The Program Co-Leader will work alongside the GIZ-appointed Program Leader, both as heads of the Program Management Unit (PMU), managing the implementation of Expertise France’s activities within the program. Under the direction of Expertise France’s headquarters, the Co-Leader will be responsible for the full-time leadership, overseeing the day-to-day management, coordination, and operational and financial execution of activities under SO1 and SO3, ensuring close coordination with the Program Leader responsible for the other activities under SO1, SO2 and SO3.

The Co-Leader will ensure that activities align with program objectives, coordinate with key stakeholders, and meet the requirements of the European Union's funding regulations. The position requires a high level of autonomy, strategic thinking, and leadership to manage a multicultural team and engage effectively with government bodies, financial institutions, MSMEs, and development partners.

The Program Co-Leader will be based in Lusaka, Zambia, with regular travel to other East and Southern African countries.

More specifically, his/her missions and responsibilities are as follows (non-exhaustive list):

PMU Team Management

• Heads the PMU team based in Lusaka, including recruitment, daily management, and professional development of team members
• Fosters a collaborative working environment and ensure effective communication and coordination with the GIZ team
• Ensures compliance with safety, security, and ethical standards for the team
• Ensures compliance with local regulations

Overall Program Management

• Is responsible for harmonized execution and reporting procedures for all EF activities, set the framework and proposes shared tools and procedures
• Prepares the pluri-annual and annual planification and budgets
• Is responsible for the quality of the project deliverables
• Ensures compliance with the specifications/contract, anticipates and manages risks and developments relating to the project and alerts his or her hierarchy if necessary
• Oversees the writing and transmission of contractual reports to the donors (narrative and financial) in coordination with GIZ team leader
• Co-chairs the project’s Steering Committee

Supervision of activities of the project

• Supervises project EF activities: planning, implementation, budget execution, monitoring/evaluation, audit, in coordination with the Coordinators of Outcome 1 (EF) and of Outcome 3 (GIZ)

Internal and External project coordination

• Centralises information on the parts of the project for which EF is responsible and facilitates its dissemination to the various stakeholders
• Coordinates communication to and from GIZ, who in turn leads the communication with EU and keeps the responsible people at EUD-Zambia informed on main developments or issues requiring attention of EC services
• Participates in promotional activities with project owners, donor and beneficiaries
• EF internal liaison, including the interface between the project and EF HQ
• Represents EF at regional meetings, conferences, and events related to circular economy policies and financing
• Engage with policymakers, government bodies, financial institutions, MSMEs, and regional organizations to foster cross-country collaboration and policy harmonization.
• In particular, she / he will be in charge for managing the relationship with key political partners such as the COMESA

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• In close collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officers (MEAL) at headquarters and in the field, ensures the implementation, at the start of the project, of the monitoring and evaluation system. Throughout the project, he/she uses the system as a tool to help manage the project.
• Adjust, if necessary, the project's logical framework and theory of change based on data collected in the field and the needs assessment and in coordination with the GIZ project lead and the EUD.