Job Opportunity – Programme Manager
Zambia Civic Education Association is currently looking for a qualified individual to serve as a Programme Manager. The Programme Manager (PM) is expected to take lead in the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring quality delivery of all ZCEA projects. The Programme Manager is expected to start work in October 2023.
JOB TITLE:
Programme Manager
TEAM/PROJECT: Programmes
LOCATION: Lusaka
POST TYPE: National
SCOPE OF ROLE
Reports to: Executive Director
Staff directly reporting to this post: Seven (7)
Number of Positions: 1 (based in Lusaka at the Secretariat)
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
The post holder will have contact with children and young people frequently (e.g., once a week or more) or intensively (e.g., four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work directly on the project, and they are responsible for implementing the project activities.
ZCEA does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. Therefore, all selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
1. THE SCOPE OF WORK:
Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA) is a human right, non-governmental, not for profit organisation that protects and promotes children’s rights through advocacy and civic education. ZCEA was established in 1993 to promote and protect children’s rights in line with the basic principles and standards contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). ZCEA’s work is further informed by the International Bill of Rights (Universal Declaration of Human Rights {UDHR}), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and other major international, regional, and national human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).
2. The role of the Programme Manager (PM): The PM will primarily be responsible for the overall implementation and oversight delivery of high-quality programme and all project outcomes. He/she will take lead in developing, implementation and coordination efforts of all Project Officers, partners, and stakeholders to deliver results according to the project scope, budget, and timeframe. The Programme Manager will provide quality control throughout the life cycle of all projects. He/she will take lead in civic engagement, advocacy and teaching children’s rights and their responsibilities through child rights clubs/councils. She/he will provide knowledge and practical skills on monitoring and advocating for children’s rights and reporting to governmental and human rights bodies, UN Human Rights Charter, and treaty bodies through various platforms. He/she will coordinate, implement, monitor, and mentor Project Officers, community volunteers, children, youths, and parents with the goal of becoming “effective leaders of their own communities”. She/he will regularly review, and redesign all projects based on evidence and lessons learnt from previous implementation to steer projects towards attainment of project targets, objectives, and outcomes. She/he will also be assigned to coordinate and manage multiple projects and other assignments to support the office of the Executive Director.
3. Core requirements:
A bachelor’s degree or higher in law, human rights, political science, international law, international relations, or a related field.
Knowledge and understanding of the normative content, the implementation and reporting procedures and inter-state monitoring mechanisms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) and other relevant human rights treaties and optional protocols.
Good understanding of the Zambian child rights legal frameworks and child rights participation, protection, and safeguarding frameworks.
At least 6 – 10 years of practical knowledge and work experience in human rights, the EU, UN, USAID Systems, NGO and more specifically on the treaty and charter-based bodies or related field.
Good knowledge of international human rights law and standards, especially treaty and charter-based mechanisms.
Good skills and experience in using child-centred social accountability tools/approaches and child-led monitoring and reporting to charter and treaty human rights bodies.
Fluent spoken and written English and local languages
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
Training in “diplomatic skills” will be an added advantage.
4. Key Areas of Accountability:
4.1 Programme Management
Manage and coordinate multiple projects with various partners and donors.
Ability to conduct research and analysis on human rights issues and trends in Zambia using various sources of information, such as reports, statistics, media, testimonies, etc. to inform programming.
Prepare and submit reports, briefings, statements, and recommendations on human rights situations and cases to relevant bodies, such as treaty committees, special rapporteurs, working groups and the donors.
Liaise and coordinate with other programme officers (internal and external), human rights experts, civil society organizations, human rights commission, and government line ministry representatives on human rights matters.
Organize and participate in meetings, workshops, trainings, consultations, and missions related to treaty and charter-based mechanisms and child led programming.
Provide technical assistance and capacity building to stakeholders on human rights standards, reporting procedures, follow-up actions, child participation etc.
Contribute to the development and review of ZCEA policies, strategies, plans, and budgets.
Manage all ZCEA programme activities, resources, and deliverables in accordance with the ZCEA policies and donor requirements.
