Position Summary

The Community Engagement Specialist plays a key role in building strong, trust-based relationships with communities and stakeholders involved in wildlife conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. The incumbent will serve as the primary liaison between the project and local communities, including Community Resource Boards (CRBs), traditional and civic leaders, relevant government departments, and civil society organizations. The role involves facilitating inclusive dialogue, supporting co-management initiatives, promoting community stewardship, and ensuring that conservation efforts align with local needs, values and legal frameworks.

The Community Engagement Specialist reports to the Community Development Manager and performs other duties as assigned by supervisor and Park Manager.

Key Responsibilities

The Community Engagement Specialist will focus on:

Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between the project and local stakeholders including Community Resource Boards (CRBs), traditional leaders, civic leaders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and relevant government departments.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with community institutions and governance structures.
• Organize and facilitate regular stakeholder meetings, consultations, and collaborative planning sessions.
• Support operations of Community Resource Boards and VAGs in line with project agreement.

Community Mobilization and Awareness

• Lead community sensitization and awareness raising campaigns on key issues including the importance of wildlife and natural resource conservation, Human Wildlife Conflict, Grievance mechanism and other components of the project.
• Information dissemination on project’s mandate, vision, goals, interventions and programs.

Capacity Building and Support

• Identify training needs and support capacity-building activities for CRBs and other local partners in areas such as governance, financial management, natural resource monitoring, benefit-sharing and conflict resolution.
• Promote community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) principles.

Conflict Resolution & Inclusion

• Facilitate the resolution of conflicts related to wildlife and resource use in collaboration with community leaders and other stakeholders.
• Promote gender equity, youth inclusion, and representation of marginalized groups in conservation efforts.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor community perceptions, participation levels and socio-economic impacts of the project.
• Maintain detailed records of engagement activities, agreements and outcomes.
• Produce regular monthly/quarterly activity and progress reports
• Capture and document success stories, lessons learnt and best practices.

Deliverables

• Community engagement work plan
• Records of stakeholder meetings and community consultations.
• Monthly/quarterly activity and progress & impact reports.
• Capacity-building session reports and participant feedback.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Community Development, Social work, Natural Resource Management or related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience working in community engagement, preferably in conservation or natural resource management settings.
• Proven experience working with traditional leaders, community-based organizations, and government structures.
• Strong understanding of community governance systems and participatory approaches to resource management.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work in remote and rural areas
• Fluency in English and Bemba is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel frequently within the project area.

Core Competencies

• Cultural sensitivity and respect for traditional authority systems.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Commitment to sustainability and inclusive development.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the project and local stakeholders including Community Resource Boards (CRBs), traditional leaders, civic leaders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and relevant government departments.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with community institutions and governance structures.
• Organize and facilitate regular stakeholder meetings, consultations, and collaborative planning sessions.
• Support operations of Community Resource Boards and VAGs in line with project agreement.
• Lead community sensitization and awareness raising campaigns on key issues including the importance of wildlife and natural resource conservation, Human Wildlife Conflict, Grievance mechanism and other components of the project.
• Information dissemination on project’s mandate, vision, goals, interventions and programs.
• Identify training needs and support capacity-building activities for CRBs and other local partners in areas such as governance, financial management, natural resource monitoring, benefit-sharing and conflict resolution.
• Promote community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) principles.
• Facilitate the resolution of conflicts related to wildlife and resource use in collaboration with community leaders and other stakeholders.
• Promote gender equity, youth inclusion, and representation of marginalized groups in conservation efforts.
• Monitor community perceptions, participation levels and socio-economic impacts of the project.
• Maintain detailed records of engagement activities, agreements and outcomes.
• Produce regular monthly/quarterly activity and progress reports
• Capture and document success stories, lessons learnt and best practices.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for traditional authority systems.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Commitment to sustainability and inclusive development.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Community Development, Social work, Natural Resource Management or related field.
• Proven experience working with traditional leaders, community-based organizations, and government structures.
• Strong understanding of community governance systems and participatory approaches to resource management.
• Ability to work in remote and rural areas
• Fluency in English and Bemba is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel frequently within the project area.