About Restless Development

Restless Development is a global non profit agency. We support the collective power of young leaders to create a better world. We are independently registered and governed in nine countries (India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe) bound together by our vision for youth power. We run youth-led programmes to tackle the issues that young people care about the most as well as running a growing global Youth Collective.

We know young people have the power to solve the challenges we face in our world, but they are being side-lined. We are the agency that works with young people so they can lead in solving those challenges. Whether that means supporting communities to end child marriage or prevent HIV, we work with young people to change their lives and the lives of people in their communities.

Our programmes are genuinely life-changing, but we can’t do any of this without talented, creative individuals at every level of our organisation.

Our approach to safeguarding

Restless Development considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults to be an organisational imperative with primacy over the success of programmes or strategic objectives. We recognize that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we expect all of our staff, volunteers and partners to ensure we protect the communities in which we operate from harm and abide by our Safeguarding Policy.

About the Role

The anticipated Nyenyezi/Intanda “Stars” Project is an initiative focused on promoting safe and resilient communities free from gender-based violence (GBV). This project aims to create an environment where individuals are empowered, supported, and protected from violence and abuse. It includes implementing community awareness campaigns to educate the public on GBV and prevention strategies, providing essential support services such as counselling, legal aid, and health care for survivors, and building capacity through training for local leaders and service providers. Additionally, the project engages in advocacy and policy work to push for stronger GBV protections and support systems. Through these efforts, the Nyenyezi/Intanda “Stars” Project seeks to foster a culture of safety and resilience, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without the threat of GBV

The project specifically targets girls of school going age with the following characteristics: (i) at risk of dropping out of school, unplanned teenage pregnancy, intimate partner violence and/or domestic violence, (ii) high vulnerability to economic and climatic shocks, (iii) systematic marginalisation in access to economic, social and legal services. The direct target groups come from rural, peri-urban and urban areas who (i) depend on small-scale rain-fed agriculture, (ii) work in an agricultural business and (iii) are involved in petty trade. In addition, the project aims to directly target groups from communities that: (i) practice harmful cultural norms and (ii) have limited access to basic services such as education, health, social services and the justice system.

Restless Development seeks to recruit dynamic, inspired, and innovative Zambians to fill the roles of Programme Officer for the anticipated Nyenyezi/Intanda “Stars” Project. The Programme Officers will be based in one of the following districts: Kapiri Mposhi, Ngabwe, or Luano. Candidates are asked to specify their preferred district in their application. The Programme Officers will be responsible for programme implementation, day-to-day project operations, and establishing linkages with stakeholders at provincial and district levels in targeted schools and communities.

About You

Restless Development takes a Power Shifting approach – we are intentional in our approach to shift power and strengthen youth power in the majority world in all that we do. Our work is guided by the Power Shifting Checklist.

We are looking for people with the right competencies and skills for the role, and who demonstrate the personal qualities consistent with our Values.

Desired skills, experience and commitment:

Essential

• Strong community mobilisation skills.
• Strong understanding of the intersection between climate change and GBV, including how environmental stressors can exacerbate gender inequalities and violence.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with stakeholders and build collaborative relationships.
• Proficiency in conducting needs assessments, data analysis, and reporting to inform program design and decision-making.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building activities for educators and community members.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of Gender Based Violence programs, policies, and frameworks is desirable.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing programme needs and priorities.
• Commitment to gender equality and social inclusion principles, with an understanding of the unique challenges faced by young female learners in accessing education and training opportunities.
• Good understanding of CDF and SAFF processes.
• Proficiency in respective  local languages (Bemba, Lala, Lamba, Lenje)  and English is required.

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Agriculture, Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, Development Studies, Social Work, Public Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in programme management, preferably in the education or development sector.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, including working with government agencies, NGOs, community organisations, and other key partners.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs, with a focus on improving learning outcomes and promoting gender equality.
• Experience in conducting needs assessments, baseline studies, and data analysis to inform program design and decision-making.
• Proven track record of successfully managing program budgets and resources, ensuring efficient allocation and utilisation of funds.
• Experience in facilitating workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building activities for diverse audiences, including educators, students, and community members.
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation methodologies and tools to track program progress and measure impact.
• Experience working in multicultural and multilingual settings, with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.

Desirable

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Fluency in  written and spoken english.
• Familiarity with participatory approaches for engaging stakeholders and ensuring their meaningful involvement in program design and implementation.
• Knowledge of gender-responsive programming principles to address gender disparities in program outcomes and ensure inclusivity.
• Must be willing to ride a motorbike.