Background

African Parks (AP) is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on responsibility for the long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. Founded in 2000, African Parks manages 24 protected areas in 13 countries, covering more than 20 million hectares across Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Through its partnership model, African Parks works to achieve ecological, social, and financial sustainability while ensuring that protected areas deliver lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.

The AP vision is to achieve ecological, financial, and socio-political sustainability of protected areas for the benefit of people and wildlife. A key determinant of socio-political sustainability is the recognition of local people as rights-holders, and a commitment to enabling their active participation in the management of natural resources. Environmental education (EE) in protected areas can help people understand the importance of these areas for maintaining the health of ecosystems and biodiversity. EE can also help people develop positive attitudes towards wildlife and learn how to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Role Profile

The Environmental Education Officer is responsible for supporting the Senior Community Extension Officer (UWZGMA) in planning, coordinating, implementing, and monitoring environmental education, conservation awareness, and youth development programmes within Liuwa Plain National Park and the Upper West Zambezi GMA. The officer will work closely with schools, communities, traditional leaders, government institutions, youth groups, and other stakeholders to strengthen environmental awareness, promote conservation stewardship, and support community participation in conservation initiatives.

As African Parks Zambia (APZ) expands its operations into the Upper West Zambezi GMA, the Environmental Education Officer will play a key role in establishing environmental education programmes and partnerships within the area. This includes conducting stakeholder mapping, building relationships with education and community stakeholders, supporting baseline assessments, promoting awareness of APZ's mandate, and facilitating the integration of conservation education into schools and communities during the operational establishment phase.

The Environmental Education Officer shall:

1. Establishment of Environmental Education Programmes and Stakeholder Partnerships

• Support the establishment of environmental education and conservation awareness programmes within the Upper West Zambezi GMA.
• Identify, map, and engage key stakeholders, including schools, teachers, DEBS offices, traditional leaders, community groups, youth organisations, NGOs, government departments, and other education partners.
• Support baseline assessments to understand environmental education needs, opportunities, existing initiatives, and stakeholder capacities within the landscape.
• Facilitate introductory meetings and engagement activities to establish strong working relationships between APZ and education sector stakeholders.
• Promote awareness and understanding of APZ's conservation mandate, objectives, and community partnership approach among schools and communities.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of conservation clubs, youth networks, and other environmental education platforms.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder engagement records and education programme databases.
• Provide regular reporting on stakeholder engagement, programme establishment, emerging opportunities, challenges, and community perceptions.

2. Environmental Education and Awareness

• Coordinate the implementation of the Learning and Environmental Education Programme (LEEP) and other environmental education initiatives in schools and communities.
• Develop, update, and disseminate environmental education resources, awareness materials, and promotional content for learners, teachers, conservation clubs, and community groups.
• Promote environmental stewardship through conservation awareness campaigns and the application of local and scientific knowledge.

3. School and Youth Development Programmes

• Coordinate and implement extra-curricular education programmes, including LEEP lessons, conservation clubs, drama festivals, park study tours, inter-school competitions, and the Vocational and Skills Training Support Programme.
• Identify, mobilise, mentor, and monitor beneficiaries of education support and vocational skills programmes while promoting conservation-compatible skills, youth employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
• Support career guidance, life skills development, and linkages with vocational training institutions and other education partners.

4. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Serve as the primary focal person for environmental education by maintaining effective working relationships with the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), schools, teachers, vocational training institutions, government departments, NGOs, community groups, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate teacher capacity building and support schools in developing and implementing school-based environmental education plans.
• Represent African Parks at education-related meetings, forums, and stakeholder engagements.

5. Programme Planning, Monitoring and Reporting

• Plan, coordinate, supervise, monitor, and evaluate environmental education and youth development programmes to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement.
• Collect, analyse, maintain, and report programme data, beneficiary databases, and performance indicators.
• Prepare accurate weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and other reports as required by the Senior Community Extension Officer.

6. Financial and Asset Management

• Manage approved programme budgets responsibly and ensure timely retirement of funds.
• Ensure the proper use, maintenance, and accountability of project assets, vehicles, equipment, and educational materials, and promptly report any damage or maintenance requirements.

7. General Responsibilities

• Provide regular updates to the Senior Community Extension Officer on programme implementation and emerging issues.
• Support other Community Development programmes and perform any other lawful duties assigned by the Senior Community Extension Officer or Community Development Manager.

Role requirements

• Minimum of a diploma in Environmental/Education/Conservation/Natural Resource or a related field
• Must have minimum of 5 years of relevant experience demonstrating knowledge of, and a track record of managing issues relating to environmental education, community engagement or social related activities
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English. Lozi language is a plus.
• Computer skills: Proficiency in computer applications
• Demonstrated discretion and ability to work with sensitive information
• Ability to support training programmes
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to work across cultures and to foster collaboration
• Affinity with conservation and social development in Africa.
• Experience of working in remote areas
• Ability to work under pressure
• Work under minimum supervision.

