SCT Project Officer

Republic of Zambia

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES (MCDSS)

SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

CONSULTING SERVICES – Individual Consultant Selection (Open; National)

COUNTRY: ZAMBIA

NAME OF PROJECT: GIRLS’ EDUCATION AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND LIVELIHOODS FOR HUMAN CAPITAL PROJECT-GEWEL2

CREDIT NO: P181391

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: SELECTION OF INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS

REFERENCE NO: MCDSS/SCT/C/2025

The Government of Republic of Zambia, with support from the World Bank and the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescent (GFF), is implementing the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods for Human Capital Project (GEWEL 2) with the main objective of promoting human capital development and productivity among poor and vulnerable girls and women, while strengthening adaptive social protection delivery systems. The project is being implemented across three Government Ministries, namely the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Ministry of Health (MOH), as well as the Gender Division in the Office of the President. The project has four components, (i) the Foundational Social Cash Transfer and Nutrition (SCT) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare at MCDSS and MoH; (ii) Keeping Girls in School and Beyond (KGS) implemented by MOE; (iii) Supporting Women’s Livelihoods for Climate-Smart Productive Inclusion (SWL) implemented by the Department of Community Development at MCDSS; and (iv) the Institutional Strengthening and Systems Building for Cash ‘Plus’ Delivery (ISSB) implemented by the Department of Planning and Information at MCDSS and Gender Division.

Specifically, the Social Cash Transfer Project Implementation Unit (PIU) under the MCDSS will be responsible for implementation of Component 1 of the project which is, the Nutrition- Sensitive Foundational Social Cash Transfer. This component will ensure the continuity of the foundational SCT program for a cash ‘plus’ approach, with complementary activities for improved nutrition outcomes. It will invest in the SCT as the national social assistance program to continue strengthening household food security and resilience to climate and other shocks. It will provide nutrition cash top-ups to select eligible SCT households as part of complementary activities that are layered as a cash ‘plus’ approach for improved nutrition among poor households in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, building on ongoing efforts. Together with MOH, the implementation of this component will follow an integrated approach focusing on both nutrition-sensitive’ and nutrition-specific’ activities for improved purchasing power, as well as demand creation and service provision.

3.0 SCT PROJECT OFFICER – TARGETING (1)

Objective of the Position

The SCT Project Officer – Targeting will manage the planning, coordination, and monitoring of targeting processes, ensuring the program identifies and enrolls eligible beneficiaries in an efficient, transparent, and inclusive manner

Key Responsibilities

Targeting Implementation

• Oversee the implementation of community-based and other targeting mechanisms in accordance with SCT program guidelines.
• Ensure the targeting process adheres to principles of fairness, transparency, and inclusivity, especially for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, elderly individuals, and female-headed households, and child-headed households.
• Coordinate community mobilization and sensitization activities to ensure stakeholders understand the targeting process and criteria.

Data Management

• Supervise data collection activities during the targeting process, ensuring accuracy and adherence to established protocols.
• Conduct quality assurance checks on collected data to identify and address inconsistencies.
• Support the validation and verification of targeting data to ensure the accuracy of beneficiary lists.

Training and Support

• Support training of field staff, enumerators, and community members on targeting methodologies and program guidelines.
• Provide ongoing technical support to ensure adherence to program standards during targeting activities.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor targeting activities and provide regular updates to the SCT PIU Coordinator.
• Prepare and submit detailed reports on targeting activities, including challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
• Track key performance indicators related to the targeting process and ensure corrective actions are taken where necessary working closely with the SCT M&E Specialist.

Grievance Redress

• Support the implementation of a grievance redress mechanism to address complaints.
• Work closely with the GBV/GRM Specialist to ensure timely resolution of grievances related to targeting.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies or any related field
• At least three years (3) of experience in targeting or similar role in Social Protection Programmes
• Proven experience with Community Engagement and Participatory approaches
• Experience in supporting targeting in cash transfer or other social protection programs, preferably large-scale development programmes led by the GRZ
• Strong Organizational and Coordination skills
• Knowledge of data collection tools and techniques
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Works well under pressure and meets tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including local communities and government officials
• Computer literate with capability in email, MS Office, and related business tools
• Must possess strong coordination and leadership skills.

Duration and Location

• The assignment is for an initial period of two years, with a possibility of extension based on performance and project needs
• The SCT Project Officer – Targeting, will be based in Lusaka at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services HQ, but may require occasional travel to districts and to provide technical support to officers at different levels.

Reporting

The SCT Project Officer – Targeting will report directly to the Assistant Project Coordinator, working closely with the SCT M&E Specialist and M&E Officer and SCT ICT Specialist and ICT Officer

Performance Evaluation

• Annual performance evaluations will be conducted at the end of each year using established key performance indicators (KPI) based on targets as set in the Annual Work Plan and Budget, Project document and individual workplans.
• The consultant will be expected to meet the performance standards as agreed. Failure to meet these standards may result in performance improvement plans or other disciplinary actions.

Procurement/Hiring method

The Consultant will be hired and contracted as per the “Individual Consultant (IC)” Selection method of World Bank Procurement Regulation (PR), September 2023.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (ie. 09:00 to 1700 hours).

The Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Community Development and Social Services
Private Bag W252
Community House
Lusaka.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form (hard copy) by 17:00 hours on 23rd May, 2025.