JOB SPECIFICATION - KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape & Mpumalanga
Closing date: Friday, 20 February 2026, 16h:00
Locations:
- KwaZulu‑Natal (King Cetshwayo & Zululand Districts)
- Eastern Cape (Alfred Nzo & OR Tambo Districts)
- Mpumalanga (Ehlanzeni District Municipality)
Why Siyazisiza Trust?
Siyazisiza Trust is a South African non-profit organisation committed to strengthening rural livelihoods, improving food security, and enabling inclusive economic participation for smallholder farmers. Through integrated farmer support programmes, Siyazisiza Trust provides agricultural extension services, capacity building, infrastructure support, and market access initiatives across multiple provinces.
Our work is rooted in partnerships with farming communities, traditional leadership structures, cooperatives, government stakeholders, and private-sector actors. We operate in diverse rural contexts where trust, accountability, cultural sensitivity, and practical problem-solving are essential. Siyazisiza Trust offers a purpose-driven environment for field‑based professionals who want to contribute meaningfully to sustainable agricultural development, resilient local food systems and meaningful community impact.
About the Position
Siyazisiza Trust is recruiting Field Extension Officers to support smallholder farmers across rural KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga. The Field Extension Officer supports the delivery of Siyazisiza Trust’s farmer extension and advisory services across project communities. The role involves working closely with smallholder farmers to understand their priorities and realities, offering hands-on technical support, training, shared learning and mentorship where useful, and supporting smallholder farmers to strengthen their productivity, resilience, and participation in sustainable, climate-smart agricultural value chains.
Working closely with the Provincial Manager and the Farmer Extension team, the Field Extension Officer walks alongside farmer groups and cooperatives, offering practical support, attentive presence, and shared problem-solving. The role also contributes to small-scale agricultural infrastructure implementation, monitoring and learning processes, and nurtures strong, respectful community and stakeholder relationships.
This is a field-intensive, community-facing role requiring excellent interpersonal skills, technical competence, humility, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Field Extension and Farmer Support –
- Provide on‑site extension, advisory, and mentorship support to smallholder farmers.
- Promote appropriate agroecological and climate‑smart practices across multiple value chains.
- Support effective use of agricultural inputs, technologies, and small‑scale infrastructure.
Training and Capacity Building –
- Facilitate farmer training sessions, workshops, and field days.
- Mentor farmers and cooperatives on business basics, record‑keeping, food safety, environmental compliance, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Monitoring, Data Collection and Reporting –
- Collect and maintain accurate data on extension activities, training delivered, farmer participation, and production outcomes.
- Document challenges, farmer‑led innovations, and locally developed solutions.
- Contribute to organisational learning, reflection, and adaptive management through regular reporting, insights, and recommendations.
Stakeholder Engagement and Community Relations –
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with farmers, cooperatives, traditional leadership, local and other spheres of government, and partner organisations.
- Support farmer engagement with markets and complementary initiatives.
Field-Based Storytelling and Media Support –
- Identify and document meaningful, consent‑based stories from farmers, households, and community initiatives.
- Capture basic photos, short videos, and written reflections where appropriate.
- Share content responsibly with Siyazisiza’s communications and MEL teams, in line with organisational guidelines and community consent processes.
Operational Support and Organisational Contribution –
- Support the planning and implementation of small‑scale agricultural infrastructure.
- Identify and communicate operational challenges from the field.
- Contribute field‑based inputs to reporting, learning, and communications.
- Ensure compliance with organisational policies, ethical standards, and safeguarding principles.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, Agronomy, Agricultural Management, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or a related field.
- Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in agricultural extension, farmer support, or rural development, including hands-on work with smallholder farmers in South Africa.
- Experience in facilitating farmer training, workshops, and capacity-building activities.
- Practical knowledge of at least two agricultural value chains (e.g. crop production, livestock, beekeeping, agro-processing, nursery management, or soil health).
- Ability to observe, document, and communicate field-level experiences clearly and respectfully, including collecting basic monitoring data, capturing learning insights, and documenting challenges and farmer-led innovations through short written narratives and visual material (photos/videos), using mobile devices.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and basic data reporting.
- Valid Code 10 driver’s licence, and minimum of three years driving experience with the ability and willingness to travel extensively within rural project areas.
- It is an operational requirement that the successful candidate be physically and medically fit to safely perform the duties associated with agricultural activities and the prescribed role outlined above.
- Language proficiency:
- KwaZulu‑Natal: English and isiZulu
- Eastern Cape: English and isiXhosa
- Mpumalanga: English and Swati and/or Tsonga
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal Field Extension Officer is a practical, field-oriented, and community-focused agricultural professional with a strong commitment to supporting smallholder farmers. They are able to build trusted relationships, listen carefully, and learn from farmers whose lived experience and local knowledge may exceed their own.
They approach their role with humility, curiosity, and respect, recognising farmers as active partners rather than passive recipients of support. They are adaptable, self-motivated, and comfortable working independently and as part of a team in complex, resource-constrained rural environments. They are able to communicate technical information clearly and respectfully, adapting their approach to different contexts, languages, and levels of farmer experience. They are attentive observers who are able to reflect on field realities and share learning and stories ethically, without being extractive.
Motivation is driven by integrity, development impact, and sustainable long‑term outcomes.
Contract Type and Remuneration
- Contract Type: Limited Duration contract of employment until completion of project, with performance reviews as per organisational policy
- Remuneration: Negotiable, based on experience and qualifications
How to Apply
Please submit:
- A letter of motivation (no more than 1 page)
- A concise CV (no more than 2 pages)
- Two reference letters
- Copy of your South Africa ID, or for non-South Africans, copy of your country ID/passport and copy of your South African work permit
- Copies of your qualifications
Applications should be sent to info@siyazisiza.org.za by Friday, 20 February 2026, 16h:00, with the email subject line:
“Application for Field Extension Officer position” + the province you wish to work in.
Late applications will not be considered.
If you do not receive a response within 30 days of the closing date, please regard your application as unsuccessful.