Zambia: Country Director

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and are now active in more than 80 countries.

The Opportunity: 

Plan International has been working in Zambia since 1996 with our HQ in Lusaka. We maintain field programme area offices in three regions; Eastern, Central and Luapula. our current Country Strategy goal is therefore to make significant contributions so that: Vulnerable and excluded adolescent girls reach their full potential. This will be achieved with help of three integrated and mutually supportive programs executed in development and humanitarian settings:

• Learn: Education and skills building opportunities for adolescents and youth
• Decide: Improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights and protection from CEFM, unwanted pregnancy and HIV.
• Thrive: Improving gender responsive, nurturing care and nutrition practices for Children under 5 and adolescent mothers.

The three programmes constitute an important step for PIZ to better focus and integrate its programmes. They will be supported by an influencing agenda that calls for better legal and substantive protection of adolescent girls from Child Early and Forced Marriage; and the need to address its detrimental consequences. Our signature programme interventions will be parenting education and adolescent life skills building, delivered in school, community and camp settings.

The incoming Country Director will be expected to take this Strategy forward, aligning it with the refreshed Global Strategy “All Girls Standing Strong” and Leading the CO to deliver desired impact.

Currently the country office implements a viable portfolio of approximately Euro 8 million/annum. This includes sponsorship and grants from both bilateral and multilateral donors. Current donors include: UNICEF, SIDA, MFA Netherlands amongst others.

Plan International Zambia currently employs approximately 126 staff with extended Country Management Team (eCMT) of 10 members, 4 of whom report directly to the Country Director and form a Country Leadership Team (CLT)

Plan International Zambia is privileged to have launched and currently host the 18+ Centre of Excellence on Ending Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in the entire Middle East, East and Southern Africa Region of Plan International.

Do you have what it takes?

The Country Director will lead Plan International Zambia’s bold ambition of ensuring that Vulnerable and excluded adolescent girls reach their full potential by addressing the root causes of the challenges that girls face in Zambia, based on Country Strategic plan (2022– 2026).

The Country Director will lead the Plan Zambia to ensure:

• Our development and humanitarian programmes are well funded and growing and our work is recognized locally and internationally and remains relevant to the needs of girls and vulnerable children in Zambia.
• Our team is motivated, skilled, relevant and our organization is effective, efficient and compliant with the policies, standards and expectations of Plan International Inc. This includes effective and up to date risk management relevant to a complex operating and influencing/advocacy environment in Zambia. Equally, you will ensure the country-operating model is fit for purpose, we have the right funding mix to achieve our ambition, key business processes are in place and organisational values are embedded in everything we do.
• Our work is guided by effective operations, strong financial management and reporting of budgets and performance of work plans to create a positive change for children, youth, and their communities.
• Safeguarding of all programme participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in our programmes.

Requirements: 

• As the Country Director, you will drive Plan International’s programme and influencing work, setting overall direction, leading a high performing team, ensuring accountability for meeting demanding targets and maintaining alignment with the global strategy.
• The Country Director will also have strong background in business development or resource mobilisation and good programming and influencing experience to sustain the excellent growth dynamics of the programme and advance public policy in favour of girls.
• As Country Director you will understand and drive efforts to deliver positive change for girls through advocating, campaigning, and communicating at a national level. Equally, you will ensure the country- operating model is fit for purpose, we have the right funding mix to achieve our ambition, key business processes are in place and organisational values are embedded in everything we do.
• You will lead by example in ensuring gender equality is evident in everything we do from staffing, to programing and influencing, to ways of working. You will work with your team to bring about the right culture that ensures we are champions for girls and gender equality.

The organization is committed to meeting safeguarding expectations across all its operations and will expect the country director to ensure all incidents regarding child abuse and sexual harassment are reported and effectively managed.

Plan International Zambia has embraced a partnership model and currently works with 6 partners at both local and national levels.

As a member of Middle East, East and Southern Africa (MEESA) regional Leadership team, you will have shared accountability, with CDs, Regional Director and Directors of Sub regions, to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction of Plan International’s MEESA in 15 countries in the region of approximately Euro 218 million in 2024 through an organisation of approximately 3000 people.

Our organisation is fully represented and visible in government, UN and NGO coordination systems including variety of working groups for development and refugee context.

How to Apply: 

To apply directly please click the below link: https://jobs.plan-international.org/job-invite/48745/

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.