ROBSON NYIRENDA
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation Zambia
Lusaka
Work Preference
Location Preference
RemoteHybridOn-Site
Location:
Lusaka, ZambiaLusaka, 09
Open to relocation:
No
Minimum Desired Compensation
ZK1200000/yr
Important To Me
Work-life balanceFlexible work hoursWork from home optionPaid time offPersonal development programs
3
Language
23
Years of experience
Programme delivery and monitoring professional with a background in youth economic empowerment, research, and community livelihoods. Brings strong capability in workplan tracking, financial oversight, reporting, facilitation, and adaptive learning, supported by experience with multi-stakeholder coordination, gender and inclusion, and evidence-informed implementation.
Work History
Youth Employment Entrepreneurship Project Manager
2 Years 9 Months- Facilitated recruitment, onboarding, and mentoring of project staff while connecting youth to skills development, business services, and employment opportunities to foster community growth.
- Cultivated partnerships with government institutions, private-sector companies, training providers, financial-service providers and implementing partners to enhance program reach and effectiveness.
- Coordinate day-to-day programme planning, implementation monitoring, reporting and partner follow-up in line with donor commitments and organisational standards.
- Monitor workplans, budgets, expenditure and forecasts; flag variances and support corrective action with programme and finance colleagues.
- Coordinate donor communications and reporting for SDC, Sida and Irish Aid, presenting progress, results, risks and implementation issues clearly.
- Coordinate Advisory Board and Community of Practice processes, including meetings, documentation, action tracking and knowledge exchange.
- Leveraged monitoring data and implementation insights to refine targeting, delivery methods, partnerships, and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with project goals.
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
- Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
Opportunities for Youth Employment Project Manager
4 Years 11 Months- Implemented and monitored youth employment and entrepreneurship interventions across several provinces, enhancing access to opportunities for young people.
- Engaged financial-service providers to develop youth-friendly financial products and innovative financing mechanisms, increasing financial accessibility for youth.
- Worked with TVET institutions, training providers and private companies to align skills development with market needs.
- Supported youth enterprise and market linkages in horticulture, legumes and small livestock, plus agriculture- and energy-related business opportunities.
- Managed projects from procurement to commission.
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
Program Manager Youth Empowerment
2 Years 11 Months- Supported youth economic empowerment, livelihood enterprise development, and vocational skills activities, with a focus on girls and young women.
- Prepared concept notes, proposals, enterprise models, market scans, and private-sector linkages to enhance youth employment opportunities.
- Collaborated with teams and partners to identify income-generating activities and enhance youth groups' access to markets and financial services.
- Tracked livelihoods, economic-strengthening, and microfinance activities in programme information systems, including SAVIX, and generated reports on group performance to inform strategic decisions.
- Assisted emergency response work, including food distribution, cash transfers, and cash-and-voucher concept development.
Local Researcher / Consultant
3 Months- Researched socioeconomic and environmental impacts of mining in Kalumbila and Chingola; engaged communities and stakeholders to promote responsible sourcing.
- Analyzed supply chain documents for labor risks and sustainability issues.
- Conducted desk research on business responsibility and human rights at Swedish watchdog organization.
- Drafted research notes and reports for public accountability publications.
Researcher / Livelihoods Expert
3 Months- Conducted baseline and market research to identify organic products and livelihood opportunities for youth groups, informing program development.
- Collected agricultural data from Chongwe producers and processors for association studies.
- Interviewed member farmers and processors about production challenges and market needs.
- Reviewed local market trends for Zambia agriculture and processing activities.
Team Leader
4 Months- Led Frontline Consultants team meetings and assigned daily work priorities.
- Coached staff on client service standards and workplace procedures.
- Monitored workload and adjusted schedules to support Frontline Consultants operations.
- Conducted research on agroforestry, land productivity, and livelihood opportunities in communities affected by environmental degradation.
Training & Extension Manager
7 Years 4 Months- Coordinated extension services and farmer training, developed learning materials, and facilitated agricultural field days with farmers, researchers, private sector, and policymakers to enhance knowledge transfer.
- Directed daily operations at agricultural training centre and farm demonstration units, ensuring effective delivery of training programs and resource utilization.
- Supervised classroom support, practical sessions, and field training exercises to ensure alignment with educational objectives and trainee needs.
- Assessed staff performance and implemented solutions to improve operational efficiency.
- Conducted recruitment processes to attract and hire skilled candidates for vacancies.
