GIS Internship – Land Conversion Mapping

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) works in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) and Nsumbu-Tanganyika Conservation Programme (NTCP) to protect and conserve the North Luangwa and Nsumbu-Tanganyika landscapes, respectively. The NLCP & NTCP support effective and efficient protected area management, with a wider focus on empowering communities to manage natural resources in the Game Management Areas adjacent to the parks. The NLCP’s mission ‘Linking livelihoods and landscapes’ and the NTCP’s mission of ‘Conserving landscapes, enriching lives’ both seek to address their key challenges by taking holistic approaches for more resilient socio-ecological systems.

Description of the Opportunities

FZS Zambia is seeking two recent graduates from a degree in geography, environmental science, or a related field with a focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The purpose of the roles is to map land conversion from natural habitat to human settlements and agriculture in the North Luangwa and Nsumbu Tanganyika landscapes to inform land use planning and conservation decisions.

To be considered for the positions, applicants must have their own functioning laptops. Successful applicants will be sent for training with Musekese Conservation in Kafue National Park, and thereafter will be based on-site at the NLCPs regional office in Chama, Eastern Province. The duration of the internship is two months, with the opportunity to extend depending on available work.

Reporting to: GIS Coordinator & Ecology and Conservation Science Manager
Works closely with: Landscape Integration Unit & Ecological Monitoring Department
Monthly Allowance: K3,500
Equipment: Must provide own laptop
Start date: 1st August 2024

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Using QGIS, download high resolution Sentinel-2 and Planet NICFI imagery
• Identify and manually digitise areas of land conversion with precision and attention to detail
• Accurately record metadata for each digitised polygon to enable in-depth analyses
• Provide weekly progress reports on the area digitised and jurisdictions completed
• Participate in the development of reports and presentations that communicate findings to colleagues and stakeholders

Qualifications, skills and attributes

• A degree in Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field with a focus on GIS
• High degree of proficiency in QGIS or other geospatial software
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Good written and spoken English communication skills
• Keen interest in conservation and human wildlife coexistence

Your application should include a chronological CV in PDF format, a 1-page cover letter, and a map illustrating some of your previous work. The cover letter will be used to judge the quality of your application and should answer the following:

• What interests you most about the position?
• Your relevant GIS experience and level of proficiency
• The most important technical skills that you will bring to the role
• Two references with a short description of your working relationship, and their contact details.

Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered for the position. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please submit applications to jobs.zambia@fzs.org. Ensure the subject line in your email application states “GIS Internship – Land Conversion Mapping”. Applications close on Wednesday 24th July 2024.