Social Enterprise Officer

Organization: Community Forests Pemba

Location: Zanzibar City, Unguja, Zanzibar Tanzania

Community Forests Pemba (CFP) is a Tanzanian non-governmental organization founded and headquartered on Pemba Island, Zanzibar which has been working with local partners and its international sister organization, Community Forests International (Community Forests), since 2008 to advance shared goals of social, economic, and ecological prosperity. Together we have planted over 3 million trees, innovated several new climate-smart community enterprises, and demonstrated that the best solutions come directly from the people who need them most.

Community Forests and CFP are collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to implement the Global Affairs Canada Funded ‘Zanzibar Women’s Leadership in Adaptation Project (ZanzAdapt)” Project. The project will improve gender equality and nature-based climate adaptation capacity in vulnerable coastal communities on Pemba and Unguja Islands, Zanzibar. Project outputs will primarily benefit women and their households and communities through regenerative livelihood actions that increase ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change.

Job Summary

The Social Enterprise Officer will play a crucial role in supporting women entrepreneurs with direct enterprise training, business incubation, network creation, and coaching. They will work closely with expert field staff to support women-led, nature-based enterprise creation efforts while simultaneously improving market access for beneficiaries by engaging horticulture investors, processors, exporters, and buyers. In addition to supporting women individually, the Social Enterprise Officer will support community groups to create and manage VSLAs and other financial structures as part of community forest management committees and community-owned processing facility. Based full-time on Unguja Island, Zanzibar, the Social Enterprise Officer will join a dynamic team of local and international staff to implement the Zanzibar Women’s Leadership in Adaptation (ZanzAdapt) project funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project aims to improve gender equality and nature-based climate adaptation capacity in vulnerable coastal communities on Pemba and Unguja Islands, Zanzibar.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Development

• Conduct community consultations to identify and select women beneficiaries for invitation into business network formation.
• Support women-led nature-based enterprise formation in agroforestry and conservation livelihoods including assisting women entrepreneurs to develop and execute business plans for their nature-based enterprises.
• Follow up to evaluate performance of short-term and long-term business plans.
• Support women dependent on natural resources (mangrove forests) to benefit and profit from market driven eco-friendly investment
• Contribute to women’s peer-to-peer network formation in consultation with beneficiaries and ZanzAdapt project’s gender justice specialists and host periodic peer-to-peer network convening events to strengthen collaboration and generate shared opportunities.
• Support women groups and members to formalize their business to attract more market regionally and internationally, including supporting community-owned processing facility
• Facilitate registration and linkages between business network members and formal support institutions including economic development agencies, financial institutions, and government services
• Develop, facilitate, and drive strategic collaborative partnerships and networks focused on developing targeted responses to identified social inclusion and economic development needs.
• Develop and execute strategic marketing plans through social media that focus on linking beneficiaries with diverse business stakeholders
• Engage relevant Authorities for branding and product quality assurance supports and best practices and support women entrepreneurs to improve access to local, regional, and international markets.
• Periodically monitor the progress of micro, small and medium (MSME) enterprise incubated by women groups and report the business performances to CFP/CFI management.
• Support the development business tools for collecting business data.
• Developing and executing marketing strategies to increase the sales of women groups

Enterprise and Leadership Training

• Conduct community consultations to identify and select Training of Trainer (ToT) women beneficiaries specifically for off-site leadership program enrollment.
• Develop key training program content in alignment with the ZanzAdapt project’s objectives, including Gender Equality Gap Analysis and Action Plan. This includes but is not limited to developing curriculums on financial skill, business planning and business management for women.
• Deliver gender transformative training, study tours, and events related to themes such as enterprise development, business operations, marketing, value-addition, and financial independence.
• Develop and set standards for quality control/quality assurance on all product associated with ZanzAdapt Project with women and ensure they have the training and resources to maintain quality assurance.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Conduct pre-training baseline surveys with participants and continuous post-training participatory monitoring & evaluation of activities with participants and incorporate learnings into project refinements.
• Develop activity concept notes and accompanying budgets needed to implement activities in line with activity development and procurement protocols on monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Document and promote success stories in alignment with ZanzAdapt media gap analysis and strategy.
• Develop and execute monthly and quarterly work plans in conjunction with other field staff and management.
• Maintain activity tracking and develop quarterly reports on key program indicators, activity progress, and detailed lists of beneficiaries and groups engaged.

Key Performance Indicators

•  4 leadership trainings provided to Training of Trainer (ToT) women related to nature-based climate adaptation enterprises. 
• 360 women achieve leadership and/or decision-making positions in project-supported climate adaptation enterprises and governance structures by the end of the project. 
• +  75% women trainees demonstrate increases in leadership skills AND agency in agroforestry enterprises or community forest governance as evidenced by at least one new leadership or governance action following training. 
• Provide + 375 agroforestry beneficiaries* with new access to gender-responsive physical resources or facilities for the implementation of climate-adaptive agroforestry occupations. 
• + 50% of total agroforestry beneficiaries* who report they have access to appropriate post-harvest processing equipment or facilities. 
• Help support 1,800 direct beneficiaries* implement a minimum set of climate-adaptive agroforestry practices and technologies by the end of the project. 

Experience

• At least 3 years of demonstrated professional experience in working with local stakeholder and government engagement and community training.
• Relevant degree(s) and/or certificates in agriculture, community development, business development, or related field.
• Experience in designing and implementing community-based initiatives.
• Experience with VSLAs and other financial schemes
• Familiarity with robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and community, members.
• Experience working with gender-responsive approaches and understanding of women’s roles in natural resource management.
• Experience working with coastal Islamic cultures and traditions.

Core Competencies

• Collaboration – Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders to interpret the ideas, information, and needs of others.
• Team Work – Working together in friendly way to achieve organization and project overall goals and objectives
• Facilitation – Strong facilitation skills, with the ability to organize, lead, and motivate groups, deliver effective training, and foster collaboration and cooperation between multiple parties.
• Communication – Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders with clear and accurate language.
• Problem-solving – The capacity to identify challenges, develop creative solutions, and make informed decisions.
• Attention to Detail – A keen eye for accuracy, ensuring that data is accurate, well-considered, and complete.
• Entrepreneurial – Embodies the entrepreneurial and visionary spirit and demonstrates a talent for developing new ideas to help women excel and creatively meet targets.
• Accountability – Holds self and others accountable for all decisions and interpersonal relationships while following through on commitments and focusing on those activities that have the greatest positive impact.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and other relevant software for data analysis and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili
• Familiarity with online collaboration tools like Google workspace and Zoom
• Technical expertise in horticulture, gender-equity approaches, and/or mangrove ecosystem restoration and conservation is an asset.

Application Details

Community Forests Pemba is seeking to fill one (1) full-time permanent position. The successful candidate will be stationed at CFP’s office in Mombasa, Zanzibar City, Unguja. The position will be remunerated based on 40 hours per week with 28 days paid vacation and organization health benefits. Compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and level. Periodic travel will be required between offices. Occasional travel outside these working areas may also be required. Project-related travel and necessary equipment will be provided by the project.

Please email your resume and a cover letter with the subject line “Appropriate Technology Officer” to jobs@forestsinternational.org. The deadline for application submission is January 1^st 2026 at midnight EAT . This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is hired. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.