About StrongMinds Zambia

StrongMinds is a global nonprofit organization driven by the belief that mental health is a human right and the foundation of thriving families and communities. Our evidence-based group talk therapy model, grounded in interpersonal group therapy (IPT-G), is delivered by trained lay community members, enabling us to reach hundreds of thousands of people each year. Our mission is to democratize access to mental health care for people with depression, globally.

StrongMinds Zambia (SMZ) works in close partnership with the Government of Zambia to deliver culturally relevant, community-based depression treatment through trained local facilitators embedded in public systems. To date, StrongMinds has supported depression treatment for more than half a million people in Zambia through long-term partnerships with national and subnational authorities. Having demonstrated the feasibility, effectiveness, and affordability of this model at scale, SMZ is now focused on deepening and institutionalizing these approaches within government structures.

By the end of 2025, SMZ has successfully implemented depression treatment programs across multiple government platforms, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. Additional opportunities are emerging with the Ministry of Home Affairs through Correctional Services and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. SMZ is a founding member of the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Technical Working Group under the Directorate for Non-Communicable Diseases. In 2026, SMZ will pilot a “model district” approach in Ndola to strengthen local multisectoral coordination and leadership for mental health delivery.

Much has been initiated, but this role marks a new phase. The Advocacy and Communications Lead will be the first dedicated focal lead for advocacy and communications at StrongMinds Zambia.

About the role

Job title: Advocacy and Communications Lead (ACL)

Line Manager / Supervisor: Country Director

Duty Station: Lusaka, Zambia. (with in-country and international travel)

Salary: SM Salary Grade: 9

Job Purpose / Position Summary

Working closely with the StrongMinds Zambia Country Director, with dotted-line support from the Global Advocacy Director, the Advocacy and Communications Lead will lead the design, coordination, and execution of SMZ’s advocacy and government engagement agenda. The role develops and drives the country-level advocacy strategy, defines policy and financing priorities, and shapes a clear, credible advocacy voice.

The position strengthens relationships with people affected by mental health conditions, government ministries, local authorities, and allied organizations, while building internal advocacy capacity across national, provincial, and district teams. Through this work, the role ensures StrongMinds is a visible, trusted, and influential partner advancing policies, systems, and financing that expand access to community-based mental health care nationwide.

Key Areas of Responsibility

A. Strategy Integration & Alignment

• Lead design and implementation of SMZ’s advocacy strategy and annual workplan.
• Provide policy analysis to inform advocacy priorities.
• Plan and coordinate advocacy events, policy dialogues, roundtables, and campaigns.
• Track progress against advocacy objectives and milestones.

B. Outreach, Government Engagement & Influencing

• Strengthen and coordinate relationships across key ministries and local government entities.
• Identify and cultivate new strategic government partnerships to advance multisectoral integration.
• Coordinate SMZ participation in national technical working groups.
• Identify and support government champions for mental health.
• Support SMZ’s provincial and district teams with locally driven advocacy efforts.
• Develop policy briefs, talking points, and advocacy materials.
• Convene advocacy workshops and multisector engagements.
• Support staff participation in presentations, panels, and speaking engagements.
• Coordinate submission of abstracts and session proposals for conferences and forums.

C. Internal Engagement & Evidence Use

• Conduct policy, stakeholder, and advocacy landscape analyses.
• Support documentation of district-level advocacy outcomes and lessons.
• Collaborate with SMZ and StrongMinds Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning staff to track advocacy indicators and results.
• Work with the global communications team to surface evidence and stories.

D. Communications

• Produce high-quality written materials, including policy briefs, advocacy messaging, talking points, op-eds, blog drafts, and internal briefs, for both national and global audiences.
• Contribute country-level insights, evidence, and stories to support StrongMinds’ global advocacy priorities and external communications.
• Ensure advocacy communications are clear, evidence-based, and aligned with StrongMinds’ global positioning, brand, and messaging frameworks.

Educational Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Political Science, or a related field,

A postgraduate qualification in Communications, Advocacy, Public Policy, Development, or a related field is an added advantage.

Experience & Competencies

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in advocacy, policy engagement, and/or government relations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing advocacy strategies in Zambia.
• Strong written and verbal communication, analytical, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven relationships with key stakeholders in relevant Zambian government ministries.
• Track record of building organizational advocacy capacity among staff and partners.
• Deep understanding of Zambia’s policy development, and budgeting processes.
• Familiarity with regional and subnational governance and coordination structures.
• Ability to travel up to 20% within Zambia and occasionally internationally.
• Experience in mental health and/or health and development sectors is an advantage.
• Legal right to live and work in Zambia without restriction.

• Lead design and implementation of SMZ’s advocacy strategy and annual workplan.
• Provide policy analysis to inform advocacy priorities.
• Plan and coordinate advocacy events, policy dialogues, roundtables, and campaigns.
• Track progress against advocacy objectives and milestones.
• Strengthen and coordinate relationships across key ministries and local government entities.
• Identify and cultivate new strategic government partnerships to advance multisectoral integration.
• Coordinate SMZ participation in national technical working groups.
• Identify and support government champions for mental health.
• Support SMZ’s provincial and district teams with locally driven advocacy efforts.
• Develop policy briefs, talking points, and advocacy materials.
• Convene advocacy workshops and multisector engagements.
• Support staff participation in presentations, panels, and speaking engagements.
• Coordinate submission of abstracts and session proposals for conferences and forums.
• Conduct policy, stakeholder, and advocacy landscape analyses.
• Support documentation of district-level advocacy outcomes and lessons.
• Collaborate with SMZ and StrongMinds Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning staff to track advocacy indicators and results.
• Work with the global communications team to surface evidence and stories.
• Produce high-quality written materials, including policy briefs, advocacy messaging, talking points, op-eds, blog drafts, and internal briefs, for both national and global audiences.
• Contribute country-level insights, evidence, and stories to support StrongMinds’ global advocacy priorities and external communications.
• Ensure advocacy communications are clear, evidence-based, and aligned with StrongMinds’ global positioning, brand, and messaging frameworks.

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Analytical skills
• Facilitation skills
• Relationship-building skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Political Science, or a related field
• A postgraduate qualification in Communications, Advocacy, Public Policy, Development, or a related field is an added advantage
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in advocacy, policy engagement, and/or government relations
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing advocacy strategies in Zambia
• Proven relationships with key stakeholders in relevant Zambian government ministries
• Track record of building organizational advocacy capacity among staff and partners
• Deep understanding of Zambia’s policy development, and budgeting processes
• Familiarity with regional and subnational governance and coordination structures
• Ability to travel up to 20% within Zambia and occasionally internationally
• Experience in mental health and/or health and development sectors is an advantage
• Legal right to live and work in Zambia without restriction