
Website Noweigian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid Joint Country Programme Zambia
Position: Senior Programme Officer, Fighting Inequality (FI)
Introduction to the JCP country office:
Since 2011, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and DanChurchAid (DCA) in Zambia have been working together to implement a socio-economic justice programme that aims to empower rights-holders, especially women and youth through a Joint Country Programme (JCP) Through strong networks and alliances within Zambian civil society, we uphold and protect people’s dignity and promote their active participation in the development of Zambia.
The JCP Zambia is a fully merged country programme where funding, technical advice, lobbying & advocacy, communication, administration is shared and coordinated, with NCA as the lead agency. In the 2025-2029 country strategy, NCA and DCA will focus their interventions to save lives, build resilience of local communities and seek justice. We envision an inclusive, resilient and just Zambia.
Information about the position:
The Senior Program Officer (SPO) – Fighting Inequality (FI) role will focus on scaling up programmes to reduce inequality and injustice in Zambia. Our FI Programme encompasses diverse advocacy goals including seeking equitable resource allocation, transparency, tax justice, sustainable and environmentally friendly resource extraction, a just energy transition (critical minerals), and civic awareness and engagement at community level.
In line with our 2025-2029 global strategic framework, and commensurate strategy for Zambia, the SPO-FI will ensure that the FI Programme is fully integrated with NCA-DCA’s other thematic areas of focus (Climate and Environmental Stewardship (CES), Economic Development and Food Security (EDFS), Gender Based-Violent (GBV), and Climate Resilient Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (CR-WASH)) to ensure that Poverty, Inequality, Extractives and Natural Resources Management are addressed through all of our programmes and by our partners.
The SPO-FI will work closely with other thematic leads in NCA – DCA JCP Programme areas, on CR-WASH, EDFS, CES and GBV both at NCA-DCA JCP Zambia Country Office and at NCA’s Head Office in Oslo, Norway. You will also be part of NCA’s global Community of Practice on FI and cooperate with NCA and DCA colleagues around the world.
The SPO-FI will also be the budget holder for the Fighting Inequality Programme and will report directly to the Head of Programmes within the NCA-DCA JCP in Zambia.
Key roles and responsibilities:
The Senior Programme Officer, Fighting Inequality will be responsible for the following-
- Partner networking, linkages and coalition building for tackling root causes of inequalities.
- Technical support to partners on project implementation, research and publications, monitoring and reporting of Fl and Advocacy work
- Collection and review of partner project proposals, periodic narrative and financial plans and reports and creation of platforms for learning.
- Programme Surveillance, quality assurance, compliance with standards and operational procedures.
- Responsible for FI partner capacity assessments, budgeting, and coordination of learning platforms such as Community of Practice and implementation of its recommendations in coordination with the Head of Programmes.
- Capacity Development of Fl and partners.
- Build Fl partner capacities on programme themes, international quality standards and NCAs routines and regulations.
- Develop Fl plans and reports for incorporation into the main NCA-DCA programme documents.
- Enforce Compliance with standard safety and security operating procedures.
- As Budget holder for the Fl Programme, responsible for programme management and overall financial and narrative reporting.
- Responsible for Fl Project Management in MSOffice 365, Maconomy Portal and our Project Management and Information System (PIMS)
- Work closely with the Snr Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Officer (SPMERO) in effective utilisation of PIMS, partner compliance with NCA routines and guidelines, and other donor and NCA-DCA requirements.
- Responsible for design and execution of internal and external program/ project evaluations as necessary and execution of baseline, periodic, and final evaluations in coordination with the SPMERO.
- Responsible for regular Fl progress plans & reports (financial and narrative) annual plans & reports, and final reports to SMT and donors.
- Responsible for fostering innovation, creativity and learning in the implementation of the Fl in collaboration with NCA Head Office Thematic and Technical Advisors.
- Coordinate with the Senior Fundraising Officer in Resource Mobilization and Grant Management for Fl Programme.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in development studies, Sociology, Economics or any related field
- Must have a minimum of at least 5 years of work experience in Advocacy Programs
- Good knowledge of the NGO and political landscape in Zambia
- Must have proven campaign knowledge and experience
- Specific experience related to the following areas will be highly advantageous: equitable resource allocation; transparency; anti-corruption; illicit financial flows and national/international tax justice; extractives (inc. the Just Energy Transition and critical minerals); civic awareness and engagement
- Knowledge of a partnership approach to advocacy and influencing, including working to support dialogue amongst civil society, political and private sector interests.
Please note that ZAQA certification will be required only for the candidate selected for the position. We do not require applicants to have this certification at the time of application, as we understand the associated cost.
Only the successful candidate will need to provide certified qualifications before their employment is finalized.
PERSONAL QUALITIES:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Good policy analysis and research skills
- Excellent Public Engagement and Communications Skills
- Good Programme leadership and coordination skills
- Strong report writing and analytical skills
- Problem solving skills
- Ability to work in a multicultural and multi-faith environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills and social-emotional maturity.
- Ability to handle occasional stress and high workloads.
WE OFFER:
- A full-time position, with preferable start date on the 1st of March 2025, based in Lusaka Zambia.
- Opportunity to make a change and contribute to NCA’s work on seeking justice, envision an inclusive, resilient and just Zambia.
- Opportunity to travel nationally and internationally and take part in a global Community of Practice.
- Access to staff development funds to support relevant career development and educational goals.
- Competitive salary, private medical insurance for employees, spouse and up to 3 dependents. Smart phone with employee ownership plan.
- A positive working environment with engaged supportive and highly qualified colleagues from around the world.
Before you apply:
We kindly ask you to carefully read the ACT Code of Conduct for the prevention of misconduct, including corruption, fraud, exploitation and abuse, including sexual; and to ensure child safeguarding and the Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding policy before you submit your application. If you are the selected candidate for this position, you will be asked to complete and sign our Code of Conduct and Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse, and Child Safeguarding Policy.
How to apply
Kindly send your expected renumeration package (benefits included), curriculum vitae and cover letter explaining why you are interested in this job, and why we should interview you for this role. To apply for this job please click here.
Application Deadline: Thursday 13th February 2025.