GIS Intern

This position willbe based in Lusaka, Zambia 

We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our  or on .  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Programme in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stand to impact the 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

In Zambia, TNC’s work focuses on the Greater Kafue – West Lunga Mega-Landscape. This is Zambia’s largest contiguous conservation landscape, comprising a 10-million-hectare complex of state, community and private lands of exceptional biodiversity and climate value. In this landscape, TNC is working with communities and diverse public and private stakeholders to strengthen tenure and governance over natural resources, develop effective resource governance and management systems and support nature-based livelihoods and economic opportunities for the local communities living in and around this ecologically fragile area. A final critical pillar of TNC’s strategy involves defining, testing and implementing conservation financing models that can resource the long-term effective management of the landscape and the delivery of tangible socio-economic benefits to the communities that depend on it for their livelihoods and survival.

The GIS Intern will work closely with the MEL Intern and MEL Manager develop and manage a comprehensive online GIS data repository for TNC Zambia, including the collection, organization, digitization, and integration of georeferenced data for the Greater Kafue Ecosystem, ensuring all relevant data is accessible and incorporated into the Program’s online dashboards.

We’re looking for someone highly motivated and passionate about conservation, communities and tangible impact to join the growing TNC Zambia team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, innovative individual with excellent communication competencies to play a key role in the growth, evolution and success of the country programme, ensuring all components of the country programme are aligned and organised and collaborating around common goals, work plans and deadlines, and are responsive to changing dynamics within the environment in which they operate.

Reporting to the Zambia Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager the Intern will be based at the TNC offices in Lusaka, Zambia. No employment visas or assistance is being offered with this position except for the local labour employment requirements.

Specifically, the GIS Intern will:

• Working with the MEL Intern, gather, organize, and consolidate (georeferencing where applicable) all existing research data from various workstreams within the Zambia program.
• Design and implement the structure for an online GIS data repository for TNC Zambia, ensuring the data structure allows for disaggregation by area and subject.
• Collaborate with conservation team and partners to identify existing data, understand its location, and integrate it into the repository.
• Digitize necessary data or maps to fill data gaps.
• Integrate all relevant GIS data into the Program online dashboards.
• Ensure seamless access and usability of the data for key stakeholders and program staff.
• Assist with responses to data requests from consultancy teams promptly and accurately.
• Assist in the preparation of data reports and presentations for consultancy teams.
• Assist in the development of Program review materials, including presentations and summary reports.
• Assist with development  of the Kafue Connected online ESRI protected area management platform.
• Participate in program review meetings.
• Assist in the creation of visual aids (e.g., Maps) to enhance reports and newsletters.
• Participate in field visits to collect primary data and monitor program activities.
• Stay updated on best practices and emerging trends in GIS to inform program strategies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, Forestry Management, Geography, GIS, Computer Science or related field. 

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar
• Bachelor’s degree holder in Geography, Wildlife or Forestry Management, Environmental Science or related field.
• Relevant coursework in GIS, cartography or spatial analysis
• Proficiency in geospatial data analysis and visualization
• Familiarization with database management and data collection tools
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to interpret and present data clearly and effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to draft clear and concise reports and presentations.
• Strong organisational, time management skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines, attention to detail and accuracy in data handling.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, strong interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and tasks.
• Enthusiasm for learning and professional development, proactive and self-motivated with a strong work ethic.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the organisation
• Excellent time management, detailed oriented and multitasking
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and education or experience in building cultures and fostering environments that support team health and team cohesion.
• Strong team player who can build relationships and work collaboratively across the organisation and with partners.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

To apply for job ID , submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at . Need help applying? Visit our page or contact .

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.