Agriculture and Environment Extension Agent

Peace Corps

🇿🇲 Zambia

On-site

8 months ago

Project Description

Interested in supporting a community’s food and nutrition security through strategic agricultural practices? Communities in Zambia are looking for you.  

In Zambia, flood and drought are the biggest disrupters to livelihoods of citizens and the domestic economy in recent years. Recent droughts have increased people’s vulnerability to food shortages, thereby exacerbating an increase in the number of children under five with stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition. Communities in Zambia are interested in learning and applying agroforestry techniques to mitigate future floods and droughts, which will contribute to smallholder famers’ livelihood resilience.

As an Agriculture and Environment Extension Agent, you will collaborate with community members to boost local food and nutrition security through sustainable agriculture. Alongside your colleagues, you will apply agroforestry techniques to improve flood control, natural resource management, and the soil’s health and stability.

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in agriculture or forestry and a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field.

A bachelor’s degree is mandatory for all candidates as a requirement for a Zambian work permit.

Job Highlights

Gain valuable experience applying agroforestry technologies to strengthen food security
Experience the diverse cultural traditions of a country with over 70 ethnic groups
Build lifelong connections with community members and colleagues

Activities

How you and the community will make an impact together:
Conduct a needs assessment
Promote the incorporation of agroforestry technologies in the farming system
Strengthen soil and water management practices.
Highlight useful gardening and tree planting techniques.
Conduct training on planning, recordkeeping, and marketing for farmers.

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as cooking demonstrations and nutrition workshops.

Training

As an Agriculture and Environment Extension Agent, you will be trained in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) best practices and technical agroforestry techniques. Peace Corps/Zambia will teach you one of the country’s 45 local languages to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.  

After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural community where you will collaborate with schools, community groups, local government partners, and individual households. You will work with the community to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on available resources and agroforestry best practices.

Couple Living Conditions

Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners, which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart).

Country: Zambia
Partner Organization Name: Schools, community groups, local government partners
Language Requirement: None
Living Conditions: Volunteers typically live on a large housing compound, but have their own living structure, cooking area, private bathing area, and latrine.
Primary Sector: Environment
Apply By: 15-Mar-2026
Know By: 01-Jun-2026
Start Date: 04-Oct-2026
Assignment Length (months): 24
Positions Available: 15
Accepts Couples: Yes
Accepting Applications?: Yes
Request Type: 117 Agriculture and Forestry Extension
Posted on LinkedIn: No
Couple Types: Heterosexual and same-sex couples are accepted for this program.
Couple Training Conditions: Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities.
Couple Sector Combinations: Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner.

Agriculture and Environment Extension Agent · Peace Corps

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