Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

ActionAid Zambia (AAZ) is part of the ActionAid Global (AAG) Federation, sharing common values and aims to drive social change towards a just, equitable and sustainable world. AAZ works with the marginalized, excluded women and young people, their organizations, and social movements to address the structural causes of social injustice, gender inequality and poverty.

ActionAid Zambia is seeking a dynamic, experienced and suitably qualified Zambian for the role of Project Officer, Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys) to strengthen inclusive and accountable CAADP implementation in Zambia.

POSITION: Project Officer- Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys)

Duration: Eight (8 months) contract, renewable subject to funding and performance

Location: Lusaka

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Project Officer will lead the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) related activities under the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys) project, ensuring inclusive, accountable, and people-centred implementation of Zambia’s CAADP commitments. This initiative seeks to strengthen parliamentary oversight, civil society coordination, and meaningful participation of smallholder farmers particularly women and youth in Zambia’s agri-food systems.

The position operationalizes ActionAid Zambia’s Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) by empowering rights holders and strengthening duty bearer accountability within the agricultural sector.

Responsibilities or duties

The role will strengthen:

• Parliamentary oversight on CAADP and agricultural budgeting
• Civil society coordination and advocacy on agri-food systems
• Meaningful participation of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth
• Linkages between community-level evidence, national policy processes, and regional CAADP engagements

Programme Implementation & Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of all CAADP project activities in line with approved workplan and budget.
• Develop detailed activity plans and track progress against project indicators.
• Ensure integration of feminist principles and gender-transformative approaches.
• Support adaptive programming based on contextual and political economy analysis.

Parliamentary Engagement & Policy Oversight

• Develop and simplify CAADP briefing materials for Members of Parliament.
• Organize and facilitate capacity-building workshops for MPs and parliamentary committee staff.
• Support facilitation of parliamentary policy dialogues on CAADP implementation and agricultural budgeting.
• Track and document parliamentary oversight actions related to CAADP commitments.

Civil Society Coordination and Advocacy

• Facilitate the establishment and operationalisation of a functional CAADP Civil Society Platform.
• Coordinate national CAADP civil society meetings.
• Support development of joint CSO policy briefs and advocacy messages.
• Organize structured engagement meetings between CSOs and government institutions.
• Strengthen linkages between national CSOs and regional CAADP processes.

Community Empowerment and Social Accountability

• Organize community sensitisation dialogues on CAADP.
• Strengthen advocacy and social accountability capacity of women and youth farmer groups.
• Support formation and strengthening of farmer-led social accountability structures.
• Develop and support use of community-level monitoring tools for agricultural budgets and services.
• Ensure community evidence informs national and regional advocacy.

Learning Documentation and Knowledge Management

• Document policy influence outcomes and stories of change.
• Support quarterly reflection and learning sessions.
• Prepare high-quality narrative project reports.
• Track performance indicators and contribute to MEL processes.
• Support learning exchange visits between farmers and policy actors.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Public Policy, Development Studies, Economics, or related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and human rights.

Experience needed

• Minimum 3–5 years’ relevant experience in agriculture policy, governance, or advocacy.
• Experience working with civil society, parliamentarians, and community groups.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

• Strong policy analysis and writing skills.
• Understanding of CAADP and Zambia’s agricultural policy landscape is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of CAADP and Zambia’s agricultural policy framework.
• Knowledge of agricultural budgeting processes and public finance.
• Understanding of HRBA and gender-transformative programming.
• Knowledge of regional agricultural policy processes (SADC, AU frameworks) is an added advantage.
• Strong conceptual, analytical, documentation and presentation skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills coupled with ability to influence.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
• Thorough understanding and practical application of participatory approaches
• Analysis and report writing
• Networking, influencing and interpersonal
• Planning, organisation, time management, and coordination
• ActionAid is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women are encouraged to apply. Please Note: While we value all applications, we can only respond to short listed and candidate’s finalist.

• Coordinate implementation of all CAADP project activities in line with approved workplan and budget.
• Develop detailed activity plans and track progress against project indicators.
• Ensure integration of feminist principles and gender-transformative approaches.
• Support adaptive programming based on contextual and political economy analysis.
• Develop and simplify CAADP briefing materials for Members of Parliament.
• Organize and facilitate capacity-building workshops for MPs and parliamentary committee staff.
• Support facilitation of parliamentary policy dialogues on CAADP implementation and agricultural budgeting.
• Track and document parliamentary oversight actions related to CAADP commitments.
• Facilitate the establishment and operationalisation of a functional CAADP Civil Society Platform.
• Coordinate national CAADP civil society meetings.
• Support development of joint CSO policy briefs and advocacy messages.
• Organize structured engagement meetings between CSOs and government institutions.
• Strengthen linkages between national CSOs and regional CAADP processes.
• Organize community sensitisation dialogues on CAADP.
• Strengthen advocacy and social accountability capacity of women and youth farmer groups.
• Support formation and strengthening of farmer-led social accountability structures.
• Develop and support use of community-level monitoring tools for agricultural budgets and services.
• Ensure community evidence informs national and regional advocacy.
• Document policy influence outcomes and stories of change.
• Support quarterly reflection and learning sessions.
• Prepare high-quality narrative project reports.
• Track performance indicators and contribute to MEL processes.
• Support learning exchange visits between farmers and policy actors.

• Strong policy analysis and writing skills.
• Strong understanding of CAADP and Zambia’s agricultural policy framework.
• Knowledge of agricultural budgeting processes and public finance.
• Understanding of HRBA and gender-transformative programming.
• Knowledge of regional agricultural policy processes (SADC, AU frameworks) is an added advantage.
• Strong conceptual, analytical, documentation and presentation skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills coupled with ability to influence.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
• Thorough understanding and practical application of participatory approaches
• Analysis and report writing
• Networking, influencing and interpersonal
• Planning, organisation, time management, and coordination

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Public Policy, Development Studies, Economics, or related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Experience working with civil society, parliamentarians, and community groups.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and human rights.