Project Manager - VCA

Hivos is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Project Manager – VCA

Scope: Southern Africa

Hours: Full-time (37.5)

Reports to: Global Program Manager; Regional Director

Term: This appointment is for an initial term of one year, renewable based on results and performance.

Office: Zambia

Deadline: 24 November 2023

JOB CONTEXT

About VCA

The five-year strategic objective of the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) program is, “By 2025, local civil society groups have claimed a central role as empowered innovators, facilitators and advocates of climate solutions”. Our program is about climate justice i.e. climate change is not only an environmental problem to be addressed but also a societal challenge with ethical and human rights aspects. Hence our intention is to build wide societal support for locally shaped climate solutions through an inclusive and rights-based approach. This includes building a broad-based climate alliance at country level, bridging divides (urban-rural, gender, youth), that amplifies voices in new, unusual ways. In addition, we will influence national and global policies and financial flows in support of these locally shaped solutions. The program is being implemented by an alliance of six organizations: WWF NL, Hivos, SouthSouthNorth, Akina Mama wa Afrika, Slum Dwellers International, and Fundación Avina. During the 5 years’ program period the alliance aims to increase ownership of the program by local CSOs. The program is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the “Power of Voices” framework.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the delivery of a coherent program of activities and partner engagement in the country in which s/he is based, in close cooperation with national alliance of VCA and in line with the VCA global ToC and overall objectives. The PM is part of the national VCA team. Improvement and innovation is part of the responsibilities of the PM.

In terms of partner coalitions, the PM builds, monitors and manages the quality of the VCA partner portfolio in-country together with the other alliance members and stimulates coalition building between different (national) CSOs to increase local ownership and to amplify voices for Joint Climate Action. The PM identifies potential relationships between partners and other stakeholders (e.g., local or central government institutions, tech actors), supports (coalitions of) partners in the proposal preparation phase, appraises partner (coalition) applications, and provides continued support throughout implementation, both virtually and through monitoring visits. The PM is responsible for increasing local ownership and shifting decision making power to local organizations. The PM will play an active role to further develop ideas and modalities of local ownership through the VCA program from a national perspective. The PM ensures adequate capacity development of partners and other involved organizations in the VCA program at national level.

As far as other activities are concerned, the PM is responsible for identifying and building collaborative relationships with strategic organizations, individuals and initiatives in support of locally shaped climate solutions for a just climate transition. He / she/ they is expected to have strong networking and facilitation skills. The PM is also responsible for initiating research that supports the program, and overseeing and contributing to a learning and M&E program based on the global PMEL methodology. Finally, the PM will ensure the partners and Hivos deliver timely inputs into this system and organize learning events to improve the country program and ToC on a yearly basis.

Besides the PM the national Hivos team includes a (junior) project officer. The PM is manager of this project officer and ensures high quality and timely outputs. Finance support will be provided through a Finance Manager and Finance Officer based in Kenya with support from the Finance Manager and finance team at the Hivos Southern Africa Regional Office.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Responsibilities for the role include:

Networking

• Establish and maintain good relationships with stakeholders in country (civil society, government, private sector, development partners and media) and alliance members of VCA.

Partner engagement and management

• Identify and select (coalitions of) partners in close collaboration with national VCA team;
• Share and increase ownership of program by (national) partner organizations;
• Ensure timely and high-quality reporting of partners contracted by Hivos.
• Provide technical support and monitoring of national partners
• Ensure compliance to Hivos policies, values and minimum financial standards

Resource mobilization

• Identify and support fundraising efforts on climate justice including spin offs from the VCA program

Project management

• Undertakes project management tasks;
• Ensures that scope, schedule and budget are on track;
• Ensures integrity, transparency and compliance to Hivos policies and procedures and donor guidelines

Capacity building

• Identify training and other needs of national partners and alliance members to improve program delivery and enhanced local ownership.

Learning

• Gather and use monitoring data to draw lessons and continuously improve in-country program to highest possible level of impact;
• Actively engage in program-wide learning activities led by the global PMEL team and Hivos global DMEL.

Innovation

• Ensure the program is constantly innovating, e.g. through building unusual partnership and cooperation between urban youth and local communities;
• Include other ways of working e.g. by linking climate change and transparency or other use of media (e.g. citizen led reporting).

REQUIREMENTS

This is a mid-level to senior position for nationals or residents of Zambia:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in development studies, governance or another relevant field.
• Minimum of five years relevant working experience preferably in advocacy and influencing strategies.
• Solid knowledge of relation between climate change and daily needs of people such as food, energy and water.
• Experience with locally shaped climate solutions and building joint climate actions is an advantage.
• A keen understanding of country political and social dynamics; analytical and conceptual skills, and ability to translate these into relevant and timely actions.
• Excellent networking, relationship building and negotiation skills;
• Excellent verbal, writing and communication skills in English and have native speaker ability of the main language of the country where they are based.
• Experience overseeing projects to ensure the effective design, implementation and increase ownership of right holders.
• Experience overseeing and using monitoring and evaluation plans and indicators
• Ability to lead small country team on location without daily support from Hub management.
• Level skills: cooperation, influence, leadership.
• Job skills: communication, project management, enterprise.

What we offer

Hivos offers a challenging position in an international environment.

The Regional office is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. This position will be based in Lusaka, Zambia.  Hivos welcomes International & Regional applicants but can only offer a position to only those with a valid work permit for Zambia. Hivos can only offer employment on local terms and conditions.

How to apply

Please apply before 24 November 2023. If you meet the above-mentioned qualifications (please look carefully), you can apply to this vacancy by filling in a digital application form and adding a cover letter explaining your motivation and your CV.

About Hivos

Hivos is an international development organization guided by humanist values. Together with citizens and their organizations, we aim to contribute towards just, inclusive and life sustaining societies where people have equal access to opportunities, rights and resources. We work in partnership with others in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America on three impact areas: civic rights; gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and climate justice. Our approach is solution driven, and we build wider movements for change by amplifying and connecting voices.

More about Hivos at: www.hivos.org