18-month contract

Reporting to: Community Development Co-ordinator – South

Location: Limpopo National Park – Massingir

BACKGROUND

Peace Parks Foundation and BioCarbon Partners (BCP) signed an MoU for the implementation of the REDD+ Project in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). During the first phase of the project, the focus area for Peace Parks Foundation will be the three parks located in the area’s Mozambican component, namely: Limpopo National Park, Banhine National Park and Zinave National Park. The aim of the project is to promote biodiversity conservation through reducing carbon emissions, and promoting the establishment of community forests and grazing areas. By doing this, selected communities will be entitled to carbon benefit-sharing to improve their quality of life. Peace Parks Foundation is looking for a qualified Community Engagement Officer, to be based in Massingir District at Limpopo National Park, to implement the project in co-ordination with BCP staff in the park’s buffer zone and ecological linkages areas.

JOB PROFILE

If you have experience in conservation and passion for environmental sustainability, mostly supporting community governance structures, and you are highly organized, motivated, capable of working under pressure, good in facilitation skills, good communication skills with various stakeholders, and committed to make a positive impact on the environment, we are inviting you to apply for this position.

JOB PURPOSE

The Community Engagement Officer will be the ground liaison, support and monitoring person between the teams in implementation of the community engagement aspect of the REDD+ Project in the GLTFCA Mozambican component, with a focus on the communities living in the Limpopo buffer zone and within the ecological linkage between Limpopo and Banhine parks.

The implementation of community engagement will be led and undertaken by BCP but will require close monitoring, support and co-ordination from Peace Parks and Limpopo to ensure that this is aligned with the conservation areas, interests and management. The role will ensure effective co-ordination, monitoring, reporting and communication between Limpopo, Peace Parks and BCP.

The role will also focus on ensuring appropriate engagement of the community governance structures in the project (free, prior and informed consent process, capacity building, planning and monitoring), integrating community livelihoods with conservation efforts, ensuring that the shared benefits are channelled to the right communities and that they use it in participatory manner, and ensuring sustainable development aligned with the Peace Parks Foundation’s objectives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Community development and engagement:

• Ensure effective co-ordination, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of the REDD+ community engagement activities.
• Ensure effective communication between Peace Parks through the Community Development Co-ordinator – South, Limpopo, BCP and communities.
• Support BCP to strengthen responsible community governance structures and build capacity for sustainable livelihoods, conservation agriculture and wildlife economy.
• Establish and maintain a functional database for the NRMCs.
• Support BCP to collaborate with community leaders to develop and implement community action plans that support conservation objectives and improve socio-economic outcomes.
• Monitor the integration of REDD+ projects within community areas, ensuring compliance with environmental and social safeguards and participative benefit-sharing mechanisms.
• Ensure that all communities living in the Limpopo buffer zone and the ecological corridor are included in the process (free, prior and informed consent process, project design and implementation, and capacity building of the natural resource management committees).
• Collaborate with the BCP team in the process of identification and implementation of livelihood projects before the benefit-sharing occurs.
• Support the identification of the communal area for the community forest or grazing areas for carbon credits and ensure that this is well aligned with conservation objectives.
• Co-ordinate with the district authorities and other relevant stakeholders before and during the implementation phase of the project.
• Ensure that project activities assigned are delivered in accordance with the project timelines.
• Be responsible for providing monthly reports to the Community Development Co-ordinator – South and Limpopo National Park community department management regarding implementation of the project, risks and concerns, lessons learnt and areas for improvement.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Medium-level education in agriculture, natural resources management, rural development or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in community-based natural resources management, conservation or rural development.
• Proven experience in working with NGOs (local or international).
• 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 Changana, with English language skills as an advantage.
• Technologically astute, with experience in computer software use, data collection and analysis, and report writing.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a Curriculum Vitae (not more than two pages), with full address, telephone number, email address and contact details of at least three contactable references. This should be submitted by 12 July 2025.

A competitive salary package will be negotiated, based on qualifications and experience.

Applications should be submitted to Human Resources.

Email: mozapplications@peaceparks.org

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.