Lead project staff, consortium members and work closely with government line ministries and departments such as the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ministry of Education, and the department of Child Development to oversee programme deliverables.
Develop and manage all ZCEA project budgets in line with donor policies and procedures.
Build synergies, review and systematically follow-up partner activities and reports.
Conduct regular project site visits to all projects to verify status of project implementation, gather data and provide onsite trainings to project officers and community facilitators.
Contribute to the scale up and long-term strategic planning of all projects.
Support project officers to liaise with project stakeholders on an ongoing basis.
Support Project Officers and Community Facilitators establish functional, and sustainable child- led participation platforms at all levels.
Work closely with the Executive Director to achieve organisational mission and vision.
4.2 Partner Management
Lead in the design and update of project implementation plans with input from partners.
Lead in capacity strengthening of facilitators, partners, and line ministry officials in providing knowledge and practical skills on monitoring and advocating for children’s rights and reporting to governmental and human rights bodies or UN Human Rights Charter and treaty bodies through various platforms.
Provide day to day support and mentorship to partners in child rights-based frameworks such as participation, protection, and safeguarding and programming.
Compile and develop partner reports in line with donor reporting guidelines.
4.3 Coordination
Lead in the production and dissemination of child-friendly handbooks and video clips.
Support Project Officers in the facilitation of child-led dialogue sessions, with stakeholders.
Lead and facilitate coordination of national children’s parliamentary sessions and report writing with project partners.
Take lead in contributing to interagency Child Participation Committees mainly district, provincial and national child participation coordinating committees.
Analyse the outcomes of the project and changes in the external operating environment and incorporate findings to the ongoing development of the project.
Develop and maintain external network of contacts, support, and co-ordinate with other staff to ensure maximum impact.
Monitor programmatic, financial, and administrative performance of the project, supervising and ensuring that standard project administrative and financial procedures are followed.
Supervise project staff and provide capacity enhancement in line with project deliverables, child safeguarding and participation standards.
4.4 Networking and Partnerships
Establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships to represent the principles and work of ZCEA to representatives of the UN System, NGOs, INGOs, counterparts, donors, and government authorities).
Ensure smooth and effective internal and external communications and coordination of project activities.
5. Provide support to Executive Director
Work closely with the Executive Director to ensure all projects’ strategies reflect ZCEA’s vision, mission, goals, and principles.
Support the development of proposals and in a timely and professional manner.
Manage cross-cutting issues of gender, disability inclusion, environmental healthy, climate change, and ensure that they are mainstreamed into ZCEA projects.
Participate in the development of the organisation strategy, project delivery documents as well as annual work plans.
Participate in the organisation’s resource mobilization (development of concept notes and proposal writing) strategy.
To perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Director.
6. Personal Attributes
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages others to do the same.
Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources and role modelling ZCEA and donor values.
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Willing to take disciplined risks.
Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team and partners.
Values diversity and sees it as a source of competitive strength.
Approachable, good listener and easy to talk to even under a lot of pressure.
Persuasive, analytical and innovative
Adaptive and flexible
Honest, and committed to organizational values such as zero tolerance to child rights violations and corruption.
7. Level of Effort:
The Programme Manager will have a high percentage of work on the Participation First, Children’s Voices Matter project. The other percentage will come from other running and new projects.
7.1 Contract Type:
This is a full- time two-year contract renewable upon production of quality deliverables and availability of resources.
8. Application Process:
Suitably qualified candidates must submit a cover letter (one page only) and a CV (not more than 4 pages) with details of qualifications and work experience including 3 traceable references (professional, academic, and current work supervisor). All offers of employment are made contingent upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks.
Applications should be submitted to the Executive Director, Zambia Civic Education Association via email: [email protected] and copy [email protected]
Applicants should send the documents (cover letter and an updated CV) in one PDF format. Please do not attach copies of your certificates. The closing date for applications is Friday, the 28th of September 2023 at 17 hours. Only shortlisted candidates meeting the specifications will be contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date.
ZCEA reserves the right to re-advertise the position if a suitable applicant is not found.
ZCEA is an equal-opportunity employer.