MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE
Request for Expressions of Interest
Country: Zambia
Project: Skills Training for Results and Industry-Valued Employment (STRIVE) Project
Project ID: P514247
(Consulting Services – Individual Consultant Selection)
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION
The Government of the Republic of Zambia is preparing and implementing the Skills Training for Results and Industry-Valued Employment (STRIVE) project (P514247) with support from the World Bank. STRIVE is proposed as a US$80 million IDA Grant and will be implemented as an Investment Project Financing (IPF) operation with Performance-Based Conditions (PBCs), as Phase 3 of the Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs (SET4Jobs) Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The Project Development Objective is to strengthen the skills ecosystem for increased job creation in priority value chains, with a focus on increasing access to job-relevant skills for Zambian youth. The project prioritizes mining, agribusiness, and hospitality and emphasizes employer co-design, outcomes and employability, sustainability of core financing mechanisms, and future-oriented innovations, including digital, blended learning, and AI-enabled tools.
The project will be implemented through three components:
(1) Building industry-led skills systems, including the development of a TEVET Management Information System and a strengthened Labour Market Information System, and support to sector management and coordination functions such as quality assurance, occupational standards, and instructor supply (including selected PBC-supported reforms);
(2) Preparing youth for better jobs, including performance-oriented institutional grants for TEVET institutions (including Centres of Excellence and hybrid learning for ZQF Levels 5-7), competitive grants to improve the quality of programs up to Level 4, a pilot TEVET student loan scheme, and results-based contracts for short-term skilling; and
(3) Growing employment opportunities in value chains, including support to business development services and sector-specific upskilling for firms.
IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
The Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTS) will be the lead implementing agency for STRIVE. Day-to-day coordination will be carried out through a dedicated Project Coordination Unit (the 'STRIVE PCU') hosted by MoTS. Implementation will require close coordination with the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS), the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED), the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB), and other relevant stakeholders.
The project will be supported by a high-level Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of Technology and Science, to provide strategic oversight and ensure cross-agency and private sector coordination. The Steering Committee will include, inter alia, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, MoLSS, MSMED, TEVETA, HELSB, and private sector representatives. Technical working groups and/or component-level committees may be established to provide technical oversight and support results monitoring.
The core functions of the STRIVE PCU will include: preparation of annual work plans and budgets; monitoring and evaluation and periodic progress reporting; coordinating Steering Committee and technical working group meetings; supporting recruitment and management of technical assistance; preparing required financial reports and disbursement documentation; facilitating internal and external audits; providing procurement planning and contract management support consistent with the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers and use of STEP; coordinating implementation support missions and preparation of mission documentation; ensuring compliance with legal covenants; ensuring implementation of environmental and social risk management measures under the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (including stakeholder engagement and grievance redress); and implementing a communications approach for internal and external stakeholders.
The STRIVE PCU will be headed by a Project Coordinator, who will provide oversight for day-to-day management and coordination of the project and supervise PCU staff and consultants supporting fiduciary, M&E, environmental and social risk management, communications, and technical implementation functions.
The Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTS) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Skills Training for Results and Industry-Valued Employment (STRIVE) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for 'Individual Consulting Services'.
MoTS now invites suitably qualified and experienced individuals ("Consultants") to indicate their interest in providing the Services for the consultancy position of STRIVE Social Safeguards Specialist
Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
3. JOB PURPOSE
The Social Safeguards Specialist will be responsible for coordinating the planning and implementation of social risk management measures for STRIVE, consistent with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and the project's Environmental and Social (E&S) instruments. The Specialist will ensure that social risks and impacts associated with STRIVE activities (including institutional grants, short-term skilling, sector partnerships, and any works or equipment supported by the project) are identified, mitigated, and monitored. The Specialist will also support meaningful stakeholder engagement, inclusion of vulnerable groups, labor and working conditions requirements, management of risks related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH), and effective grievance redress.
4. MAIN DUTIES OR ACCOUNTABILITIES
Key results area and principal accountabilities are as follows:
Key Result Area: Project coordination and management
Principal Accountabilities:
- Facilitate a holistic and integrated approach in implementing social safeguards activities to ensure that all planned actions are implemented on time and to required quality standards.
- Coordinate day-to-day with STRIVE component leads, implementing agencies, TEVET institutions and training providers, and (where applicable) contractors to ensure compliance with E&S requirements.
- Identify project needs and support procurement and management of specialized services (e.g., consultants) required for effective social risk management and implementation support.
- Work closely with the World Bank Social Development Specialist on technical options for social development, including social risk mitigation measures, labor issues, inclusion strategies, institutional strengthening, and other ways to improve social outcomes for the project.
- Facilitate short-term social safeguards training programs (continuous professional safeguards training; in-service training; and field-based training at implementation sites) for relevant stakeholders.
- Monitor and report progress on safeguards-related issues including the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
- Work closely with the Gender/GBV Specialist, the Environmental Safeguards Specialist, and the GRM Specialist to address emerging issues and ensure coordinated risk management.
- Prepare periodic social safeguards updates for management and participate in meetings as needed.
