Project Assistant

Volunteering Admin Logistics & Procurement

Overview

Support the implementation of the Youth Fellowship Programme and related initiatives.

You have:

• Demonstrated experience supporting youth programme implementation or other relevant programmes; experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Have affinity with or interest in, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Contract

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Zambia’s population is predominantly youthful. According to the National Youth Policy (2024), the youth comprised 5.3 million of the total projected population, representing 26.7 percent. This reiterates the need to address the many challenges faced by the youth. The economic difficulties Zambia has been experiencing compounded by climate change, energy crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have placed a lot of stress on the majority of the Zambian people, especially the youth who are in the majority.

The challenges being faced by the youth are enormous and call for immediate and comprehensive interventions. Although, Government and its stakeholders have had measures in place to address some of the challenges to reduce vulnerability among the youths, many of them still lag behind. Among the reasons for this state of affairs is insufficient coordination, fragmentation and duplication of efforts leading to wastage of resources and lack of impact on the young people.

Recognizing the strategic importance of youth in national development, the Government has taken deliberate policy measures to strengthen coherence and scale interventions. Notably, the National Youth Development Strategy roadmap, endorsed by Cabinet in February 2022, adopts a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to youth empowerment, focusing on skills development, employment creation, entrepreneurship, and youth participation.

Building on this policy foundation, the Government, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts (MYSA), in partnership with the United Nations Country Team (with UNDP as the lead agency), launched the GRZ–UN Joint Programme on Youth in December 2022. The Youth Joint Programme aimed at creating an enabling environment for improved livelihoods, enhanced skills, and expanded socio-economic opportunities for young people, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, particularly for young women and youth living with disabilities.

Within this framework, UNDP has taken a leading role in advancing flagship youth employment and empowerment initiatives. Key achievements include the integration of volunteerism in the Eight National Development Plan (8NDP), the development of the State of the Youth Report (2023), the review and adoption of the National Youth Policy, the establishment of a digital youth portal under MYSA, the upgrading of Youth Resource Centres for digital and vocational skills development, and the successful implementation of the Internship, Volunteerism, Apprenticeship and Graduate (IVAG) Programme, which has supported over 2,000 young people through structured placements across the public sector, private sector, and UN system.

Building on the IVAG Programme and experience, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has established a structured Youth Fellowship Programme aimed at deepening practical experience, enhancing industry-specific skills, and developing a cohort of young leaders actively contributing to national development. Through structured placements across Government institutions, the private sector, the United Nations and civil society orgainisations, young graduates (fellows) will gain immersive, practical experiences directly aligned with current and forecasted employment trends. Fellows will not only cultivate vital soft skills but will also acquire specialized technical skills.

Under the overall guidance of Director Youth and direct supervision of the National Coordinator - Youth Programme or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Project Assistant will:

• Support the implementation of the Youth Fellowship Programme, including youth and arts initiatives under MYSA. • Provide support in the collection and management of required documentation to ensure operational and administrative compliance with guidelines related to finance, procurement, travel, and other administrative processes, in line with standard operating procedures. • Maintain organized internal files and relevant documentation for procurement activities. • Monitor and manage inventory records for office supplies and equipment. • Support the review and preparation of programme documentation in consultation with relevant stakeholders and team members. • Assist in the preparation and review of financial proposals and requirements. • Establish and manage effective records and archiving systems to facilitate easy reference and audit processes. • Provide administrative support to the programme team. • Collaborate with team members on assigned aspects of programme implementation. • Support the organization of programme-related meetings, workshops, and events. • Assist in drafting concept notes. • Coordinate programme-related travel arrangements and logistics. • Perform any other duties as assigned.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Professionalism • Self-management

• Demonstrated experience supporting youth programme implementation or other relevant programmes; experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset; • Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; • familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Support the coordination of youth activities; • Have affinity with or interest in, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Zambia is a land-linked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods.

Lusaka is the capital of the Republic of Zambia. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold during few months, with freezing temperature at times especially during the night. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and other heating options when necessary. As the commercial and cultural centre of Zambia, Lusaka has seen rapid development in recent decades, with reasonable transportation connections and widely spoken English making the city highly attractive to vacationers and experts alike. Unemployment and poverty are issues in the city, and beyond. Key industries for the region and Zambia as a whole, include mining, agriculture, and tourism. Like most Southern African cities, life in Lusaka will require some adjustments for a person moving from outside the region, but the potential rewards and opportunities for experiences are well worth the effort.

Lusaka hosts several international organisation and embassies/diplomatic missions, therefore there is a very large community of expatriates from around the world. Housing is most of the time readily available and of good standard options are available. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture, and clothing, mostly imported from South Africa, Europe, and China while some ranges of local brands are available at a competitive price to imports. Meat, fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables are reasonably priced and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures roads, utilities, and telecommunications are of reasonable standard, although the city experiences power outages from time to time. Medical facilities are still largely inadequate, although several private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Lusaka city limits. For more information, please visit http://zambiatourism.com.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 day ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: unv.org