Pact Zambia
Pact Overview
At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. The promise of a healthy life. Of a decent livelihood. Of sustainable natural resources that benefit communities. Now more than ever in its 42-year history, Pact is helping millions of people who are poor and marginalized discover and build their own solutions and take ownership over their future.
Pact enables systemic solutions that allow those who are poor and marginalized to earn a dignified living, be healthy, and take part in the benefits that nature provides. Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective governance systems, and transforming markets into a force for development
Project Overview
Pact Zambia is currently implementing DREAMS, an ambitious PEPFAR initiative to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) between the ages of 10 and 24 years. The goal of DREAMS is to help girls develop into Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe women. Since 2015 over 100,000 AGYW have been enrolled on the program in Lusaka, Ndola and Chingola Districts. In 2018, the aim is to reach a further 112,307 AGYW in an expanded geographical area which includes Kitwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Kabwe, Livingstone and Chipata. USAID Z-CHPP delivers DREAMS services to AGYW through six local sub-partners.
‘Kozo Girls’ is a sub-project of DREAMS, and has the overall objective of reducing the number of girls missing school during menstruation. Many girls in Zambia cannot afford menstrual hygiene products and opt to stay at home while on their period, rather than face discomfort or embarrassment if they go to school. A girl who skips school every month is potentially missing up to a quarter of her education.
Since June 2017, Pact has trained 42 Kozo Girls in Lusaka and Copperbelt to make washable, reusable sanitary pads to sell. The Kozo Girls are now actively making pads in six sites across Lusaka and have sold over 1,000 pads since September 2017. Pact believes that Kozo Girls has the potential to be scaled and turned into a sustainable social enterprise, uplifting the girls involved economically and bringing an attractive, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to other menstrual hygiene products to the Zambian market.
Position Summary:
To support with the design, set-up and management of a Lusaka-based sewing workshop, which will employ up to six Kozo Girls to work on bulk orders of Kozo Pads, and will also provide training to new Kozo Girls.
Key Responsibilities:
- In conjunction with relevant Pact staff, develop financial incentivization structure for the Kozo Girls who are working on bulk orders (incentivization will be based on production).
- Clearly plan separate workshop and training space making the most effective use of space available. Advise Pact staff on additional furniture/equipment requirements.
- In conjunction with relevant Pact staff, develop a schedule for the Kozo Girls coming to work on bulk orders (including breakdown of tasks to ensure they are contributing equally to production), and those coming for training.
- To provide refresher training to existing Kozo Girls on pad manufacture, introducing and enforcing strict quality control so that Kozo Pads are uniform in shape, design and quality.
- To provide training to new Kozo Girls using the designated sewing machines for beginners.
- To introduce and enforce workplace policies around:
a. Health and safety
b. Punctuality
c. Cleanliness and tidiness (of workshop and individual work)
d. Quality control - To cultivate team work and a healthy work ethic amongst the Kozo Girls.
- To work with Pact Human Resources department to develop performance assessment tools to monitor and evaluate the Kozo Girls working on the ‘assembly line’.
- As required, support the training of new sewing instructors who will be working on the Kozo Girls project in different locations.
- To support the administration and management of Kozo Pad orders, ensuring that customers receive their orders on time; to manage small number of ‘walk-in’ cash orders.
- To work alongside Kozo Girls, Pact staff and consultants to improve and refine the Kozo Pad design.
- To welcome visitors to the workshop and give tours, answer questions etc. and talk about workshop
Person Profile:
Essential skills and experience (please do not apply if you do not meet these requirements):
- Experienced tailor able to operate and maintain different types of manual and electric sewing machines.
- Has experience managing a busy sewing workshop, supervising several tailors at once.
- Demonstrated experience leading sewing training for youth/young women.
- Can perform simple administrative duties, including bookkeeping and managing petty cash.
- Has completed grade 12
- Good level of written and spoken English.
Desirable skills and experience:
- Able to repair faults on sewing machines.
- Experience making reusable menstrual pads and/or working on a menstrual hygiene management project.
- Has worked for an international non-governmental organization (NGO).
Interested candidates should submit their CV with a cover letter providing evidence of why they are the preferred candidate for this role, and details of two referees who will be able to allude specifically to the candidate’s capacity to carry out this assignment. Applications can be sent to [email protected] indicating the Job Title in the subject line on or before 28th May 2018.