Position: Project Implementation Unit Coordinator

Project Name: The Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP), (P505094)

Name of Employer / Institution: Electronic Government Division – Smart Zambia Institute (SZI)

1.   Background

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has received financing from the International Development Association of the World Bank to accelerate country-wide digital transformation. The “Digital Zambia Acceleration Project” (henceforth referred to as the ‘the project’) will drive digital transformation throughout the country by enhancing access to technology and improving service delivery. The project will address key barriers that hinder demand for digital services, such as inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy rates, access to digital devices and affordability issues. The project in addition, will enable Zambia to leverage critical enabling digital platforms and data-driven solutions to improve the efficiency of public service delivery and expand the adoption of digitally enabled services.

The Project will be coordinated through the Electronic Government Division (EGD) – Smart Zambia Institute (SZI). A dedicated Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is thus being set up and operationalized at SZI that will have overall responsibility for supporting project preparation and implementation.

SZI seeks to hire a series of high-performing and qualified experts, as individual consultants, to fill the positions of the PIU, who will drive the successful and effective preparation and delivery of this project. The job profiles, roles and responsibilities and reporting requirements of the said consultants are indicated below.

1.1.  Summary of Needed Expert

The Project Implementation Unit Coordinator will be responsible for project coordination and will supervise and lead project staff of the PIU, ensuring effective communication and collaboration among team members. The coordinator will also provide support to the secretariat for the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and will be the main interface with the World Bank project team. The hired expert should possess good problem-solving skills as he/she will be expected to address any operational challenges that arise on the project. The following are the required qualifications and experience for the Project Implementation Unit Coordinator.

2.   Objective of the Assignment for the Project Implementation Unit Coordinator

The overall objective of this position is to ensure the effective and efficient execution of project activities, aligning them with the project’s goals and objectives. This includes overseeing planning, coordination, implementation, managing resources, engaging stakeholders, providing secretariat services and ensuring compliance with regulations and standards, notably the project implementation manual and the commercial transaction manual.

3.   Scope of Work for the Assignment

·     Manage the PIU and provide effective steer in the development and implementation of the project.

·     Maintain a strategic overview of all aspects of project design and implementation (fiduciary, M&E, technical, etc.) ensuring coherence and quality assurance, as well as timely delivery of key documents and outputs by the PIU, with input from other PIU members.  

·     Lead the needs identification, planning and budgeting process for the funded activities to be implemented, and ensure that all activities are planned, budgeted for, and executed in line with project agreements in a timely manner, meeting key project milestones established.

·     Coordinate and manage the hired team of PIU experts and specialists, by ensuring appropriate performance management systems in line with GRZ policies, procedures and guidelines in place.

·     Ensure the PIU team’s effective delivery of the project against the Financing Agreements, including the formulation and periodic review and update of the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB), furnishing requisite progress reports to the WB.

·     Ensure adherence to World Bank guidelines and procedures and effective disbursement of project funds.

·     Establish and maintain effective, inclusive, and collaborative coordination and working relationships with development partners and other key project stakeholders, serving as the main interlocutor on issues related to the overall project design and implementation.

·     Promote activities enhancing awareness of the project and contribute to knowledge-sharing, representing the project in relevant internal and external for an as and when needed.

·     Design an overarching risk mitigation plan for the project and regularly review the performance to ensure that risks are adequately identified, and that mitigation is effectively and promptly applied, including but not limited to those related to fiduciary, stakeholder engagement, environmental and social aspects of the project.

·     Ensure timely, high-quality project reporting in line with SZI’s agreements with its development partners and stakeholders.

·     Support the implementation of recommendations from the development partners and stakeholders’ assessments of the Project.

·     Staying abreast of sectoral-wide development that may reasonably be expected to impact the project, including but not limited to action taken by Government or other donor-funded activities in the sector.

·     Ensure delivery against cross-cutting project priorities and commitments related to citizen engagement, gender and inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, etc.

·     Ensure that all requisite processes for smooth project implementation and robust supervision are established, including but not limited to drafting and managing ad hoc updates to the Project Implementation Manual, establishing an M&E and reporting system, formalizing relationships with project beneficiaries and stakeholder, calling and preparing steering committee meetings, with the support of the wider PIU team.

·     Providing the main interface with the Bank team, notably the country management unit (CMU) and the task-team leaders, and ensure good communication with them;

·     Provide secretariat services to the project steering committee, including convening face-to-face and online meetings at regular intervals;

·     Advise SZI on matters related to the project.

4.   List of Deliverables, Schedule of deliverables and Format of Submission.

5.   Academic Qualifications

·      Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science or equivalent.

·      Master’s degree preferred in Telecommunications, Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Economics, Business Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent.

6.   Technical competencies

·      Sound technical knowledge of Zambian ICT and Innovation sector, including familiarity with issues tackled by the project.

·      Proven ability to develop and sustain highly effective relationships with development partners and other stakeholders, adopting a highly inclusive and collaborative approach, building strong networks with the range of stakeholders.

·      Demonstrable working knowledge of fiduciary operations in program/ project management (Financial Management; and Procurement).

·      Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to think strategically and innovatively about the role of digital technologies for socio-economic development and for transformation in other sectors of the economy.

·      Strong business judgment and analytical decision making, analysing facts and data to support sound and logical decisions.

7.   Experience

·      At least 10 years of relevant work experience in managing projects/programs.

·      Track record of effectively leading and managing large teams, complex and technical projects of similar nature, size, and scope.

·      Proven ability to engage with complex policy and strategic issues is essential.

·      Staff supervisory experience and demonstrated excellent team management, leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

·      Experience in implementation and oversight of projects and programs and in the Monitoring and Evaluation of these programs.

·      Demonstrated experience in development and management of government or development partner funded programs/projects (previous experience of managing WB-funded or digital development project is strongly preferred).

8.   Institutional Arrangements

The PIU Coordinator will report to the National Coordinator of the Electronic Government Division – Smart Zambia Institute.

9.   Facilities to be Provided

The project will provide the PIU Coordinator with office facilities, essential utilities, office services, stationery and office supplies, ICT equipment and other materials as necessary.

10.    Location of the Assignment

The duty station for this role will be Lusaka, Zambia at the offices of the Project Implementation Unit.

11.    Duration of Contract

The PIU Coordinator will be contracted for an initial period of two years. The contract will be renewed based on performance and needs of the project.