Resiliency Specialist

PACT Overview

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Department

Program Operations (PrOps) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Operations teams contribute to realizing this by: ensuring effective project management through supporting project startups, implementation, reporting and financial management as well as closeouts; portfolio coordination: providing a coordinating role across departments in DC that support country offices and programs; working with country teams to develop, refine and pursue their strategies by leveraging technical knowledge (our own and others) and supporting business development as needed; knowledge sharing and learning: enhancing communication between country offices and DC-based teams to ensure better understanding of the diverse operating environments and program approaches.

Position Overview

Pact is recruiting a Resiliency Specialist for an upcoming 4.5 year, USDOL-funded children labor reduction project in critical mineral-producing communities in Zambia. The project will aim to achieve the following outcomes: (1) Increased capacity of government to address child labor and forced labor in critical mineral producing communities and (2) Increased resiliency of members of vulnerable households in communities producing critical minerals.

Implement the project’s resiliency program to stop child mining in the target areas and increase stability of vulnerable households. The project considers resiliency to a household’s ability to cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance present and future capabilities and assets in a way that helps them overcome the need to rely on the labor of their children to meet basic needs or be vulnerable to forced labor. Resiliency takes into account, but is not limited to, a household’s income, wealth, knowledge base, skills, as well as a household’s access to social services. It also takes into account the quality of, and benefits derived from, social services provided by the state and/or non-governmental organizations, including education, health services, sanitation, and infrastructure, among others. A household’s resiliency can also be impacted by crosscutting issues that affect the household as well as the community it is situated in, such as issues of security, or the lack thereof, and potential environmental challenges.

This position is contingent upon award.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage rollout of Pact’s economic resiliency approaches
• Establish and maintain strong local networks with key partners, participating families, committees, and other stakeholders to achieve project goals.
• Utilize inclusive, participatory approaches that are consistent with community and project objectives. Provide timely feedback to project team on project approaches, emerging issues in order to allow for adaptive management.
• Under the direction of the Project Director, design and implement activities within budget and timeframe and in tandem with partner organizations.
• Ensure that all economic resiliency reporting is completed to the highest standards.
• Provide regular written/oral program progress updates as requested.
• Other tasks as required to achieve the Program Objectives and Expected Results.

Basic Requirements

• Minimum of three years of experience in a position responsible for increasing resiliency of vulnerable households, reducing poverty, and strengthening access to and quality of social services, is required.
• Demonstrated experience working on the issues above in Zambia is required.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with local government officials, community leaders, and villagers is required.
• Experience in, and knowledge of, child rights and child labor issues is highly recommended.
• Experience working on issues relevant to the mining sector of Zambia is recommended.
• Must be available for travel within Zambia and be able to work in remote locations and in the rustic conditions typical of ASM sites.
• Fluency in English is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Zambia work experience preferred. Zambian National preferred.
• Knowledge of English is highly recommended.