms have agreed to jointly establish the Simalaha Community Conservancy (SCC) to promote conservation and development through a wildlife economy. The Conservancy is pioneering a model of development led by the communities, based on the sound management and conservation of their natural resources.

The Conservancy was registered as a Trust under the Land Act in 2019. As a body corporate, it is governed by a Board of Trustees, which provides strategic guidance, and relies on its Conservancy Management Unit (CMU) to manage the Conservancy and implement its long-term vision.

JOB PURPOSE

The Agriculture Field Assistant will support field-based Agri Hub implementation, including Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) activities and cooperative enterprise development. Working closely with the Agri Hubs Agriculture Field Coordinator, the role will support the establishment of community-based agribusiness enterprises and associated value chains. This involves working directly with farmer groups and local stakeholders to support the formation and strengthening of farmer group enterprises in response to community needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Field support (Multi–Value chain focus)

• Provide technical support to groups of farmers including field demonstrations, trainings, and advisory support across agricultural value chains, including crops, small livestock, dairy, and value addition.
• Support the implementation of CSA practices across relevant production systems, working with community structures, relevant private sector players and government agents
• Promote and support community-identified Agri enterprises that are technically sound, market-oriented, and environmentally sustainable.
• Develop field work plans and support CSA community technicians and enterprise groups to implement activities effectively.
• Support cooperative and enterprise development across value chains, including input access, production, aggregation, processing, and marketing.
• Facilitate training in cooperative governance, organisation, and basic enterprise management.
• Support cooperatives and farmer groups to identify, establish, and manage viable enterprises through capacity building and mentorship.
• Identify agricultural community needs in collaboration with Village Action Groups and other community governance structures

Coordination

• Work collaboratively with other SCC programmes and Herding for Health (H4H) in particular, to ensure integration and synergy across community development initiatives.
• Collaborate with government departments, private sector actors, and development partners to establish and strengthen cooperative-managed Agri Hubs and value chain enterprises.
• Support engagement and negotiation processes for off-taker agreements and market linkages for Agri Hub products.
• Coordinate with the relevant government Ministries and departments to support the sustainable implementation of integrated programmes.
• Facilitate two-way information sharing between communities and the Conservancy Management Unit.
• Support community mobilisation, field demonstrations, learning events, and exchange visits related to Agri Hub activities and value chains.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MEL)

• Support the development and implementation of field work plans for effective performance monitoring.
• Contribute to community-led monitoring systems across production and enterprise activities.
• Participate in and cascade M&E training provided by the MEL team and partners
• Collect and submit required socio-economic, agricultural, enterprise, and human–wildlife conflict data in line with MEL tools and schedules.
• Support community capacity building in participatory monitoring and data collection.
• Maintain accurate records of farmers, enterprises supported, trainings conducted, and progress achieved.
• Prepare and submit monthly and ad hoc reports to the Agriculture Field Coordinator and Conservancy Manager.

Project fund management

• Support budgeting, planning, and management of project financial resources in collaboration with the Conservancy Management Unit.
• Provide monthly financial reports to the Agri Hub Agriculture Field Coordinator and Finance team.

Requirements

Education and experience requirements

• Diploma in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Animal Science, Natural Resources Management, or a closely related field.
• At least 2–3 years’ practical experience in agricultural extension, farmer facilitation, or value chain support.
• Demonstrated experience working with cooperative smallholder farmer groups, including group enterprise formation, governance, or operations. preferably in communal or rural settings.
• Exposure to more than one agricultural value chain (e.g., crops, small livestock, dairy, agro-processing, or marketing) is essential.
• Working knowledge of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) principles across production systems.
• Basic understanding of agricultural value chains, including production, aggregation, processing, and marketing.
• Basic record-keeping and reporting skills.
• Experience using participatory approaches in training, demonstrations, or community engagement.

Practical & Logistical Requirements

• Willingness to work extensively in the field under rural conditions.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with a valid licence.
• Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel, email).
• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• Working knowledge of local languages in the Simalaha landscape is essential.

• Provide technical support to groups of farmers including field demonstrations, trainings, and advisory support across agricultural value chains, including crops, small livestock, dairy, and value addition.
• Support the implementation of CSA practices across relevant production systems, working with community structures, relevant private sector players and government agents
• Promote and support community-identified Agri enterprises that are technically sound, market-oriented, and environmentally sustainable.
• Develop field work plans and support CSA community technicians and enterprise groups to implement activities effectively.
• Support cooperative and enterprise development across value chains, including input access, production, aggregation, processing, and marketing.
• Facilitate training in cooperative governance, organisation, and basic enterprise management.
• Support cooperatives and farmer groups to identify, establish, and manage viable enterprises through capacity building and mentorship.
• Identify agricultural community needs in collaboration with Village Action Groups and other community governance structures
• Work collaboratively with other SCC programmes and Herding for Health (H4H) in particular, to ensure integration and synergy across community development initiatives.
• Collaborate with government departments, private sector actors, and development partners to establish and strengthen cooperative-managed Agri Hubs and value chain enterprises.
• Support engagement and negotiation processes for off-taker agreements and market linkages for Agri Hub products.
• Coordinate with the relevant government Ministries and departments to support the sustainable implementation of integrated programmes.
• Facilitate two-way information sharing between communities and the Conservancy Management Unit.
• Support community mobilisation, field demonstrations, learning events, and exchange visits related to Agri Hub activities and value chains.
• Support the development and implementation of field work plans for effective performance monitoring.
• Contribute to community-led monitoring systems across production and enterprise activities.
• Participate in and cascade M&E training provided by the MEL team and partners
• Collect and submit required socio-economic, agricultural, enterprise, and human–wildlife conflict data in line with MEL tools and schedules.
• Support community capacity building in participatory monitoring and data collection.
• Maintain accurate records of farmers, enterprises supported, trainings conducted, and progress achieved.
• Prepare and submit monthly and ad hoc reports to the Agriculture Field Coordinator and Conservancy Manager.
• Support budgeting, planning, and management of project financial resources in collaboration with the Conservancy Management Unit.
• Provide monthly financial reports to the Agri Hub Agriculture Field Coordinator and Finance team.

• Working knowledge of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) principles across production systems.
• Basic understanding of agricultural value chains, including production, aggregation, processing, and marketing.
• Basic record-keeping and reporting skills.
• Experience using participatory approaches in training, demonstrations, or community engagement.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with a valid licence.
• Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel, email).
• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• Working knowledge of local languages in the Simalaha landscape is essential.

• Diploma in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Animal Science, Natural Resources Management, or a closely related field.
• At least 2–3 years’ practical experience in agricultural extension, farmer facilitation, or value chain support.
• Demonstrated experience working with cooperative smallholder farmer groups, including group enterprise formation, governance, or operations. preferably in communal or rural settings.
• Exposure to more than one agricultural value chain (e.g., crops, small livestock, dairy, agro-processing, or marketing) is essential.