Irrigation Officer

Position:                                  Irrigation Officer

Report to:                                Project Team Leader

Location:                                 Choma, Zambia

Length of Contract:                 12 months

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,990 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti.

About the Country Program in Zambia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Zambia since 2021 implementing both development and humanitarian programmes through a multi-sectoral strategy where Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH and Protection, Gender and psychosocial support are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Purpose

Provide Irrigation functions for the Strengthening Livelihood and Resilience of Smallholder Farmers to climate change in Southern Province, Zambia-(SLARF)

Job Summary

·  Design and implement water-efficient irrigation and small-scale irrigation systems for farmers.

·  Conduct feasibility studies on water management for agricultural resilience and livestock.

·  Work with communities to implement safe water harvesting and watershed management practices.

·  Train farmers on water-efficient vegetable and fruit tree cultivation to improve household nutrition.

·  Strengthen community-led water governance structures for sustainability.

·  Monitoring water levels and flow rates in canals and ditches.

·  Inspecting irrigation infrastructure (pipes, pumps, valves, sprinklers) for damage and wear.

·  Performing necessary repairs and maintenance on irrigation systems.

· Managing pump stations and ensuring proper functionality

· Implementing water conservation strategies like automated controls and monitoring systems. 

· Educating farmers on efficient irrigation practices, including proper timing and application rates. 

Analysing water usage data to identify areas for improvement

Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

·       Bachelor’s in water resources management, Environmental Engineering, Agriculture, or related field.

·       Experience in integrated water resource management (IWRM) and climate adaptation.

·       Knowledge of nutrient-rich crop production using irrigation.

·       Membership with a relevant professional body

Required Skills & Competencies

·     Strong understanding of irrigation principles, hydraulics, water management techniques, and different irrigation systems. 

·     Knowledge of crop requirements, soil types, and climate condition

·     Excellent experience in report writing, donor rules and regulations, validation procedures, process coordination.

·     Excellent writing and analytical skills

·     Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision, under pressure and under tight deadlines

·     Capacity building and facilitation skills

·     Bi-lingual with excellent knowledge of English and any of the local language

·     Able to build effective working relationships at all levels.

·     Initiative and ability to work independently and propose solutions to diverse problems.

·     Experience working in a team environment and building a team.

·     Active listener with good interpersonal skills

·     Demonstrated flexibility and or adaptability.

·     Excellent organizational and planning skills

·     Ability to work in a high-pressured environment and to multi-task

·     Action Against Hunger working experience will be an added advantage

Gender Equality commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

·  Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information.

·  Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

·   Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.

·  Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.

·  Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

· Value and respect all cultures.

 Physical demands

• To travel to Action Against Hunger’s areas of operations, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/ or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases

Benefits

Application Process.

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated resume and both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing non discrimination in employment.