Role Description

Play It Forward Zambia (PFZ) seeks an experienced and committed individual to join our team in Livingstone as the Psychosocial Support Project Officer. This role will lead the Kick for Change project, a sports-based initiative to prevent substance abuse and support mental health among at-risk youth. This exciting project uses football as a tool to deliver life skills training and promote community well-being through partnerships and community engagement.

The Psychosocial Support Officer will work closely with the Country Director to ensure effective project delivery, monitoring & evaluation to demonstrate measurable impact.

Background
Our mission is to empower young Zambians to develop sustainable livelihoods through quality education and health activities. Play it Forward inspires and empowers a whole new generation of young people to take control of their lives.

We engage over 2,500 young people every year in a wide range of programmes from health education & HIV testing to literacy, coding, mentoring and support towards higher education and employment. Our support on and off the pitch, ensures that young people emerge from our programmes with new skills to succeed in school, the workforce and in life.

UK Charity Registration Number 1108821
Zambia Non-Profit Registration No. 120170010072

Job Details
Location: Livingstone, Zambia
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Contract: 1 year, subject to a 3-month probationary period (extensions dependent on funding)
Type: Full-time
Reports to: Country Director (CD)

Essential skills and experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience managing psychosocial support or public health projects, ideally with a focus on youth, mental health, or substance abuse prevention.
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding practices and experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Proven ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community groups.
• Proficiency in project management tools and data collection platforms (e.g., Trello and KoboToolbox).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Project Management

Key Deliverable: Effective coordination and implementation of the Kick for Change project to achieve measurable impact.

• Lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of project activities, including football-based life skills sessions, community counselling groups, and stakeholder meetings.
• Develop and monitor project plans, budgets, and progress reports.
• Oversee community coaches and counsellors, ensuring they are trained to deliver psychosocial support to at-risk adolescents.

2. Financial Management

Key deliverable: Ensure financial controls are adhered to and provide regular quality financial reporting as required.

• Monitor project expenditures, ensuring costs are within approved budgets and projects are delivered cost-effectively.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial policies, safeguarding the organisation assets and donor funds.
• Provide regular financial reports to ensure alignment with monthly and annual budgetary limits.

3. Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

Key Deliverable: Demonstrate project impact through comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and data management.

• Collaborate with the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer to develop an M&E framework, collect data, and measure progress against objectives.
• Generate progress reports, ensuring timely submission to donors and stakeholders.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

Key Deliverable: Establish strong partnerships with key community stakeholders to extend the project’s reach and ensure its sustainability.

• Engage with project partners to coordinate efforts and strengthen referral systems.
• Organise and facilitate stakeholder meetings to discuss project impact, share insights, and build long-term support.

5. Training & Capacity Building

Key Deliverable: Equip coaches and counsellors with the skills to deliver life skills education and psychosocial support.

• Lead training workshops for community coaches and counsellors on safeguarding life skills, and support strategies.
• Provide mentorship to project staff, empowering them to support the mental health and resilience of adolescents.

6. Risk Management & Safeguarding

Key Deliverable: Ensure safeguarding measures are followed to protect vulnerable youth and staff.

• Implement safeguarding protocols in all project activities and provide training on identifying and managing risks.
• Develop referral pathways for adolescents needing clinical support.