Job Details

Job Description

Cities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia

Job Title: Project Coordinator – ISMO Project & Communications Support

Location: Lusaka, Zambia (with possible national travel)

Type of Contract: Short-term Consultancy

Duration: 9 months (July – March 2026)

Level of Effort: Full-Time

Reports to: ISMO Project Delivery Manager & CIGZambia Communications Advisor

Works Closely With: CIGZambia Project Management Unit

About Cities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia (CIGZambia)

CIGZambia is a facility that provides high-quality independent technical advice and assistance to Zambian government bodies and private sector organisations engaged in projects/ programmes that help harness the potential of Zambia’s cities and towns to act as drivers for economic growth and job creation. CIGZambia is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The overall programme objectives are:

• increasing urban productivity
• improving inclusive access to urban economic infrastructure services
• increasing investment into urban economic infrastructure services
• enhancing national and regional integration between cities

Current activities underway are focused on transformational support to Zambia’s energy sector.

Context

The electricity market in Zambia is undergoing a process of transformation to enable greater private sector participation at the level of both power producer and power off-taker.  Zambia’s Integrated Resources Plan, approved by Cabinet in November 2023, has identified that 6,300 MW of new generation capacity should be connected to the Zambian Grid by the year 2030 in order to meet existing and new customers demand from the growth of Cities, and rapidly expanding mining, agriculture, transport and industrial sectors.  A significant portion of this new generation capacity will come from variable renewable sources including solar and wind, with the balance from hydro, thermal, geothermal and bio-energy sources.

Zambia is undergoing a process of debt stabilisation having entered into a 38-month Extended Credit Facility Arrangement with the IMF in August 2022.  This has restricted the extent to which the Zambian Government and its agencies, including ZESCO, are able to borrow to fund infrastructure projects, including projects in the Energy Sector.  This has increased the urgency of securing private sources of financing to provide the require investments in the energy sector, with limited reliance on Government funding or guarantees.

The Electricity Act of 2019 established a framework of open access for the Zambian Grid, through which trading between large users and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) is encouraged, with ZESCO and other network providers providing access to their grids in exchange for payment through Use of System and System Services Agreements.

A Market Design project initiated by the Ministry of Energy and ERB has provided guidance as to how the market rules, regulations and trading arrangements should work going forward.

An essential element of the overall energy transition strategy in Zambia is the formation of an Independent System and Market Operator (‘ISMO’).  The ISMO is currently embedded within ZESCO, albeit under a distinct licence separate from ZESCO’s other activities, and a direction has been given that the ISMO should be fully operational as a separate licensed and ring-fenced entity by December 2025.  The successful completion of this process is intended to enhance the confidence of investors in the impartial operation of Zambia’s power system to provide un-biased access to the transmission network and transparency in relation to the operations of the Grid.

CIGZambia has agreed a Terms of Reference with the Ministry of Energy and ZESCO to provide technical support through the transition of the ISMO from being embedded within ZESCO to being a ringfenced independent Government owned entity.  The scope of work will cover technical, financial, regulatory and legal aspects of the transition, as well as support in change management and the migration of systems.  A significant emphasis will be placed on stakeholder engagement and communications to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are made aware of the proposed process and provide input where appropriate.

About the Role

The Project Coordinator – ISMO Project & Communications Support will provide operational and coordination support to ensure the effective and timely delivery of ISMO Project activities. In addition to managing day-to-day project logistics, the Coordinator will assist the CIGZambia communications team with the development and dissemination of communication products, social media content, event management and media monitoring in alignment with CIGZambia’s overall communications strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination

• Support daily implementation of ISMO Project activities, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.
• Coordinate internal and external meetings, workshops and training sessions.
• Assist with procurement processes and drafting of TORs.
• Maintain updated project documentation, schedules and task trackers.
• Support budget tracking and preparation of activity and financial reports.
• Monitor project risks, support reporting, and follow up on deliverables with technical leads and consultants.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with stakeholders across government, regulatory bodies, utilities and civil society.
• Provide logistical and coordination support for consultations, meetings and briefings.
• Maintain up-to-date stakeholder contact lists and engagement trackers.

Communication Support

• Assist in executing CIGZambia communication strategies, including internal and external messaging.
• Support the creation, editing and dissemination of communication products such as factsheets, infographics, reports and success stories.
• Draft and edit content for CIGZambia’s website, newsletters and social media channels.
• Assist in developing and executing social media strategies and monitor the reach and engagement of digital content.
• Create and edit basic videos, photos and presentation materials as assigned.
• Maintain and update the Communications Calendar and stakeholder database.
• Provide media monitoring support by tracking media mentions, news articles and social media trends relevant to energy reforms and CIGZambia.
• Support the planning and execution of events, launches and media engagements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Communications, Public Relations, Development Studies, Energy Policy or a related field.
• Minimum 3 – 5 years’ experience in project coordination and/or communications, preferably in a development, energy or governance-related context.
• Experience managing social media and digital communications tools.
• Proficiency in MS Office; familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite or video editing tools is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to write and edit high-quality content for diverse audiences.

Core Competencies

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Experience supporting stakeholder engagements and managing events.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management abilities.
• Creative thinker with an eye for visuals and digital storytelling.
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to transparency, professionalism and excellence.

Applications:

Please send your CV to [email protected]. For CV to be considered, subject line in email must be completed as follows: Project Coordinator – ISMO Project & Communications Support – Candidate Last Name, First Name

Deadline for Applications:

Thursday, July 17, 2025