Organisational Strategy:

Self Help Africa’s Zambia programme works with local communities to help them improve their livelihoods. Our mission is to alleviate hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food throughout the year.

Self Help Africa has been working in Zambia for over 35 years and has reached over 250,000 smallholder farmers. Our work has been focused on ending poverty and hunger through community-led and market-based approaches. Our experience working with rural communities and smallholder farmers during this time has honed our expertise in addressing climate change and its impact on food production and the environment.

While our core work is with small-scale farming families, who make up the majority (70 per cent) of the extremely poor in Zambia, we also implement projects that support communities facing grave humanitarian crises, and we assist farmers and farming cooperatives in sourcing profitable markets locally, nationally and regionally for their produce.

We collaborate with companies – both large and small – seeking to create jobs, add value, and develop markets that enable small-holder farmers to trade their goods. We also seek relationships with international businesses and corporations seeking opportunities to invest, collaborate, and develop markets that contribute to economic growth in Zambia.

Job Purpose:

The Technical Manager will be part of the team responsible for technical and operational engagement with SMEs for Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy in Zambia (GREEN Tech4CE) Implementation Team. The GREEN Tech4CE is a collaboration between Self Help Africa (SHA) and co-applicants Imani Development (International) Ltd (IDIL), Prospero Limited (Prospero) and Tandem Circular Consulting (Tandem) to promote and de-risk investment in green sustainable growth in Zambia through creating and sustaining green, circular, and digital economic opportunities for women, men, and youths.

The Technical Manager will be responsible for the management of the portfolio assigned to him/her. This will include pipeline generation through networking, information sessions etc. The Technical Manager will also provide leadership in the project refinement for contracting for each company within his/her portfolio. She/He will monitor implementation progress, participate in M&E activities, conduct due diligence/capacity assessments, provide technical assistance and coaching to the portfolio of selected businesses. The Technical Manager will be a member of a team of 5 PMs including the Senior Technical Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver sensitisation and information sharing events for applicants;
• Conduct due diligence and support assessment of project suitability for the fund for shortlisted applicants
• Review match funding plans for proposed projects;
• Develop a results framework for the shortlisted applicants, in collaboration with the M&E officers;
• Support shortlisted applicants to draw up loan applications to partner financial institutions, in collaboration with relationship managers.

Grantee management and support

Manage a portfolio of enterprises to fulfil their contractual obligations and to deliver the stated results. Specific tasks include the following:

• Act as the lead contact for an assigned number of enterprises and maintain frequent and regular communication with them;
• Facilitate technical assistance (training, coaching and mentoring) to the enterprises after award to ensure increased value chain integration and sustainable and profitable operations;
• Facilitate enterprises in networking, business-to-business linkages and strengthening their supply chains
• Build relationships with EIB partner banks and disseminate information on available financial services;
• Assess the enterprises capacity needs and design and provide activities that build their capacity;
• Monitor programme performance to enable early anticipation of necessary adjustments to plans and budgets;
• Provide guidance in the preparation of quarterly milestone reporting.

Programme quality, monitoring and reporting

Work closely with the enterprises and other stakeholders, including SHA programme staff, to coordinate coherent and consistent delivery of the programme objectives. Specific tasks include the following:

• Support programme management on all aspects of the programme cycle: design, planning, implementation, quality and accountability, monitoring and evaluation;
• In coordination with the GREEN Tech4CE, Imani, SHA Zambia and HO Technical Advisors, ensure effective integration of core technical areas;
• Provide technical input for the implementation of the programme including in the preparation of work plans, strategies, training materials, guides and manuals;
• Facilitate effective communication between SHA and stakeholders for effective programme management;
• In conjunction with the M&E team, conduct monitoring and evaluation of the selected enterprises’ outputs and compile periodic programme reports as required by the donors and SHA;
• Work with the Project Support Officer to capture learning emerging from the programme;
• Represent the GREEN Tech4CE project at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field in close coordination with the Team Leader and the Country Management Team.

Operations and compliance

• Ensure all documentation for each company is 100% complete and up-to-date on Salesforce – contracts and agreed amendments, financial and narrative reports, official communications, etc
• Support the Team Leader to ensure compliance by SHA and partners with contract requirements in planning, financial management, procurement, monitoring and reporting, and facilitate further training where necessary;
• Identify, assess and report on risk elements within the projects and wider programme, including regular updates of the company performance tracker;
• Support the team in programme design and fundraising initiatives that contribute to the growth of the GREEN Tech4CE programme;

Occasionally, other duties may be assigned by the line manager to ensure effective project delivery.

Knowledge and Experience:
Essential

• At least five years’ experience in the implementation of business/enterprise development projects with mentoring and business development support to MSMEs;
• Good project management skills with an understanding of business decision-making in competitive market environments; inclusive subsector development and value chain/Market Systems Development;
• Strong analytical skills for appraising business case reports and audited financials with an understanding of performance contracting, follow-up, and execution;
• Proven experience in investment and financial assets management as an analyst or assistant manager in a financial institution environment;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team building skills;
• Excellent report writing skills and ability to present results succinctly and for a varied audience.

Desirable

• Familiarity and experience with EU regulations preferred;
• An understanding of the green and circular economy principles and; sustainable business practices;
• Commercial business experience from working in the private sector.

Qualifications / Other Requirements:
Essential:

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics or related field relevant to the role required
• Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and other related packages.

Role Competencies:

• Results-oriented with excellent organisational and communication skills, as well as enthusiasm and initiative;
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values;
• Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports;
• Ability to work as part of team across different cultures;
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative.