National Project Coordinator (NPC)

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Position Title: National Project Coordinator (NPC)
Location: Lusaka
Country: Zambia
Deadline Date: 26 February 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to promote social justice and fair labor practices. Established in 1919, the ILO has a mission to ensure that labor standards are upheld globally, focusing on promoting rights at work, encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhancing social protection, and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues. The ILO operates in over 180 countries and has a diverse workforce of approximately 3,500 employees. The organization is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce, welcoming applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, disability, or other factors.

Job Overview:
The National Project Coordinator (NPC) position is crucial for the implementation and management of the ILO-Irish Aid programme, the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI) project in Zambia, and the UN Joint Programme on Social Protection – Phase III (UNJPSP-III). The NPC will lead efforts to enhance social protection systems in Zambia, focusing on improving interoperability between various social protection schemes and ensuring that these systems are inclusive and effective. The role involves coordinating with national and international stakeholders, managing project activities, and ensuring that the objectives align with national policies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The NPC will also be responsible for providing technical support, facilitating capacity-building initiatives, and advocating for integrated social protection systems that address the needs of vulnerable populations. This position requires a strong understanding of social protection issues, particularly in the context of Zambia and the broader African region, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments to achieve project goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Overall Project Coordination: Lead the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Irish Aid Zambia component, DCI Zambia project, and UNJPSP-III projects, ensuring activities are delivered on time and within budget. Provide technical and managerial support to national partners for project implementation, including facilitating stakeholder coordination to align project objectives with national policies and SDGs.
• DCI Project Responsibilities: Coordinate activities under the DCI, particularly strengthening data interoperability between NHIMA, SCT systems, and DMIS. Provide technical support to national partners for developing APIs, improving NHIMA's MIS, and enabling data integration. Support dialogue and capacity-building initiatives to enhance collaboration among social protection stakeholders. Supervise the development and testing of digital tools and platforms, ensuring their deployment meets project objectives.
• UNJPSP-III Project Responsibilities: Provide technical support under Pillar 1 to strengthen Zambia’s core social protection systems, including lifecycle-based approaches, information systems, and decentralized service delivery. Support efforts to improve social protection data systems and ensure their integration with national registries. Facilitate technical assistance to strengthen the Zambia Integrated Social Protection Information System (ZISPIS) and related data-sharing initiatives.
• Policy Development and Knowledge Products: Draft and oversee studies, policy briefs, and knowledge products related to Irish Aid, DCI, and UNJPSP-III outcomes. Organize policy dialogues and workshops to enhance social dialogue and stakeholders’ understanding of digital integration and social protection systems. Develop tools and training materials to strengthen technical capacities for system integration.
• Capacity Building and Advocacy: Act as a resource person for capacity building and research initiatives. Contribute to advocacy efforts to promote inclusive and integrated social protection systems at national and regional levels.
• Partnership and Resource Mobilization: Foster partnerships with government agencies, UN agencies, and other stakeholders for effective project implementation. Identify resource mobilization opportunities to scale up DCI and UNJPSP-III initiatives.
• Ensure high-level communications with key stakeholders, aligning ILO’s contributions to Zambia’s social protection priorities.
• Represent the project in various fora, under the guidance of the Project Manager responsible for the Social Protection Unit and the Director of the ILO Lusaka Country Office.
• Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO Decent Work Team in the Region, other colleagues in the field and HQ on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions. 1
• Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of all project components according to the project’s document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation in coordination with the Social Protection Project Manager for submission to the ILO and the donor. 1
• Other related duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree in economics, social sciences, or a related field, with a strong knowledge of development issues, particularly in Zambia and the African region. They should have at least three years of experience in social protection information systems, contributory/non-contributory schemes, and multi-stakeholder coordination, with demonstrated experience in project management, supervision, administration, and implementation of grant/cooperative agreement requirements. Experience in managing donor-funded projects in international organizations or the UN system is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a first-level university degree in economics, social sciences, or a related field. Candidates should have a strong understanding of development issues, particularly those relevant to Zambia and the African context, which will enable them to effectively contribute to the project's objectives and engage with various stakeholders.

Experience:
The position requires at least three years of relevant experience in social protection information systems, contributory/non-contributory schemes, and multi-stakeholder coordination. Candidates should have a proven track record in project management, including the ability to meet deadlines, achieve targets, and oversee the preparation and submission of required reports to project donors. Experience in managing donor-funded projects within international organizations or the UN system is essential for this role.

Languages:
A strong command of English is mandatory for this position, as effective communication is crucial for coordinating with various stakeholders and producing reports and policy briefs. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the regions in which the projects are implemented.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract for one year, with the possibility of extension based on various factors, including the availability of funds, the continuing need for the functions, and satisfactory conduct and performance. The entry-level salary for this position is K 935,171 (Zambian Kwacha) yearly. The ILO values diversity among its staff and encourages applications from qualified female candidates and individuals with disabilities. The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria. Candidates must complete an online application form to apply.