Background
AGRA is a proudly African-led institution focused on scaling agricultural innovations that help smallholder farmers towards increased incomes, better livelihoods, and improved food security. We understand that African farmers need uniquely African solutions to the environmental and agricultural challenges they face, enabling them to sustainably boost production and gain access to rapidly growing agricultural markets. In short, AGRA’s mission is to transform the lives of smallholder farmers from that of a solitary struggle for survival to a business that thrives.
Since 2006, we have worked with our partners, governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector businesses, and more; to deliver a set of proven solutions to smallholder farmers and indigenous African agricultural enterprises. We put smallholder farmers first on the agenda, recognizing that no country has moved from low income to middle income without agricultural transformation.
For more information about AGRA, please visit www.agra.org.
Rationale for the assignment
Despite growing awareness of the impacts of climate change on African agriculture, the translation of climate vulnerability assessments and risk analyses into actionable public policies and investment strategies remains limited. While technical outputs such as climate vulnerability maps offer critical insights into exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, their uptake by decision-makers is often constrained by weak institutional capacity, lack of alignment with national planning instruments, and fragmented policy environments.
In Zambia and other AGRA focus countries, policymakers face the dual challenge of responding to immediate food security needs while planning for long-term climate resilience. The absence of integrated policy tools that align climate analytics with national development frameworks—such as National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), and climate-smart agriculture strategies—limits the ability of governments to prioritize climate adaptation investments effectively. This assignment responds to that gap by deploying a Climate Policy Expert to support the integration, domestication, and institutional uptake of AGRA’s climate vulnerability mapping and risk analysis outputs. By aligning these outputs with Zambia’s existing policy and planning systems, the expert will help bridge the divide between data generation and policy application. The consultant will also support evidence-based prioritization of adaptation investments, development of technical briefs and decision-support tools, and facilitation of high-level policy dialogues.
The assignment is a critical component of the broader BMGF-funded initiative, “Strengthening Institutional Response Capacity to Climate Change,” and is aligned with AGRA’s Strategy 3.0 goal of enhancing institutional capacity for resilience planning. It will support national efforts to reduce climate risks, build adaptive capacity in the agriculture sector, and enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and smallholder farmers.
Objectives
General Objective
To support the effective dissemination, domestication, and integration of climate vulnerability mapping and climate change risk analysis outputs in Zambia that ensures inclusive climate adaptation planning and investment prioritization.
Specific Objectives
1. Preparing country-level policy syntheses, technical briefs, and climate-smart investment recommendations based on AGRA’s climate vulnerability assessments and ensure alignment of dissemination efforts with national priorities and planning frameworks, including NAPs, CSA strategies, and climate-related budget allocations.
2. To support AGRA’s broader goal of strengthening institutional capacity for climate policy and resilience planning through targeted engagements and cross-country learning and present the spatial and temporal explicit high resolution climate risk and vulnerability maps to national stakeholders that inform climate adaptation policies and investment strategies.
3. To support the development of tailored policy briefs, brochures, and local communication materials that effectively translate climate risk data into actionable policy insights.
4. To organize and conduct national and sub-national policy workshops and stakeholder dialogues that facilitate the domestication and use of climate vulnerability outputs in public planning processes.
5. To co-develop and deliver customized training and engagement modules for national and sub-national actors to facilitate understanding and use of climate vulnerability data in planning and resilience programming/ coordinate and facilitate capacity-building for public and private stakeholders, including extension officers, CSOs, and development partners, on the use of climate analytics in decision-making.
6. To establish or strengthen climate risk management working groups in Zambia and support gender-responsive climate resilience policy platforms that mainstream gender dimensions into climate policy processes and decision-making forums for multi-stakeholder collaboration in validating and applying climate vulnerability findings.
7. To contribute to the development of a gender-responsive National
Adaptation Plan (NAP) framework, integrating differentiated adaptation needs and capacities of men and women
The consultancy will be managed by the Zambia Climate Focal Person, who will serve as the primary point of contact. Oversight will be provided in coordination with the Head of Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture and Resilience (CASAR) at AGRA, and supported by AGRA’s Climate Specialist, ensuring alignment with AGRA’s climate and gender strategies. Regular bi-weekly check-ins, progress reports, and technical guidance will ensure smooth delivery and quality assurance throughout the assignment.
Qualifications and Experience
The individual consultant should possess the following qualifications, expertise, and experience to successfully deliver the assignment:
a) Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Climate Policy, Environmental Science, Agricultural Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field.
b) Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in climate policy, vulnerability assessments, climate adaptation, or related areas, preferably in the agriculture and food systems sector in Africa.
c) Proven experience in translating climate data and vulnerability mapping into policy instruments and actionable recommendations.
d) Demonstrated ability to develop policy briefs, technical notes, and communication materials targeted at government and development stakeholders.
e) Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops and training sessions, including government, civil society, and private sector actors. Experience working with government institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations.
f) Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of high-quality technical report writing. Strong analytical and communication skills, both oral and written.
g) Familiarity with Zambia’s climate policy environment, planning frameworks, and institutional structures is an added advantage.
h) Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with AGRA teams and external stakeholders.
i) Fluency in English; proficiency in Kiswahili is an added advantage.
j) Ability to work independently and manage multi-stakeholder coordination
k) Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, data analysis software, and report writing tools.
