Botswana Herding for Health Manager

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

CI’s Africa Field Management Unit is prioritizing rangelands as a key pillar to realize the vision of a prosperous Africa by 2030, by developing and implementing nature positive economies across 70 million hectares of oceans, forests, mangroves, and rangelands. The Africa Rangelands strategy is centered on a goal to restore and sustainably manage 10 million hectares of rangelands in Africa by 2030 in a way that advances human well-being, ecosystem resilience, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and sparks a continent-wide rangelands movement urgently needed to reverse degradation.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Gaborone, Botswana

The Botswana Herding for Health (H4H) Manager will provide technical and implementation support to H4H activities in Botswana and pilot sites within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). The role reports directly to the H4H Senior Technical Manager, who oversees all programme implementation across Botswana. In this supporting capacity, the Manager will help ensure that rangeland sites apply best‑practice sustainable livestock, regenerative agriculture, and land management approaches, working closely with site‑based CI technical staff to provide practical, day-to-day guidance and support.

The Manager will assist implementation teams in operationalising fit-for-purpose grazing and livestock management systems that respond to varied ecological conditions, cultural contexts, environmental pressures, and animal health challenges. The role includes contributing to the refinement and updating of technical learning materials based on emerging research and lessons from demonstration and implementation sites. In collaboration with CI’s Gender and Safeguards teams, the Manager will help ensure that all activities adhere to CI’s gender and environmental safeguards.

In addition to providing site-level support, the Botswana H4H Manager will participate as a member of CI’s Africa Rangelands Team, overseen by the Community Stewardship Director. Within this team, the Manager will contribute to strategic planning, cross-site learning, and collective problem-solving. The role will also coordinate, where needed, with technical divisions across Conservation International and Peace Parks Foundation to support high-quality, efficient programme delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Implementation

• Support the H4H Senior Technical Manager in guiding national teams to apply sustainable rangeland and livestock management practices that enhance ecosystem health, productivity, and restoration outcomes.
• Provide technical support on climate‑smart grazing, soil and erosion control, fire management, water infrastructure and management, and ecosystem‑appropriate herd and grazing strategies.
• Offer guidance on herd health, nutrition, genetics, animal welfare, disease management, and traceability in communal livestock systems.
• Ensure livestock production practices align with ecological and regenerative principles, and support contributions to relevant national policy processes in rangelands, livestock, and climate.
• Support the development and harmonisation of practices across the regional rangelands technical community of practice, working closely with CI’s Africa Rangelands Team (overseen by the Community Stewardship Director).
• Support the implementation of One Health approaches and contribute to policy inputs related to livestock trade and animal health.
• Work with site teams to engage farmers and pastoralists in co‑developing local rangeland management plans, promoting ownership and strengthening stewardship.
• Support site teams to strengthen farmer group structures, governance models, and stewardship agreements.

Programme management support, MEL, Reporting & Partnerships

• Support the H4H Senior Technical Manager in the planning, coordination, and day-to-day implementation of H4H activities across Botswana (and pilot sites in KAZA), ensuring timely, high-quality delivery.
• Work with the Botswana Monitoring & Evaluation teams to support development and tracking of annual and quarterly workplans, identify implementation constraints, and contribute to adaptive management processes.
• Ensure monthly capture of Botswana and Angola programme data on the H4H monitoring platform and support participatory rangeland monitoring and MEL data collection.
• Help maintain compliance with CI safeguards, gender requirements, risk protocols, and H4H technical standards across all sites.
• Contribute to the preparation of internal and external donor reports, technical documentation, and knowledge products; support proposal development when requested.
• Support the strengthening of partnerships with government, NGOs, research institutions, and private sector stakeholders, in close collaboration with Area Managers and the H4H Senior Technical Manager.
• Contribute to cross-site learning and coordination, helping facilitate knowledge exchange within Botswana and between countries in the H4H portfolio.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, scaling, and market-linked incentives that enhance programme impact.

Capacity Building

• Support landscape leads with technical advisory committees to leverage local expertise and strengthen delivery in each landscape.
• Contribute technical input to the development and refinement of training manuals, toolkits, online courses, and other learning materials.
• Work with regional and national training partners (e.g., Southern Africa Wildlife College, Botswana Wildlife Training Institute) to update and co-develop H4H training materials, based on technical knowledge and lessons learned
• Provide training, coaching, and mentoring to field teams, implementing partners, farmers, and community stakeholders on rangeland and livestock management.
• Facilitate cross-site knowledge exchange, ensuring consistent application of the H4H model and shared learning across Botswana and the broader Africa Rangelands Team

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Extended work hours may be required.
• Ability and willingness to travel on a regular basis to field sites within Botswana, Angola, Namibia, and, when needed, other countries in the rest of Africa where CI is supporting H4H implementation.
• May need to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.
  

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in animal production or grasslands and savannah management, grassland ecology, rangelands grasslands and savannah, animal health, or other relevant fields. A master’s degree in any of these relevant fields is preferred.
• Demonstrable experience working with farmers/pastoralism
• 4 to 6 years of experience with implementing projects in communal farming systems
• Good administration and coordination skills are essential.

Preferred

• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to effectively convey complex details or technical information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Highly familiar with etiquette, protocol, and employing cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Proven team player.
• Self-driven with strong leadership and performance management.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: June 07, 2026 (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

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