- Supported budgeting, records, and reports for center administration.
- Monitored safety practices across workshops, fields, and training facilities.
Consultant
1 Year 3 Months- Assessed community issues and provided actionable recommendations for African Call initiatives, improving local engagement.
- Reviewed project activities, identifying gaps in delivery and engagement to inform future project strategies.
- Designed urban agriculture and gardening initiative for vulnerable households linked to Shalom Community School in Kanyama, enhancing community food security.
- Developed consultation notes, reports, and action plans for internal review.
Team Leader
11 Months- Facilitated conservation and livelihood initiatives at Kala Refugee Camp, focusing on agroforestry and orchard-based enterprise development.
Junior Specialist
6 Months- Supported research projects within University of California, Santa Cruz academic departments.
- Collected data and prepared materials for faculty-led research activities.
- Organized study records and maintained accurate documentation for campus research teams.
- Facilitated ecological horticulture and agroecology activities, enhancing irrigation, composting, and crop production.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly, improving overall customer satisfaction.
Consultant
1 Year 8 Months- Facilitated association structure, governance, leadership development, and private-sector market linkages for 29 primary cooperatives.
- Assessed community issues and recommended practical solutions
- Coordinated meetings with staff, partners, and community representatives to ensure alignment and effective communication.
- Supported outreach efforts through clear communication and trusted client guidance.
- Supported the outgrower scheme coordinating the flow of inputs and outputs
- Oversaw depot managers to improve team accountability and performance.
Education
Master of Science - Education for Sustainability
Bachelor of Arts - NGO Management
Associate of Science - Forestry
Skills
Monitoring and evaluation
Program planning
Financial tracking
Donor communication
Partner coordination
Youth empowerment initiatives
Government and multi-stakeholder engagement
Team coordination
MS Office expertise
Personal Information
- Full Name: Robson Nyirenda
Nationality: Zambian
Current Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Email: robbienyirenda@gmail.com
Phone: [Insert your preferred contact number]
Languages: English, Nyanja, Bemba and Tonga
Professional Field: Programme Management, Development Cooperation, Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, Education for Sustainability, and Rural Livelihoods
DIGITAL SKILLS, LANGUAGES & MEMBERSHIP
Languages: English (excellent), Nyanja, Bemba and Tonga.
Affiliations
Member: Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Monitoring & Evaluation (University of Zambia, 2014) PMD Pro (2017) Social Enterprise Development (2019) Cash and Voucher Programming (2020) Child Protection (2016) Certificate in Ecological Horticulture (University of California, Santa Cruz, 2008) Agribusiness short course
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
- Coordinate delivery and donor reporting for SNV's multi-donor YEE portfolio valued at approximately ?7.4 million.
- Support a programme that has registered 38,780 young people, 55.9% of them young women; 19,520 participants have received social-skills training.
- Connect young people to entrepreneurship training, agrifood markets, private-sector opportunities, financial services and business development support.
- Track implementation, expenditure and forecasts, review variances and coordinate follow-up actions to support timely and accountable delivery.
- Work with stakeholders across all 10 provinces of Zambia, including government, donors, training institutions, financial institutions and private-sector partners.
Languages
English
C2
Proficient
Timeline
Youth Employment Entrepreneurship Project Manager
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation Zambia
01.2024 - CurrentRead More
Opportunities for Youth Employment Project Manager
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation Zambia
01.2020 - 12.2024Read More
Local Researcher / Consultant
Swedwatch (Sweden)
09.2018 - 12.2018Read More
Researcher / Livelihoods Expert
Chongwe Producers and Processors Association of Zambia
03.2018 - 06.2018Read More
Team Leader
Frontline Consultants
07.2017 - 11.2017Read More
Program Manager Youth Empowerment
Plan International Zambia
02.2016 - 01.2019Read More
Consultant
African Call NGO
09.2014 - 12.2015Read More
Team Leader
Africa Community Projects
01.2013 - 12.2013Read More
Training & Extension Manager
Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre
03.2009 - 07.2016Read More
Junior Specialist
University of California, Santa Cruz
04.2008 - 10.2008Read More
Consultant
Producer Owned Trading Company (POTC)
01.2004 - 09.2005Read More
London South Bank University
Master of Science from Education for Sustainability
Read More
Cavendish University
Bachelor of Arts from NGO Management
Read More
Zambia Forestry College
Associate of Science from Forestry
Read More