About the opportunity
The World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and partners through the United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection III, is engaging a consultant to conduct a comprehensive mapping of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and other community-based financial inclusion models across Zambia. The consultancy aims to identify appropriate VSLA models that can improve access to economic empowerment, financial resilience, and sustainable livelihoods for social protection beneficiaries. The assignment involves a desk review, stakeholder mapping, field assessment with an urban-rural comparative lens, gap analysis, a validation workshop, and the production of a final mapping report and clean datasets.
Salary and benefits
- Attractive compensation package under WFP Terms and Conditions for SSA L10 consultants
- Opportunity to contribute to national social protection and financial inclusion strategies in Zambia
- Engagement with a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive humanitarian environment
- Professional development and networking within the United Nations and government stakeholder network
Who can apply?
- Advanced degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Finance, or a related field
- At least seven years of professional experience in financial inclusion, VSLAs, microfinance, or resilience programming
- Demonstrated experience in social protection, economic inclusion, or productive inclusion, and understanding of their intersection with livelihoods and resilience
- Proven experience in conducting research, assessments, or market mappings
- Fluency in English (Level C)
Required documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover Letter
When to apply
- Application deadline is 12 October 2026 at 23:59 Central Africa Time (Lusaka, GMT+02:00)
How to apply
- Ensure your Workday profile is accurate and complete, including employment history, academic qualifications, and language skills
- Submit your application exclusively through the online Workday recruitment portal before the stated deadline
Additional information
- Qualified female applicants and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply
- WFP is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity
- The United Nations does not charge any application or processing fees
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong fit for senior researchers or consultants with extensive technical expertise in financial inclusion, microfinance, and social protection in Southern Africa.
- Ideal for professionals experienced in conducting complex market mappings, stakeholder analyses, and comparative urban-rural assessments.
- Suits candidates seeking a high-impact advisory role collaborating directly with United Nations agencies and government ministries.
What should you think carefully about?
- Short application window requiring prompt preparation of a complete Workday profile, CV, and cover letter.
- Demanding timeline with intensive deliverables including an inception report, stakeholder mapping, draft report, validation workshop, and final datasets.
- Requires relocation to or presence in Lusaka, Zambia, for the duration of the consultancy assignment.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This consultancy offers an opportunity to lead high-level policy research and practical framework development that directly influences national social protection systems and poverty graduation pathways in Zambia.
Our take
Experienced development economists and financial inclusion specialists with a strong research background in VSLAs should seriously apply before the October 12 deadline.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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