Rangeland Coordinator at Conservation International

• The Rangeland Coordinator for the Namakwa Landscape reports to the Restoration Manager. This person will be responsible for ensuring that H4H Rangeland Management activities are carried out by both Farmers and Jobs for Nature teams in the Namakwa Landscape. CSA’s Jobs for Nature initiative works to restore and secure key high-biodiversity areas, while creating economic relief and long-term job opportunities for local people. This position is based in Springbok or Kamiesberg, Northern Cape, South Africa.
• This person will work closely with communal livestock farmers, climate specialists, and biodiversity specialists to co-design and implement appropriate responses on 700,000 ha of communal grazing lands in the Namakwa District where climate stress, biodiversity loss, and weak livestock markets are a daily reality.
• The key responsibilities of the Rangeland Coordinator include guiding Conservation Agreement signatory farmers on livestock management, working towards rangeland health and productivity, ensuring strategic implementation of erosion control and rangeland improvement, and monitoring and gathering of data, in alignment with the Conservation Agreements and the H4H practices.

Responsibilities
Co-design, negotiation and implementation of Conservation Agreements:

• Co-design, negotiation, and implementation of Conservation Agreements.
• Co-design and negotiate Conservation Agreements with communal farmers’ organisations – in a participatory manner - which will enable the implementation of Grazing guidelines, Biodiversity Management guidelines, and H4H methods. Ensure a thorough understanding of Conservation Agreements with signatories and the respective farmers.
• Drive the successful implementation of Conservation Agreements through bi-monthly meetings with signatory organizations/farmers to identify mechanisms and actions that will enable implementation and compliance.
• Explore market mechanisms to provide an outlet for farmers to sell their products at competitive prices.
• Verify compliance with Conservation Agreement actions by signatories, by conducting spot checks on a quarterly basis.

Technical support to Herding for Health beneficiaries

• Support Conservation Agreement signatory livestock farmers with the implementation of Grazing guidelines, Biodiversity Management guidelines and H4H methods.
• Train Farmers and Herders on good livestock management, livestock health, and productivity.
• Support farmers with the adoption and implementation of livestock health and productivity practices, and climate resilient livestock breeds as well as how to maintain livestock farming infrastructure.
• Support Farmer Organizations in forming formal Governing Structures and provide guidance on the implementation of their Business Plans.

Coordination of activities for Jobs for Nature initiatives that will support stewardship signatory farmers and compliance with conservation action requirements:

• Ensure that the Jobs for Nature team leaders and supervisors, and their teams understand the Conservation Agreements and their role in supporting implementation of the H4H program.
• Identify which actions in the Conservation Agreements the Jobs for Nature teams can assist farmers with, and ensure that team leaders and supervisors include these in their work plans.
• Coordinate with the Restoration Manager to ensure knowledge increase for Jobs for Nature teams on Climate Change Impacts and EbA.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research And Learning

• Coordinate with relevant M&E officers to collect all relevant indicators, and ensure submission of data pertaining to all field activities.
• Facilitate an annual Lessons Learned Workshop with H4H beneficiaries and then submit a report with recommendations to the Restoration Manager.
• Coordinate an annual Socio-Economic Impact survey in all active program villages and submit a report to the Restoration Manager.
• Capture environmental data through three-tier monitoring and vegetation surveys, with guidance from the CSA M&E team.
• Capture relevant spatial data that can be used to inform adaptive management of livestock.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Rural work setting. Be able to work flexible hours when required.
• Ability to travel in the local area, visiting sites daily.
• Ability to travel to other CSA Landscapes and from time to time other Provinces as required and necessary.
• Driver’s License.
• This role will be a three-year fixed-term assignment, anticipated to begin in July 2025 and end in June 2028.

Qualifications
Required

• 2 to 4 years of experience in working on agricultural or conservation projects with communal livestock farmers.
• Experience in a lead support role is desired.
• Some firsthand experience in livestock handling and livestock farming infrastructure maintenance (fences, water infrastructure) in semi-arid areas.
• Solid understanding of adaptation and mitigation, and knowledge of nature-based solutions to climate change.
• A multi-faceted individual, who has a strong ability to inspire action and adoption of sustainable practices at grassroots level and has good technical abilities.
• Experience in presenting to stakeholders and workshop facilitation.
• Ability to work well within a team and independently.
• Good writing skills, including report writing, articles, fact sheets, etc.
• Proficient in the Microsoft Suite of programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficient in data management and fundamental statistical analysis techniques, with basic GIS skills.
• Able to fluently communicate in both Afrikaans and English - writing, speaking, and reading.
• A valid driver’s license and experience of driving on remote, gravel roads.

Preferred

• A Diploma or Degree in Agriculture and/or an environmental-related field and/or a conservation-related field.
• Experience in the implementation of land management and land restoration projects.
• Experience in the implementation and management of livestock (agricultural) value chain interventions.