Job Description

The Cooperative Development Specialist will provide training, technical assistance and mentoring to newly formed rural electric cooperatives established by the Zambia Electric Cooperative Development Program (ZECDP) that has been underway in Zambia since 2021. The Cooperative Development Specialist will direct all cooperative training, technical assistance and mentoring activities, working in direct collaboration with the ZECDP Community Organizational Specialist and with team members from the Zambia Rural Electrification Authority.

The Specialist will draft policies, procedures, training curricula and guidelines to memorialize ZECDP support to newly established electric cooperative businesses in Zambia. The Specialist will collaborate with the Zambia Department of Cooperatives (Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry) to transfer knowledge, build capacity and to support Department of Cooperatives knowledge and understanding of electric cooperatives and their training and oversight requirements. The Specialist will also collaborate with NRECA International team members in the home office to arrange training and technical assistance programs for ZECDP-sponsored cooperatives with respect to board, management and employee training activities. The Specialist will also work with ZECDP team members to develop training programs for productive uses of electricity and other training themes that relate directly to cooperative functionality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public policy or non-profit management.
• Ten years of experience in community organization or cooperative development.

About the Organization

NRECA International is a rural development organization whose mission is to increase access to reliable electric service in developing countries. Since 1962, NRECA’s programs have focused on improving and expanding electric infrastructure, establishing self-sustaining and well-managed electric utilities, and providing technical assistance to national electrification planners.

NRECA International is currently working on three continents to provide expertise in renewable energy on- and off-grid feasibility studies, utility design and construction; geospatial platforms for electrification investment planning; universal electrification strategy planning; utility operations and service improvements; project design, procurement and construction supervision; and engineering design and analysis.

Current projects are underway in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zambia and projects were recently completed in Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.