Private Sector Engagement Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO provides policy advice, technical assistance and investment support to its members in ending hunger, addressing malnutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development. The FAO Representation in Zambia implements field programmes and projects under the FAO Country Programming Framework, with climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture, forestry and natural resources management among its core priorities.

The Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and runs from March 2023 to February 2030. The project supports Zambia’s NDC commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 47 percent by 2030 by building the country’s human and institutional capacity for climate action through education, training and public awareness. It is implemented by a consortium led by FAO together with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),  the Copperbelt University (CBU) and University of Zambia (UNZA), in close cooperation with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Forestry Department, Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) and other Government counterparts.

The project is structured around four Outputs: (I) Evidence-based climate change information is collected and used by project, (II) Formal education delivery (materials and teaching pedagogies) strengthened to support climate change mitigation efforts and build resilience, (III) Climate action education for non-formal, informal and peer-to-peer networks, and actions implemented through formal and non-formal education practice (IV) Professionals of public institutions, universities and private sector have the necessary skills and capacities to support the green transition These are delivered through nine Work Packages (WP1–WP9) spanning curriculum development, teacher training, community-based learning, media and outreach, competitive grants, and skills development for agriculture and forestry professionals.

This Private Sector Engagement Specialist will provide support to the implementation of Work Package 7, which focuses on building capacity within the local private sector to support the green transition, as well as support the project’s engagement with the private sector, particularly under Work Packages 6, 8 and 9.      

Reporting Lines

The Private Sector Engagement Specialist will work under the Overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Zambia, and Direct Supervision of the National Project Coordinator, the overall technical guidance of the FACE-NDC Lead Technical Advisor (LTA).  Work Package 7 is led by consortium partner UNITAR. The incumbent’s work under WP7 will therefore be implemented in close collaboration with, and under the leadership of UNITAR.

Technical Focus

Leadership and collaboration with various stakeholders, including government institutions and private sector actors, to ensure effective implementation of adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Enhancing private sector involvement in climate change adaptation/mitigation planning including facilitating baseline surveys, developing engagement strategies, generate analytical inputs, and facilitate workshops to promote climate-resilient investments

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the letters of agreement (LoA) between the University consortium partners and FAO, particularly with regards to activities related to Private Sector engagement under Work Package 7.
• Provide ongoing support to the activities of the Renewable Energy Training Network, with a particular focus on the planning, development, implementation and reporting on short training sessions and awareness raising initiatives targeting both private and public sector beneficiaries.
• Support CBU in strengthening its existing industrial placement programmes to enhance stronger linkages between academia and the private sector, including support for the placement of Copperbelt University (CBU) students in industries through internships, job attachments and other opportunities.
• Support the delivery of activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of national private sector representative bodies such as business associations, chambers of commerce and industry, on climate action and green economy.
• Support the development of learning courses on green investments and addressing GHG emissions along value chains. This should include, where appropriate, the co-creation of content with private sector representative bodies and associations e.g. Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ), Zambia Business Angels Network (ZBAN) etc. This should include the design and organisation of investor targeted learning methods such as masterclasses for key financial ecosystem actors to support green investments and financing schemes.
• Support the delivery of capacity building activities and technical support to innovation hubs/accelerator labs and incubators to promote green businesses and enhance readiness of start-ups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access financing that supports the green transition.
• Support the development of e-courses and other relevant learning programmes in close collaboration with private sector representative bodies such as Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI), Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) for private sector to adopt mitigation and efficiency options. This includes, for example, the development and launch of e-courses on greening selected value chains in Zambia.
• Support the organisation and delivery of the annual green economy and climate change week/day particularly ensuring private sector participation and facilitating the organisation of roundtable events where appropriate.
• Develop and support the implementation of climate change and green economy capacity building of innovation hubs to promote green entrepreneurship in Zambia.
• Liaise closely with other related green economy and climate change capacity building initiatives for private sector led by other development partners such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI (Enhancing Zambia’s NDC Implementation (EZ-NDC) project, FAO-GCF readiness project, UNEP-NDC Partnership aimed at providing support to the implementation of Zambia’s NDC 3.0 and Green Growth Strategy.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in degree in Business Administration, Economics or any other related field
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in business development, green economy transition, circular economy investments support
• Working knowledge of English (level C)
• National of Zambia or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong analytical thinking and technical knowledge in assessing market conditions and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
• Effective project management skills are necessary for overseeing the development and implementation of engagement strategies.
• Strong Communication skills vital for conveying ideas and building trust of private sector partners

Selection Criteria

• Experience in private sector engagement and partnership development.
• Experience providing technical guidance on private sector engagement within development and climate change sectors.
• Experience in mapping corporate actors, conducting outreach, facilitating partnerships, and donor relations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION