Lusaka
Contract
Senior Level
Master's Degree or Higher
Posted 1 day ago
Due in 4 days (31 Aug)
Assignment Title: Communications Specialist
Project: Zambia Devolution Support Program (ZDSP)
Grant/Loan/Credit No.: 178492
Procurement Reference No.: ZM-MLGRD-488207-CS-CQS
Assignment Duration: Twelve (12) months, full-time, with possible extension subject to program needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), is implementing the Zambia Devolution Support Program (ZDSP) as part of its broader decentralisation agenda.
The Program is designed to strengthen the capacity of Local Authorities to deliver quality public services, enhance accountability and promote citizen participation in governance. By devolving functions and resources to the local level, Government seeks to bring governance closer to the people and ensure that decisions and investments reflect community priorities and needs.
Communication is a strategic pillar of the devolution agenda, supporting inclusivity, responsiveness and credibility throughout implementation. However, communication arrangements across institutions and levels of government are not always sufficiently coordinated, resulting in fragmented communication, duplication of effort, inconsistent messaging, delayed information flows and weak feedback mechanisms.
Against this background, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through the Zambia Devolution Support Program, intends to engage an individual Communications Specialist to provide strategic communication advice and technical support to the broader devolution agenda, with particular emphasis on reforms, activities and results supported through the ZDSP.
The Communications Specialist will work closely with the MLGRD Public Relations Department, which will serve as the institutional anchor for the assignment, and collaborate with the Decentralisation Secretariat, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Local Authorities, Local Government Association of Zambia and other relevant stakeholders.
The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen strategic communication in support of Zambia’s broader devolution agenda, with particular emphasis on reforms, activities and results facilitated through the ZDSP.
The assignment will also support the development of sustainable institutional communication capacity within MLGRD, relevant Implementing Agencies and Local Authorities.
The Communications Specialist will provide strategic and technical support to ensure that communication:
The Communications Specialist will provide strategic advisory and technical support to strengthen communication and stakeholder engagement for Zambia’s broader devolution agenda, with particular focus on ZDSP-supported reforms and results.
The Specialist will work through and strengthen existing Government and Local Authority communication structures and platforms and will work closely with the MLGRD Public Relations Department, ZDSP management, the Decentralisation Secretariat, relevant Government institutions, Implementing Agencies and participating Local Authorities.
Key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
Conduct a diagnostic assessment of existing communication and stakeholder engagement practices, systems and institutional arrangements across MLGRD, Implementing Agencies and a representative sample of Local Authorities, identifying strengths, gaps, duplication, fragmentation and priority areas for improvement.
Develop and support implementation of an integrated strategic communication and stakeholder engagement framework for the broader devolution agenda, together with a specific ZDSP communication action plan.
Provide strategic communication advice to Program leadership, the MLGRD Public Relations Department and relevant Government institutions on communication opportunities, emerging issues, misinformation, reputational risks and crisis communication.
Support proactive, sustained and audience-appropriate communication on priority devolution reforms, ZDSP-supported interventions and results, including development of appropriate communication and knowledge products.
Strengthen communication systems, coordination and staff capacity within MLGRD, relevant Implementing Agencies and other institutions involved in decentralisation through mentoring, coaching, systems improvement, tools development and knowledge transfer.
Provide targeted support to participating Local Authorities to strengthen the capacity of Public Relations Officers or designated communication officers and improve regular, accessible and responsive communication with citizens and other local stakeholders.
Establish and operationalise a cross-institutional communication coordination mechanism to align messaging, avoid duplication and ensure consistent, timely and mutually reinforcing communication concerning the ZDSP and the broader devolution agenda.
Establish practical arrangements for monitoring communication and stakeholder engagement performance and use evidence, stakeholder feedback, media trends and analytics to improve communication decisions, strengthen accountability and support sustainability.
The key deliverables under the assignment will include:
The assignment will be for an initial period of twelve (12) months on a full-time basis, subject to Program needs and availability of funding.
Any extension may be structured on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the remaining scope of work, Program needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
The Consultant will be required to travel periodically to participating Local Authorities across Zambia to provide on-site support, facilitate capacity-building activities, assess communication practices and engage with relevant local stakeholders and communities.
Interested Individual Consultants should possess the following minimum qualifications and experience:
The Consultant should also demonstrate:
The Communications Specialist will report administratively and contractually to the ZDSP Program Coordinator, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and will work in close technical collaboration with the MLGRD Public Relations Department, which will serve as the institutional anchor for the assignment.
The Specialist will collaborate with relevant departments and communication teams in Implementing Agencies and Local Authorities, and through established Government and Program coordination arrangements, liaise with the Decentralisation Secretariat, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Implementing Agencies, the World Bank and other development partners as required.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development now invites eligible individual consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.
Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
Expressions of Interest should include, at a minimum:
Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection (ICS) method under the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers.
The selection will be based on the Consultant’s qualifications and relevant experience for the assignment.
Expressions of Interest, clearly marked “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST – ZDSP” should be submitted electronically/physically to:
The Permanent Secretary-Administration
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
P.O Box 50027,
United Nations Road, LUSAKA
Soft copy applications will be submitted to ps@mlgrd.gov.zm not later than 31st August, 2026.
Note: Detailed Position descriptions or TORs for the Communication Specialist position is available from the following website link: www.mlgrd.gov.zm, www.worldbank.org. Only shortlisted/selected candidates will be contacted.
Apply by emailing: ps@mlgrd.gov.zm
