Job Description

Community Engagement Officer (Zambian Nationals Only)

Apply online at Eden’s Jobsite: Community Engagement Officer

Reports to: Country Director
Department: Programs
Position classification: Full-time. NOTE: initial term of 5 months, with possibility to extend.
Location: Lusaka with regular travel to implementation sites
Employment type: LOCAL NATIONALS ONLY; employment is through Eden Reforestation Projects Zambia (Zambian-registered affiliate of Eden: People+Planet)

Company Information
We believe the social foundation of basic human needs can be met for all people within the Earth’s ecological limits. By collaborating with communities to restore degraded environments and protect essential ecosystems, we foster a resilient foundation that supports both people and planet, recognizing the health of both are inseparable and interdependent. Our work de-risks the future by designing and implementing holistic systems that address the foundational needs of people, restores essential biodiversity, and directly impacts the effects of climate change through collaboration with local stakeholders, regional authorities, and global partners.

Eden: People+Planet works in developing regions of the world to facilitate landscape restoration and community development through nature-based solutions. Eden’s mission is to foster healthy relationships between communities and the land on which we all depend through landscape restoration and conservation. We envision a world where communities thrive in healthy and restored environments.

Position Summary
The Community Engagement Officer supports the implementation of community engagement activities by working directly with local communities to facilitate participation, gather feedback, and ensure inclusive communication. This role is essential for building trust, supporting field operations, and documenting community inputs that inform restoration and carbon project design and delivery aligned with social standards and FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) compliance.

Essential Responsibilities

Facilitate community meetings, workshops, and consultations to support participatory planning and FPIC processes.
Support the development and implementation of community engagement strategies aligned with project objectives
Facilitate the formation and capacity building of Community Forest Management Groups (CFMGs) within Eden operational areas.
Coordinate with local leaders, NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders to foster partnership and support for the project.
Document success stories and lessons learned from community interactions
Ensure compliance with social safeguards and ethical standards in community engagement.
Assist in stakeholder mapping and maintain updated records of community contacts and engagement history.
Collect and document community feedback, concerns, and suggestions using structured tools and informal dialogue.
Support the implementation of Accountability + Feedback mechanisms and ensure timely follow-up and resolution.
Organize and deliver training sessions, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building activities for community members.
Translate and interpret materials and discussions to ensure language accessibility and cultural relevance.
Maintain regular communication with community representatives, local leaders, and field teams.
Contribute to monitoring and reporting on engagement activities, including data collection and narrative summaries.
Support the development of visual and written communication materials tailored to community contexts.
Other duties as assigned.

Education + Work Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Environmental Studies, Sociology, or related field.
Minimum two (2) years of experience in community engagement, community outreach, facilitation, or field coordination, preferably in rural or indigenous contexts.
Experience working with rural, indigenous, or marginalized communities is highly desirable.
Exposure to carbon project standards (e.g. Verra, Gold Standard) and social safeguard frameworks (e.g. IFC Performance Standards, UNDRIP).

Skills + Abilities

Models the Eden Ethos in all professional interactions, demonstrating a commitment to the organization’s values, vision, and conduct standards.
Facilitation + Communication: Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills; skilled in leading group discussion, community meetings, and workshops with clarity and empathy.
Cultural Understanding + Sensitivity: Strong understanding of local cultures, social dynamics, and community development principles; ability to engage respectfully with diverse communities and adapt communication styles to local norms.
Documentation + Reporting: Proficient in recording meeting minutes, feedback forms, and engagement logs with accuracy and detail.
Conflict Sensitivity: Awareness of local dynamics and ability to identify and deescalate tensions during engagement activities.
Organizational Skills: Capable of managing multiple tasks, maintaining schedules, and coordinating logistics for field activities.
Digital Tools: Familiarity with mobile data collection apps (e.g. KoboToolbox), messaging platforms, and basic office software.
Team Collaboration: Willingness to work closely with field teams, technical staff, and community members in a supportive role.
Learning orientation: open to feedback, eager to learn, and committed to professional growth in community-centered work.
Ethical Integrity: Commitment to transparency, accountability, and respectful engagement practices.
Able to work independently and as part of a team.

Work Conditions

Work Environment: The position involves both office and field-based tasks. Fieldwork occurs in rural villages and agricultural areas, with varying weather conditions such as heat and humidity. Responsibilities may include interacting with farmers and field staff, and walking across uneven terrain like hillsides, degraded land, or dense vegetation during landscape assessments and supervision. Office amenities include standard desk space, a computer, and internet access; field facilities may be basic.
Work schedule: The typical workweek is 40 hours a week; flexibility is required due to community work, including occasional early mornings, evenings, or weekends for meetings or fieldwork. Adjustments are planned where possible to flex working schedules. While a standard schedule is aimed for, adaptability to project needs and agricultural cycles is essential.
Physical Requirements: The role requires moderate fitness for frequent fieldwork, including walking long distances on rough terrain, standing for extended periods, demonstrating farming techniques, marking plots, and carrying equipment or materials weighing 10-20 kg. The Community Engagement Officer must tolerate various climates. Office tasks require standard abilities such as computer work and attending meetings. These requirements will be met with or without reasonable accommodation, as Eden is committed to providing necessary support to enable all individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.
Travel: Regular domestic travel to rural project sites, often requiring challenging logistics and occasional overnight field stays.
Safety + Special Conditions: Adherence to all applicable safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment and compliance with regulations governing the operation of farming tools and machinery, is required. All activities must align with established environmental and social safeguards. Candidates must possess valid legal authorization to reside and work in Zambia; Eden is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas.

Eden is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until vacancy is filled.

Disclaimer : This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it. Responsibilities may evolve and change over time based on organizational needs, programmatic priorities, and/or reasonable accommodation.

Safeguarding : Eden holds strict safeguarding principles and does not tolerate behaviors that harm others, including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other injustices. Employees are expected to abide by Eden’s Safeguarding and Ethics policies. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring criteria, subject to a thorough background, police clearance, and reference check process.

How to apply

Apply on Eden’s Jobsite: Community Engagement Officer (Zambian Nationals Only)