Project Officer – KUWALA Zambia

Job Description

KUWALA is a local Zambian NGO dedicated to empowering women with the skills, resources, and opportunities to end poverty for themselves, their families, and their communities. We provide women who are living in poverty with comprehensive training on how to generate income, effectively manage and save their earnings, launch their businesses, increase the value of their products, and expand their enterprises. Through our efforts, we aim to create a ripple effect of economic empowerment, uplifting not just the women we directly work with but also advancing sustainable development within their communities.

Position Overview:

The primary responsibility of the Project Officer is to manage and oversee the mushroom project sites in Rufunsa District. This role includes ensuring the proper establishment, maintenance, and productivity of mushroom farms while providing technical support to project participants. Additionally, the Project Officer will conduct capacity-building activities on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, collaborate with consultants on marketing, branding, and savings, and support monitoring and evaluation efforts. The officer will also contribute to report writing and brand awareness for Kuwala.

This is a one (1) year role, with the possibility of extension, based on performance and funding availability.

Key Responsibilities

Program (60%)

Mushroom Site Management and Supervision

• Oversee the management and daily operations of mushroom project sites in Rufunsa District.
• Ensure proper site setup, maintenance, and adherence to best practices in mushroom farming.
• Provide technical guidance to farmers on cultivation techniques, harvesting, and post-harvest handling.
• Monitor production performance and address challenges affecting yield and quality.
• Develop and implement plans for site expansion and sustainability.
• Coordinate procurement and distribution of inputs necessary for mushroom farming.

Capacity Building and Training

• Conduct financial literacy and entrepreneurship training for mushroom farmers.
• In collaboration with the mushroom consultant, develop and facilitate training modules and materials tailored to agribusiness development.
• Strengthen the capacity of beneficiaries to effectively manage and scale their farming activities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Work with consultants to develop marketing and branding strategies for mushroom products.
• Facilitate beneficiary mobilization and linkages to markets and savings groups.
• Build relationships with community leaders, government agencies, and private sector stakeholders.

Monitoring and Evaluation (30%)

Daily Monitoring & On-Site Oversight:

• Conduct daily inspections of mushroom cultivation sites to monitor environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, light, etc.) and growth progress.
• Record data on mushroom growth, yield, pest/disease observations, and environmental factors.
• Ensure proper resource management, including water, substrates, and spawn.
• Maintain and update cultivation logs with accurate and real-time data.

Data Quality Management:

• Participate in regular data quality audits, verifying the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of collected data.
• Cross-check field data with reports to ensure it aligns with actual site observations.
• Ensure all data collection and reporting procedures are followed as per project guidelines.

Communications (5%)

• Develop and submit regular progress reports on mushroom farming activities.
• Assist in project documentation, including success stories and lessons learned.
• Promote Kuwala’s brand awareness through community engagement and outreach.

Finance Management (5%)

• Assist in the preparation and management of project budgets.
• Ensure proper allocation and utilization of financial resources for project activities.
• Track project expenditures and maintain accurate financial records.
• Work closely with the finance team to prepare financial reports and forecasts.
• Support compliance with donor and organizational financial guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, or a related field.
• Experience in agricultural project management is required.
• Knowledge of mushroom farming is an added advantage.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with an A1 or A license.
• Experience conducting financial and entrepreneurship training/knowledge of business is an added advantage.
• Understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent report-writing skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Prior experience working with rural communities is an added advantage.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV, a cover letter detailing their suitability for the position, and any relevant certificates in a single file.

Indicate the subject as “Project Officer Application – [Your Name]” and send all applications to info@kuwalazambia.org ensuring to cc: chisala@kuwalazambia.org in the email.

Kuwala Zambia is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of communities across Zambia!