UNIDO is seeking a National Lead Technical Advisor for a project in Zambia. The role involves providing technical leadership and coordination for a project focused on the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector.

Responsibilities or duties

Under the direct supervision of the Project Delivery Manager (PDM) and in close cooperation with the project team at UNIDO HQ and in the field, the Lead Technical Advisor will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:

• Planning /coordination/advice: Review the project document and its outputs. Provide technical advice to the PDM on project implementation, budget execution and risk management; lead the overall technical coordination of the Project Management Unit (PMU), including the two Provincial Coordinators, the National Project Assistant, the Community Outreach Officers, and thematic experts; Review existing strategy and implementation approach in the country; Establish and maintain working relationships with national partners (MMMD, MoTS, TEVETA, the ASM Directorate/Fund), the EU Delegation, local authorities, and other implementing agencies.
• Programme/project implementation: Lead the formulation of technical inputs for policies, guidelines, and capacity-building tools supporting the ASM sector under Outcome 1 (institutional strengthening, ASM skills development roadmap, training curricula) and Outcome 2 (community outreach, TVET upgrading, ASM operator support); Ensure technical coherence and quality assurance of outputs delivered by project experts and service providers, including review of technical products, assessments, curricula and training materials prior to submission to the PDM; Provide day-to-day technical guidance to the two Provincial Coordinators, the two Community Outreach Officers, the GESI Expert, and other national experts, ensuring alignment with the project's theory of change and logical framework; Ensure the integration of cross-cutting themes - gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), occupational health and safety (OHS), and environmental compliance - across all project activities and outputs; Support the Provincial Technical Committees (PTCs) and the Project Steering Committee (PSC) by preparing technical materials, briefs and recommendations for their meetings.
• Programme/project promotion and outreach: Represent the project in high-level forums, government consultations and policy discussions on ASM, skills development and critical mineral value chains in Zambia; Support outreach and visibility actions (publications, press releases, events) promoting the project's results and partners, in coordination with the Community Outreach Officer, UNIDO communications focal points, and in alignment with the EU communication guidelines; Foster and maintain strategic relationships with government counterparts, the EU Delegation, development partners, and other organizations active in ASM and skills development in Zambia.
• Capacity building of the project partners/beneficiaries: Lead the technical design and delivery of institutional capacity-building support to MMMD, MoTS, TEVETA and other government partners under Output 1.1, ensuring the prioritized interventions are demand-driven and sustainable; Provide technical direction for the development of ASM training curricula and the strengthening of partner TVET institutions under Outputs 1.2 and 2.2, ensuring alignment with national qualification standards; Support the professional development of the national PMU team through mentoring, technical guidance and knowledge-sharing.
• Reporting: Ensure fluent, timely communication and information flow to UNIDO HQ management (PDM/Industrial Development Expert and the SEF Unit), including regular technical progress updates; Contribute technical inputs to the Annual Project Report (narrative and technical sections), in coordination with the KM & Reporting Officer and the MEL Specialist, under the supervision of the PDM; Contribute to other progress reports required by key stakeholders; draft technical briefs, mission reports and other project documentation as required, and submit to the PDM.
• Other duties as required by the UNIDO HQ management: Undertake missions within Zambia (Copperbelt, North-Western and Luapula provinces, and Lusaka) as required by project activities; Participate in regular meetings for project coordination and reporting, UNIDO divisional and unit level meetings as required; Perform other duties as assigned by the PDM in support of the overall achievement of project objectives.

Qualifications or requirements

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, engineering, sciences, agro-industries, environment, business administration, or other relevant discipline is required. Specialization in mining/extractive industries, industrial development, vocational/technical education, or a related field, is highly desirable. A first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 7 years of professional hands-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

Experience needed

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least seven (7) years of professional experience in the implementation of technical cooperation/development projects at national level, is required.
• Experience in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, or the extractives industry or mining sector in general, is required.
• Experience in capacity-building, skills development, and/or business-oriented assistance is required.
• Experience in a technical leadership, team coordination or advisory role within a multi-disciplinary technical cooperation project team is required.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of Zambia or a similar country in the region is desirable.
• Experience in working with government and development agencies including the United Nations agencies in Zambia or a similar country in the region, is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Bemba, Nyanja or another local Zambian language is desirable.

