Formulation of ZGF’s Strategic Plan 2027-2031

Job description

1. Background

The Zambian Governance Foundation for Civil Society (ZGF) was registered in 2009 as a company limited by guarantee to enhance government accountability and transparency to poor and vulnerable sections of society through the development of the civil society sector in Zambia. In 2022, the organisation operationalized the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, which was built on past capacities and experience to help it embark on its journey towards transitioning into a community foundation. This strategy is anchored on the belief that communities should lead their own development by leveraging local assets. As the strategy nears its conclusion, a summative evaluation is required to assess the overall impact, effectiveness, relevance and sustainability of this transition

ZGF is transitioning into a new strategic period (2027–2031). This assignment is facilitated by the need to clarify ZGF’s niche as an intermediary funder versus a direct implementer and to align its operations with shifting power dynamics and localization trends within the Zambian civil society ecosystem.

2. Objective

The objective of this assignment is to lead a participatory, learning-focused process to formulate a robust five-year strategic plan that strengthens ZGF’s positioning as a trusted intermediary fund manager and local governance champion.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will facilitate the following:

• Preparation & Review: Establish a Steering Committee and review the performance of the current grant portfolios and partnerships.
• Contextual Analysis: Analyze civic space trends, the NGO Act, decentralization dynamics, and the donor landscape.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct partner reflection workshops and power analysis sessions to anchor the strategy in community needs.
• Strategic Direction Setting: Facilitate the definition of a new Theory of Change, vision, mission, and strategic pillars.
• Operational Alignment: Develop models for participatory grant-making, capacity development, community led development, and philanthropy ethos.

4. Outputs

1. Inception Report: Detailing the methodology and workplan.
2. Sector Analysis Report: Covering external context and civil society mapping.
3. Stakeholder Insights Report: Summarizing lessons on grant-making effectiveness.
4. Draft Strategic Plan: Including specific programming priorities and cross-cutting themes like gender and climate justice.
5. Final Costed Strategic Plan (2027–2031): Approved by the Board.
6. Operational Frameworks: Governance and management, MEAL, Compliance/risk, and resource mobilization strategy.
7. Summary & Pitch Deck: High-level documents for donor and stakeholder engagement.

5. Work Place, Process, Reporting, and Timeline

• Location/workstation: Lusaka-based with potential field visits to stakeholders and partner CSOs.
• Supervision: Reporting to the Strategic Planning Steering Committee (CEO and senior management).
• Timelines for key milestones for this assignment: Total duration is 12 weeks.
• Phase 1–2: Three Weeks (Scoping and Analysis).
• Phase 3–5: Eight Weeks (Engagement and Strategy Drafting).
• Phase 6: One Week (Validation and approval).

6. Competencies and Expertise

6.1 Educational Background

·       Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred, especially with a focus on strategy, leadership, or organizational development.

·       Additional certifications in strategic planning, project management, or change management are advantageous.

6.2 Professional Experience

·       10+ years in strategic planning, corporate strategy, or management consulting, with extensive experience in NGO strategic formulation and Theory of Change development.

·       Proven track record in developing and executing organizational strategies in complex or large-scale environments.

·       Proven track record in developing strategic plans for CSOs or similar organizations, with a minimum of two sample works and two references.

·       Specialized expertise in localization, trust-based philanthropy, and intermediary funding models to drive sustainable impact.

·       Deep experience in systems thinking, scaling, and impact measurement.

6.3 Core Skills & Competencies

·       Analytical & Critical Thinking – Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable strategies.

·       Communication & Facilitation – Strong facilitation skills for high-level stakeholder and donor engagement, including leading workshops and presenting strategic recommendations clearly.

·       Compliance & Governance – Specialized knowledge of the Zambian NGO Act and fiduciary compliance standards to ensure organizational alignment with local regulations.

·       Leadership & Influence – Capable of aligning diverse teams and securing buy-in from senior leadership.

·       Adaptability – Comfortable navigating uncertainty and adjusting plans in response to market or organizational shifts.

·       Financial Acumen – Understanding of budgeting, Return on Investment (ROI) analysis, and resource allocation.

6.4 Personal Attributes

·       High integrity and confidentiality when handling sensitive corporate information.

·       Visionary mindset with the ability to connect long-term goals to short-term actions.

·       Collaborative approach to ensure strategies are inclusive, localized, and executable.

7. Input/Duration

The assignment is estimated to require 45 working days’ level of effort from 4^th August, 2026 to 5^th October, 2026, broken down as follows:

• Inception and Analysis: 7 working days
• Consultations and Workshops: 10 working days.
• Drafting and defining institutional and operational frameworks: 15 working days.
• Validation and Finalization: 8  working days

8. Payment Terms

• Down payment: 10% upon approval of the Inception Report and working schedule
• Interim payment: 40% upon submission of Stakeholder analysis report
• 2^nd Interim payment: 30% upon submission of the first draft strategic plan.
• Final payment: 20% upon Board approval of the final document and launch materials.

8. Deadline

All applications must be submitted by 31st July 2026.