Position Summary

MCA-Zambia II is seeking a highly qualified and experienced professional to serve as Director, Agriculture Policy Reform and Institutional Strengthening. The successful candidate will provide strategic and technical leadership in the design, implementation, and oversight of agricultural policy and institutional reforms under the Ag PIR Project. The role focuses on strengthening agricultural systems, institutions, and market frameworks—particularly within the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), and key market institutions—to enhance private sector participation, improve market efficiency, and support sustainable agricultural growth in line with MCC standards.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Reform Delivery

• Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of the Agriculture Policy Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project to achieve compact objectives efficiently and effectively.
• Drive market-friendly policy, regulatory, and institutional reforms that improve private sector participation in agricultural production, marketing, processing, and trade.
• Provide strategic analysis of the political economy to address entrenched barriers to reform and support feasible pathways for change.

Institutional Strengthening and Systems Reform

• Oversee initiatives to strengthen the Ministry of Agriculture’s capacity to implement sustained, market-oriented policy, procedural, and administrative reforms.
• Lead interventions to improve the operational efficiency and coordination of the Food Reserve Agency in managing the national strategic food reserve and food security response.
• Oversee reforms to the agricultural export and import permitting system through coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the Zambia Revenue Authority.
• Support the establishment and effective operation of key market institutions, including the Agricultural Marketing Council, commodity exchange, and market observatory.

Coordination and Partnerships

• Maintain strong, proactive engagement with GRZ counterparts to advance priority agricultural reforms.
• Coordinate closely with MCA teams, particularly the Asset Finance Project, to align policy reforms with expanded access to agricultural finance and equipment.
• Build and sustain effective partnerships with public institutions, private sector actors, donors, and civil society to ensure coherence and impact.
• Establish platforms for structured stakeholder communication and program coordination.

Program Management, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Supervise technical staff responsible for project implementation.
• Oversee procurements and technical assistance related to Ag PIR interventions.
• Monitor project performance, identify risks and implementation challenges, and recommend corrective actions.
• Contribute to high-quality reporting, briefings, and communication materials for internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge Leadership

Promote capacity building, best practices, and knowledge sharing among project partners and stakeholders.

• Stay abreast of developments in agriculture policy, institutional reform, and market systems to inform innovation and continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief Operations Officer – Programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Public Policy, Agronomy, Agriculture, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in the design, implementation, and monitoring of agriculture policy and institutional reform, preferably in an international development context.
• Proven experience implementing institutional reforms affecting agricultural policies, systems, and practices.
• Strong understanding of private sector dynamics in agriculture, particularly in grains production, trade, and processing in Zambia.
• Experience in contract management, monitoring and evaluation, and results-based management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Public Policy, Agronomy, Agriculture, or a related field.
• Proficiency in local language(s) will be an added advantage.