Behaviour Competencies

• Integrity. Maintain high ethical standards, both personally and professionally; shows integrity, respect and fairness when dealing with the community and fellow employees.
• Teamwork. Cooperates and works well with others in pursuit of team’s goals; shares information; supports others. Contributes effectively towards a collective (organizational) goal or towards solving problems/conflicts even when the topic involved does not directly serve one’s own interests.
• Conflict resolution. Ability to work with conflict and emotionally distressing matters.
• Flexibility. Adaptable; receptive to new ideas; willing and able to adjust to changing demands and circumstances. Willingness to work on weekends and during holidays if needed.
• Planning and organising. Setting goals and budgeting in a transparent and effective manner; indicating necessary action, time and resources and monitoring progress.
• Initiative. Recognising opportunities and acting on them. Pro-active, self-starting rather than passively accepting; actively influencing events.
• Creativity. Conceiving original solutions to job-related problems.

African Parks Zambia is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants for this position must have a clean record and traceable references. Candidates must include a daytime contact number.

• Support the establishment of environmental education and conservation awareness programmes within the Upper West Zambezi GMA.
• Identify, map, and engage key stakeholders, including schools, teachers, DEBS offices, traditional leaders, community groups, youth organisations, NGOs, government departments, and other education partners.
• Support baseline assessments to understand environmental education needs, opportunities, existing initiatives, and stakeholder capacities within the landscape.
• Facilitate introductory meetings and engagement activities to establish strong working relationships between APZ and education sector stakeholders.
• Promote awareness and understanding of APZ's conservation mandate, objectives, and community partnership approach among schools and communities.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of conservation clubs, youth networks, and other environmental education platforms.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder engagement records and education programme databases.
• Provide regular reporting on stakeholder engagement, programme establishment, emerging opportunities, challenges, and community perceptions.
• Coordinate the implementation of the Learning and Environmental Education Programme (LEEP) and other environmental education initiatives in schools and communities.
• Develop, update, and disseminate environmental education resources, awareness materials, and promotional content for learners, teachers, conservation clubs, and community groups.
• Promote environmental stewardship through conservation awareness campaigns and the application of local and scientific knowledge.
• Coordinate and implement extra-curricular education programmes, including LEEP lessons, conservation clubs, drama festivals, park study tours, inter-school competitions, and the Vocational and Skills Training Support Programme.
• Identify, mobilise, mentor, and monitor beneficiaries of education support and vocational skills programmes while promoting conservation-compatible skills, youth employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
• Support career guidance, life skills development, and linkages with vocational training institutions and other education partners.
• Serve as the primary focal person for environmental education by maintaining effective working relationships with the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), schools, teachers, vocational training institutions, government departments, NGOs, community groups, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate teacher capacity building and support schools in developing and implementing school-based environmental education plans.
• Represent African Parks at education-related meetings, forums, and stakeholder engagements.
• Plan, coordinate, supervise, monitor, and evaluate environmental education and youth development programmes to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement.
• Collect, analyse, maintain, and report programme data, beneficiary databases, and performance indicators.
• Prepare accurate weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and other reports as required by the Senior Community Extension Officer.
• Manage approved programme budgets responsibly and ensure timely retirement of funds.
• Ensure the proper use, maintenance, and accountability of project assets, vehicles, equipment, and educational materials, and promptly report any damage or maintenance requirements.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Community Extension Officer on programme implementation and emerging issues.
• Support other Community Development programmes and perform any other lawful duties assigned by the Senior Community Extension Officer or Community Development Manager.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English. Lozi language is a plus.
• Computer skills: Proficiency in computer applications
• Demonstrated discretion and ability to work with sensitive information
• Ability to support training programmes
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to work across cultures and to foster collaboration
• Affinity with conservation and social development in Africa.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Work under minimum supervision.
• Integrity. Maintain high ethical standards, both personally and professionally; shows integrity, respect and fairness when dealing with the community and fellow employees.
• Teamwork. Cooperates and works well with others in pursuit of team’s goals; shares information; supports others. Contributes effectively towards a collective (organizational) goal or towards solving problems/conflicts even when the topic involved does not directly serve one’s own interests.
• Conflict resolution. Ability to work with conflict and emotionally distressing matters.
• Flexibility. Adaptable; receptive to new ideas; willing and able to adjust to changing demands and circumstances. Willingness to work on weekends and during holidays if needed.
• Planning and organising. Setting goals and budgeting in a transparent and effective manner; indicating necessary action, time and resources and monitoring progress.
• Initiative. Recognising opportunities and acting on them. Pro-active, self-starting rather than passively accepting; actively influencing events.
• Creativity. Conceiving original solutions to job-related problems.

• Minimum of a diploma in Environmental/Education/Conservation/Natural Resource or a related field
• Must have minimum of 5 years of relevant experience demonstrating knowledge of, and a track record of managing issues relating to environmental education, community engagement or social related activities
• Experience of working in remote areas