• Planning /coordination/advice: Review the project document and its outputs. Provide technical advice to the PDM on project implementation, budget execution and risk management; lead the overall technical coordination of the Project Management Unit (PMU), including the two Provincial Coordinators, the National Project Assistant, the Community Outreach Officers, and thematic experts; Review existing strategy and implementation approach in the country; Establish and maintain working relationships with national partners (MMMD, MoTS, TEVETA, the ASM Directorate/Fund), the EU Delegation, local authorities, and other implementing agencies.

• Programme/project implementation: Lead the formulation of technical inputs for policies, guidelines, and capacity-building tools supporting the ASM sector under Outcome 1 (institutional strengthening, ASM skills development roadmap, training curricula) and Outcome 2 (community outreach, TVET upgrading, ASM operator support); Ensure technical coherence and quality assurance of outputs delivered by project experts and service providers, including review of technical products, assessments, curricula and training materials prior to submission to the PDM; Provide day-to-day technical guidance to the two Provincial Coordinators, the two Community Outreach Officers, the GESI Expert, and other national experts, ensuring alignment with the project's theory of change and logical framework; Ensure the integration of cross-cutting themes - gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), occupational health and safety (OHS), and environmental compliance - across all project activities and outputs; Support the Provincial Technical Committees (PTCs) and the Project Steering Committee (PSC) by preparing technical materials, briefs and recommendations for their meetings.

• Programme/project promotion and outreach: Represent the project in high-level forums, government consultations and policy discussions on ASM, skills development and critical mineral value chains in Zambia; Support outreach and visibility actions (publications, press releases, events) promoting the project's results and partners, in coordination with the Community Outreach Officer, UNIDO communications focal points, and in alignment with the EU communication guidelines; Foster and maintain strategic relationships with government counterparts, the EU Delegation, development partners, and other organizations active in ASM and skills development in Zambia.

• Capacity building of the project partners/beneficiaries: Lead the technical design and delivery of institutional capacity-building support to MMMD, MoTS, TEVETA and other government partners under Output 1.1, ensuring the prioritized interventions are demand-driven and sustainable; Provide technical direction for the development of ASM training curricula and the strengthening of partner TVET institutions under Outputs 1.2 and 2.2, ensuring alignment with national qualification standards; Support the professional development of the national PMU team through mentoring, technical guidance and knowledge-sharing.

• Reporting: Ensure fluent, timely communication and information flow to UNIDO HQ management (PDM/Industrial Development Expert and the SEF Unit), including regular technical progress updates; Contribute technical inputs to the Annual Project Report (narrative and technical sections), in coordination with the KM & Reporting Officer and the MEL Specialist, under the supervision of the PDM; Contribute to other progress reports required by key stakeholders; draft technical briefs, mission reports and other project documentation as required, and submit to the PDM.

• Other duties as required by the UNIDO HQ management: Undertake missions within Zambia (Copperbelt, North-Western and Luapula provinces, and Lusaka) as required by project activities; Participate in regular meetings for project coordination and reporting, UNIDO divisional and unit level meetings as required; Perform other duties as assigned by the PDM in support of the overall achievement of project objectives.

• Technical leadership
• Team coordination
• Advisory role
• Project implementation
• Capacity building
• Skills development
• Business-oriented assistance
• Risk management
• Budget execution
• English fluency

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, engineering, sciences, agro-industries, environment, business administration, or other relevant discipline.
• Specialization in mining/extractive industries, industrial development, vocational/technical education, or a related field, is highly desirable.
• Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma combined with an additional 7 years of professional hands-on experience directly relevant to the expertise required.