Key Result Area: Work plans, budgets and disbursements
Principal Accountabilities:
- Ensure preparation and consolidation of annual, quarterly and monthly work plans, reports, and budgets related to social safeguards activities, and submit the same to the Project Coordinator in a timely manner.
- Ensure all required approval processes (e.g., for budgets, activity clearances/no objections where applicable) are obtained in a timely manner.
- Support alignment of safeguards implementation with procurement plans and implementation schedules, including for consultants/contractors and for participating institutions.
Key Result Area: Technical assistance and capacity building
Principal Accountabilities:
- Provide high quality technical support and capacity building to STRIVE PCU staff, staff of implementing agencies, and participating TEVET institutions and training providers on social safeguards and related issues.
- Plan and execute capacity building activities in a timely manner as described in the project documents and E&S instruments.
- Support establishment and strengthening of safeguards focal points and reporting processes across implementing agencies and participating institutions.
Key Result Area: Financial management and procurement
Principal Accountabilities:
- Provide oversight on financial management and procurement aspects related to social safeguards activities, and manage risks to ensure adherence to fiduciary standards when implementing safeguards activities.
- Support preparation of required documentation related to safeguards activities (e.g., procurement inputs for consultants, terms of reference review, and contract management inputs).
Key Result Area: Social safeguards and ESF instruments
Principal Accountabilities:
- Ensure that social safeguard measures are fully implemented as prescribed in project E&S instruments and relevant legal covenants.
- Review project documents for compliance with inclusion and SEA/SH risk management requirements as applicable. These may include Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) where relevant, Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs), Labor Management Procedures (LMPs), SEA/SH action plans, and the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP).
- Support screening of subprojects/activities (including institutional grants and any minor works/equipment) for social risks and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are identified and implemented.
- Monitor labor and working conditions requirements for project workers and contracted workers, including codes of conduct and worker GRM arrangements.
- Support monitoring of stakeholder engagement implementation, including consultation, disclosure, and feedback loops with beneficiaries, employers, and communities.
- In collaboration with the Gender/GBV Specialist, support SEA/SH risk mitigation measures and safe referral pathways, including training of focal points as appropriate.
Key Result Area: Supervision missions and reporting
Principal Accountabilities:
- Contribute to organization of, and participate in, bi-annual and intermittent World Bank implementation support missions.
- Contribute to preparation of required pre- and post-mission reports and provide safeguards information to the World Bank as required.
- Ensure mission recommendations related to social safeguards are implemented in a timely manner and progress is reported.
Key Result Area: Synergy building
Principal Accountabilities:
- Build synergies with other World Bank projects and other counterpart projects, including cooperating partners implementing similar programs, to maximize outputs and outcomes and strengthen learning on social inclusion and safeguards.
Key Result Area: External partners engagement
Principal Accountabilities:
- Build and maintain working relationships with various partners including civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, traditional leaders, and faith-based organizations, as relevant to stakeholder engagement and safeguards implementation.
Key Result Area: Dissemination and visibility of project achievements
Principal Accountabilities:
- Contribute to dissemination and visibility of project achievements and support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local and national levels, including on safeguards performance and stakeholder feedback.
Key Result Area: Any other duties
Principal Accountabilities:
- Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Project Coordinator and MoTS leadership to support effective project implementation.
5. REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
a) The Social Safeguards Specialist reports to the STRIVE Deputy Project Coordinator within the MoTS-hosted STRIVE PCU.
b) Contacts: The Social Safeguards Specialist will maintain close working relationships with MoTS designated officers and PCU staff. It is also expected that external contacts, including implementing agencies, TEVET institutions and training providers, contractors (where applicable), cooperating partners, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, traditional leaders, and other key stakeholders are maintained as required.
6. OUTPUTS AND REPORTING OBLIGATIONS
The main deliverables for the assignment are:
- Updated social safeguards implementation plan aligned with STRIVE E&S instruments and annual work plans.
- Training materials and records for short-term social safeguards training programs and capacity building for relevant stakeholders.
- Inputs to development, review, and implementation of relevant E&S instruments and mitigation measures (including SEP implementation and labor-related measures).
- Consolidated progress reports and field monitoring notes on the implementation of social safeguards and stakeholder engagement activities, including GRM performance.
- Documented follow-up actions on social risks/issues identified during implementation, including corrective action plans where needed.
7. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENT
a) Minimum professional qualification:
- Bachelor's degree in any of the following;
- Anthropology,
- Sociology,
- Political Economy,
- Social Development,
- Human Resource Management/Development,
- Development Studies,
- Gender Studies or equivalent.
- Other relevant fields.
- A Master's degree in a relevant filed will be an added advantage.
b) Minimum Relevant Experience:
- Minimum of 8 years post-qualification experience with relevant experience in social sustainability, social standards/safeguards and or social development (voice and participation, gender, commun
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HOW TO APPLY:
Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
Contact:
George Matulula
Ministry of Technology and Science
Maxwell House, Los Angeles Boulervard Road, Longacres, LUSAKA, Zambia
Phone: +26 977792226
Email: george.matulula@mots.gov.zm
Website: www.mots.gov.zm
Submission Deadline: Jun 19, 2026 17:00