Project Officer – Plan International

Job Description

Date: 25 Sep 2024

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Company: Plan International

Organization Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-governmental organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.  We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and humanitarian programmes focus primarily on Inclusive Quality Education, Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Early Childhood Development and Gender Responsive Child Protection. Child protection is key in all that we do. Plan International Zambia has Programme Areas (PAs) in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located.

Plan International Zambia is seeking to hire a full time Project Officer. The purpose of Project Officer is to support the implementation of the Building Resilience through Climate Smart Livelihoods project. The Project Officer will play a critical role in coordinating project activities, overseeing partnerships with local organizations, conducting field activities, and monitoring project progress. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong project management skills, a sound understanding of climate-smart practices, and a commitment to fostering collaborative relationships.  The role reports to the Project Manager to bebased at Central Program Area in KABWE.

Do you have what it takes to be successful in this role?

Link for Job Description: Project Officer JD 13.09.docx

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as rural development, agriculture, or climate change.
• At least 5 years of experience in project management, preferably in agriculture, climate change, or disaster risk reduction.
• Strong knowledge of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, sustainable agriculture practices, and disaster risk reduction principles.
• Proven experience in partnership management with local organizations and stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of key programme areas such as child protection, education, livelihood and economic empowerment.
• Knowledge of development and humanitarian issues affecting girls, adolescent girls and women is preferred.
• Able to use Gender Transformative Approaches
• Planning skills

Competencies:

• Knowledge of gender inclusion and global/local development issues,
• Knowledge in girls’ rights and child rights, feminist movements, the key actors and institutions, and the power dynamics involved.
• Mastery of key gender inequalities, gaps, barriers and opportunities at the national, regional and global level and gender and inclusion in programs, and especially for children and girls.
• Good understanding of the policies, processes, institutions and organizations that shape the development and humanitarian context and standards within Zambia

Location: Central Program Area, Kabwe

Reports to: Project Manager

Grade:  Hay Level 13

Closing Date: 3 October 2024

Plan International provides equal employment opportunities to qualified and experienced women and men, Women are especially encouraged to apply. 

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early. 

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.