National Technical Coordinator / Data Collection Lead – Zambia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a National Technical Coordinator / Data Collection Lead for a ict, trade consultancy assignment financed by UNIDO in Zambia.

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a proposal for an upcoming UNIDO-financed consultancy assignment focused on conducting a comprehensive Market Systems Analysis within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in Zambia. The assignment aims to generate an evidence-based understanding of the market system, labour-market dynamics, and skills development needs to support sustainable economic inclusion and institutional strengthening.

To support this initiative, we are seeking a qualified National Technical Coordinator / Data Collection Lead to coordinate in-country activities, lead primary and secondary data collection efforts, and provide deep contextual expertise regarding the institutional landscape of the Zambian mining sector.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Generate a shared, evidence-based understanding of how the artisanal and small-scale mining market system functions by commodity and province.
• Diagnose systemic challenges and their root causes around core and supporting functions that generate underperformance in target markets.
• Map the roles, incentives, relationships, and relative power of market actors at central and provincial levels.
• Identify key constraints impairing the ability of women, youth, and persons with disabilities to access decent employment and income generation.
• Develop strategic, evidence-based recommendations for targeted interventions aligned with project objectives.

Scope of work

• Conduct secondary research reviewing existing sector data, statistics, national policies, strategies, and regulatory frameworks relevant to mining and vocational training.
• Design and execute primary data collection including interviews and focus group discussions with government regulators, mining associations, operators, cooperatives, and development stakeholders.
• Apply a rigorous root-cause diagnostic approach, distinguishing capacity from incentive constraints for priority market bottlenecks.
• Deliver a visual market-system map, cross-commodity synthesis, and a structured Intervention Options Matrix.
• Conduct a dedicated gender equality and social inclusion analysis assessing gendered roles, occupational segregation, and participation barriers.
• Facilitate stakeholder validation workshops with key institutional counterparts to present preliminary findings and gather feedback.

Your role as National Technical Coordinator / Data Collection Lead

• Coordinate all in-country technical activities and stakeholder engagements related to the data collection process.
• Lead the planning and execution of primary data collection campaigns, ensuring high-quality qualitative and quantitative data gathering.
• Oversee stakeholder mapping and facilitate interviews and focus group discussions with local market actors, cooperatives, and government bodies.
• Contribute local institutional insights regarding the Zambian mining and artisanal and small-scale mining sector to contextualize diagnostic findings.
• Support the analysis of root causes, capacity constraints, and incentive structures affecting market actors.
• Assist the team in synthesizing findings, drafting technical reports, and preparing the market system maps and intervention matrices.
• Support the organization and facilitation of stakeholder validation workshops with institutional counterparts.

Requirements

• Education: Not explicitly stated
• Strong understanding of the Zambian institutional context, particularly the mining and ASM sector
• At least 5 years of experience carrying out national studies under donor-funded projects
• Languages: English
• National of, or based in, the project country

Desirable

• Prior experience working on UNIDO or European Union-funded assignments in Zambia or the Southern African region.
• Familiarity with market systems development approaches and gender equality and social inclusion assessments in value chain studies.

A seasoned national research and coordination professional with at least 5 years of experience leading studies for donor-funded projects and an intimate understanding of Zambia's mining and institutional landscape.

Assignment details

• Location: Zambia
• Financed by: UNIDO
• Sector: Ict, trade
• Estimated duration: 3 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNIDO-financed project in Zambia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? This position requires a national of, or a professional based in, the project country.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.