Project Manager - Civil Society Strengthening

The Organization

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and humanitarian programmes focus primarily on Inclusive Quality Education, Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, Reproductive Health and Rights, Early Childhood Development and Gender Responsive Child Protection. Child protection is key in all that we do. Plan International Zambia has Programme Areas (PAs) in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located.

The Opportunity

The purpose of Project Manager is to manage programming funded by Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and implemented in collaboration with Plan International Sweden, with a focus on civil society strengthening. The Project Manager will be responsible for programme planning, implementation, monitoring, financial management, compliance, people management and implementation of the programmes civil society strengthening components as well as capability building to ensure program quality and effectiveness throughout the project cycle while building capabilities to deliver on programme excellence.

What you will bring to the role

• Degree in Social Sciences, Development, Education, Social Work, Project Management or similar field.

• 3 years proven experience of working with civil society strengthening and partnerships.

• A minimum of 2 years experience of working with organisational capacity development support.

• Experience of work that contributes to an enabling civic space for civil society.

• A minimum of 1 year of experience of working with supporting civil society organisations and Community based organization. 

• Proven experience of all aspects of programme management from idea, partner scoping, design, planning, implementation and closure.

• 3 years relevant experience working with marginalised communities especially girls.

• Experience of supporting civil society networking, alliance building and joint policy dialogue.

• A minimum of 1 year of experience of managing partnerships with civil society organisations.

For more information regarding the person and job specification, please click on this link:  Project Manager - Civil Society Strengthening 

Location: The role must be based in Kabwe, Central Programme Area - therefore relocation package will be available if required.

Type of Contract: Fixed Term, Full Time Contract

Reports to: Programme Area Manager

Grade:  Hay Level 14

Closing Date: October 15th  2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.