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Job Category  Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Job Subcategory  Economic and Prosperity

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

This is a role within the Economic Development and Green Growth Team at the British High Commission, Lusaka.  The purpose of the job is to deliver high quality advice and programme management support related to agriculture, climate change and rural livelihoods.

Supporting poverty reduction is the UK’s top priority in Zambia. This exciting role will work directly on two major areas relevant to poverty reduction – rural livelihoods and climate adaptation. The post-holder will collaborate with colleagues across the Mission to deliver this goal.  As we ensure rural livelihoods and climate issues are considered across our portfolio the post-holder will work closely with programme managers and advisers across BHC Lusaka and central teams based in the UK.

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

The post-holder will work closely with the Climate and Environment Lead and collaborate with all colleagues in the team and across the office and FCDO.  This will include working with Advisers in the fields of climate and environment, economics, trade, private sector development, infrastructure, and social development, as well as programme management staff.

Responsibilities will include:

1. Support UK and Zambian efforts to support rural livelihoods to ensure poverty reduction and adaptation to climate change, including:

• Supporting the design and delivery of UK development programs to support UK and GRZ ambitions with a focus on climate adaptation and leveraging private sector investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems;
• Being the UK’s lead specialist on agriculture in Zambia, including driving our work to influence GRZ policy on agricultural reform (FRA, FISP), including leading engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Livestock.
• Lead the UKs innovative thinking on the nexus between agriculture and climate resilience, bringing together the UK’s work on emergency cash transfers, disaster risk insurance, adaptation to ensure a coherent UK approach.
• Building relationships with key external stakeholders, including Government, Multilateral Development Banks, private sector players, NGOs, and other development partners to expand our network and understanding of the context, and delivering advice to support FCDO objectives;
• Keeping abreast of evolving policy priorities in the areas of climate, nature, agriculture and rural livelihoods.
• Supporting the mainstreaming of climate and nature issues across the breadth of the UK’s portfolio in Zambia.

2. High quality programme management support for Agriculture and Climate programming, which covers climate finance, adaptation and resilience, and livelihoods:

• Ensure high standards of programme management, risk management, and compliance are being maintained in line with the FCDO Program Operating Framework (PrOF) and other corporate guidance.
• Work with Departmental Procurement Officer on procurement and commercial management;
• Ensure partners understand and conform to FCDO’s financial framework, requirements, policies, and guidelines (including principles of zero fraud and corruption).
• Develop and maintain accurate budgets and robust and realistic financial forecasts, working closely with finance colleagues and implementing partners.
• Support work to analyse and challenge partner performance including keeping track of contracts, accountable grants, workplans, risk, compliance, and payment milestones.
• Scrutinise and promptly receipt invoices and funds requests in compliance with FCDO programme management principles and within agreed timelines.
• Input to Annual Reviews and Project Completion Reviews for relevant projects, including joining monitoring field visits and drafting specific sections of reports.
• Ensure timely, quality responses to relevant letters, corporate returns, submissions, and responses to official government correspondence.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Programme budget responsibilities: £45m pipeline

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  Minimum of a Degree

• Minimum of 5 years work experience.
• At least 2 years’ experience in managing programmes/projects and budgets
• At least 3 years’ experience working on agriculture, climate and environment issues

Required behaviours

Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing