Peace Corps/Zambia wishes to invite applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the position of a Response Coordinator.

Open to: All Sources

Location: Lusaka

Work Schedule: Full Time 40 hours/Week

Salary Range   : ZMW 449,142.00– ZMW 705,680.00 per Annum

General Description:

This is primarily a technical and training position with the purpose of ensuring Peace Corps Zambia’s Response Volunteers achieve stated PEPFAR targets, goals and indicators.

The Response Program Coordinator is the primary point person in the management of Volunteers under the Response Program. To date, this has focused on DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, Safe) Volunteers, funded by PEPFAR, which aims to reduce the incidence of HIV infections among young women and girls in fourteen (14) districts. DREAMS partners include USG agencies, and the Ministry of Education, in fourteen districts, to assist in the implementation of a new, mandated Life Skills and Health Education (LSHE) curriculum targeting adolescents.

The Response Program Coordinator is also responsible for PEPFAR strategic planning; administration; HIV and AIDS project monitoring and reporting for Response Volunteers; and technical input and support to the CHEP Project Manager (responsible for the design and delivery of two-year Volunteer HIV/AIDS training and activities). S/he will regularly represent Peace Corps at PEPFAR meetings and technical working groups. This position requires approximately 25% travel, at times to remote areas of Zambia, and potentially to international conferences or other meetings as required.

The Response Program Coordinator also participates in other Post activities such as gender, ICDE&I, and coaching.

Tasks & Deliverables

Response Program Leadership

• Assume technical and administrative leadership over the Peace Corps Zambia Response Program.
• Approve Response Volunteer sites, as identified, assessed, and submitted by the Safety and Security Assistant (SSA).
• Lead communications/liaise with Response Volunteers and government stakeholders:
  • Organize/conduct meetings with key government stakeholders in target districts and maintain working relationships.
  • Organize/conduct orientations for new office holders in preparation of working with Volunteers.
  • Meet with local officials and authorities, government and traditional, to discuss Volunteer issues and progress.
• Maintain communication with the HQ Response Program about new Volunteer recruitment, selection, pre-arrival, and orientation. Support new Response Volunteer recruitment, including:
• Review all resumes and feedback to the Response Office if there are any concerns/questions on the applicants.
• Liaise with the recruitment officers for any updates on medical and legal clearance.
• Organize pre-departure call(s).
• Respond to any questions from applicants in days leading up to fly-in.
• Airport pick up.
• With support from the Technical Support and Operations Coordinator, maintain accountability for developing, revising, and facilitating orientation training for Response Volunteers, including:
  • Send out invitation to all facilitators.
  • Create/update/review presentations for the sessions.
  • Make requests for all equipment and material needs and coordinate with procurement to ensure this is done in time.
  • Monitor progress of SSA in identifying and finalizing new PCRV sites; and oversee efforts of Technical Support and Operations Coordinator in completing all site development requirements.
  • Organize site-level orientations with relevant partners.
• Oversee grant process for Response Volunteers; Review and provide feedback on Volunteer small grant applications, quarterly workplans, small grant finances, and small grant completion reports.
  • Review and offer feedback and make recommendations for changes based on feasibility and project goals.
  • Develop and compile information in a tracking tool to facilitate coordination with admin staff; and to help forecast funding needs.
  • Review Volunteer workshop venue requests, collect receipts and reports, and support reconciliations.
• Provide technical and administrative support to Response Volunteers in the field through site visits, phone calls, or other means of support throughout the Volunteer’s service.
• Coordinate quarterly data collection with the Volunteers and site partners.
• Support collaborative efforts between Response Volunteer activities and other Peace Corps initiatives that support youth programming.

PEPFAR Coordination

• Oversee and coordinate all aspects of Peace Corps’ implementation of the Country Operating Plan (COP) with the U.S. interagency team, including agency lead meetings, processing and responding to all requests and special taskers from PEPFAR and Peace Corps HQ.
• Contribute information toward the development and implementation of the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP). Review the plan for consistency with Peace Corps Zambia DREAMS activities to promote successful interventions amongst DREAMS Volunteers.
• Draft and ensure PC/Zambia meets all deadlines to submit quality annual COP, semi-annual reports and other documentation and reporting as required by U.S. Mission in Zambia and PC/Washington.
• Based on COP and Peace Corps headquarters guidance, provide CHEP Project Manager and Technical Support and Operations Coordinator with program updates and technical guidance to ensure robust implementation of HIV/AIDS programming at sites.
• As necessary, drafts policy documents and HIV/AIDS program procedures and other operating processes to support effective implementation of PC/Zambia PEPFAR-funded work; solicits review and input from the gender step-up team, as needed.

Volunteer Support, Management & Administration

• Demonstrates critical thinking and problem-solving ability in resolving programming and Volunteer issues.
• Advises supervisor in a timely manner of significant problems and recommends viable solutions that can be readily adopted.
• Provides clear guidance to Response Volunteers regarding Peace Corps policies and enforces policies in a fair and consistent manner in collaboration with supervisors.
• Develops appropriate language capabilities for regular communication, presentations, and official functions.
• Participate as a collaborative team member in a multicultural work environment.
• Maintain a database of Volunteer quarterly reporting data as assigned.
• Understand and represent PC policies to Volunteers and Counterparts.
• Coordinate project activity and travel calendar.
• Maintain up to date Volunteer data in the VIDA database.
• Develop and maintain an annual Response Program monitoring and evaluation plan.
• Provide reports on the following:
  • Site Visits conducted (as they occur)
  • Any special meetings or conferences attended

Project and PTE Division Planning Duties:

• Attend all program and training meetings.
• Participate in annual budget and programming planning meetings.
• Conduct data cleaning, data analysis, and the submission of DREAMS reports to the DDPT, or any others at Peace Corps Washington or other partners.
• Liaise with Zambian community counterparts and attend meetings as needed with the US Government inter-agency teams, and other organizations.
• Provide support, as needed, to the CHEP Project Team, responsible for updating and compiling HIV/AIDS materials, electronically or hard copy, that may be helpful to two-year PCVs at appropriate times in their service.

Post Wide Gender, ICDE&I, and Coach Approach Liaison

• Facilitate two Gender Global Core sessions during PST, with support from step-up team members, which the coordinator will plan.
• Co-facilitate ICDE&I sessions at PST for the four sectors, with support from step-up team members, which the coordinator will plan.
• Ensure ICDE&I lens is integrated into the Global Core sessions during PST.
• Ensure inclusion of gender equity and HIV/AIDS training or activities into training events and Volunteer activities in all sectors, where possible.
• Support Volunteer planning of GLOW/BRO Camps including proposing resources and facilitators.
• Provide linkages to Gender Based Violence (GBV) support desks in each province.
• Co-facilitate Coach Approach Sessions for Staff.

Required Qualifications

In order to be selected for this position, the applicant must be legally eligible to work in Zambia, must not have  been employed in intelligence-related activities, and must submit an application that clearly documents how they meet each of the following requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in social science or health related field
• Seven years’ experience in HIV / AIDS related work
• Two years training experience using adult education techniques.
• Project management experience, including budget oversight and monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the Zambian context of rural development and HIV/AIDS
• Strong conceptualization, analytical and problem-solving skills; and demonstrated ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary and international team framework.
• Good working knowledge of English and proficiency with Microsoft based applications such as Word, Excel, and Power Point
• Must be willing and available to travel to rural Zambia for up to two weeks at a time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Possession of a master’s degree in a related field.
• Supervisory experience.
• Professional experience with a donor-funded, multi-cultural organization.
• Knowledge of Peace Corps development philosophy and the role of Volunteers in development.
• Good working knowledge of the commonly (spoken and written) local languages.

• Not evaluate or withhold an offer to an individual who has current or prior connections with intelligence activities or agencies through employment, related work, or even family relations.
• Not evaluate or to withhold an offer of a personal services contract to an individual that has a history of poor past performance or conduct as a Peace Corps Trainee, Volunteer, or staff member (USDH, PSC, or FSN).
• Withhold an offer of a personal services contract to an individual that is a relative or household member of a current Peace Corps staff member.