The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) has been working and collaborating with the Government of Zambia since 2022.  In close partnerships with the State House and various implementing agencies, the project is overseen by a Country Director, supported by a diverse team of professionals working across different priority areas.

One of the key priority areas focuses on energy transition and the establishment of sustainable energy infrastructure to make Zambia a regional energy trade hub. To support the realization of this vision we are hiring an energy advisor to work alongside key implementing agencies.

 TBI is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Energy Advisor to join our team in Lusaka, Zambia. The primary focus of this role is to provide expert guidance and support to the Presidential Delivery Unit and implementing agencies within Zambia’s energy sector to achieve priority objectives.

The Energy Advisor will work with key implementing agencies and will play a pivotal role in advancing sectoral energy objectives including energy transition efforts and establishing the nation as a regional energy hub.

This role requires an in-depth understanding of challenges and opportunities in Zambia’s high priority energy programs, Zambia geo-politics and its neighbours and the wider political economy of the region. It also requires an ability to work and build relationships with multiple ministries, agencies, and counterparts from both central and local government.

The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of three-months with the possibility of extension to an employment contract for at least two years based in Lusaka, Zambia and starts as soon as possible on the identification of a suitable candidate. 

Key Responsibilities

Support the development and delivery of the priority Energy Initiatives

• Collaborate with relevant government entities to assess and enhance energy-related policies and regulations. Work extensively with these government bodies to identify barriers to sustainable energy development and propose suitable regulatory reforms that promote investments in renewable energy and clean technologies.

• Identify and access potential energy programs and initiatives with a great focus on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.

• Support the review of various financing agreements by the government of Zambia and partners including various bilateral agreements with countries that import and export electricity from/to Zambia.

Technical Assistance for Energy Sufficiency

• Provide technical expertise in the development, design and construction, including operation and maintenance of energy infrastructure by ensuring the adoption of state-of-the art technologies and innovative solutions.

• Assist implementing partners with updated industry trends and emerging technologies to drive innovation in the energy sector.

• Assist in implementing the Integrated National Resource Plan that outlines the least cost energy resources and their effective development plans.

• Identify and promote best-practices from within and outside Zambia to improve service delivery in the energy sector

Capacity Building

• Strengthen the Energy Technical Expert Committee and the Presidential Delivery Unit

• Collaborate with various stakeholders including local and international institutions to develop suitable training programs in renewable energy technologies.

Data Analysis and Decision Support

• Assist implementing agencies with conducting in-depth data analysis and research to assess energy demand patterns, resource availability, and environmental impacts.

• Use data-driven insights to inform decision-making processes and optimize energy transition strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Foster and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, international organizations, and local communities.

• Set up a system in which urgent energy facilitation challenges are flagged and addressed in cooperation with the private sector

• Enhance the participation of industry players (power utility, IPPs, regulators, ministries, others) in the Public-Private Dialogue forum

Person Specification 

This is a role in a fast-paced and demanding environment. We are looking for enthusiastic and resilient individuals with a “can-do” outlook and the ability to consistently achieve results in multi-stakeholder environments.

Successful applicants should have the following competencies and experience:

Key competencies:

• Technical knowledge

• Relationship building

• Stakeholder coordination

• Strategic planning and decision-making

• Problem solving and analysis.

• Written and verbal communication

Knowledge and experience

• Proven experience working with developing country governments in the energy sector with a focus on energy transition and sustainable energy sources (required).

• A strong understanding of energy policies, laws, regulations and global trends including specific energy transitions policies like clean energy mechanisms (required).

• Experience working with Senior Government Counterparts such as Ministers/Permanent Secretaries/Directors (required)

• Experience in development and/or implementation of risk management/matrix frameworks

• Productive and resilient in a dynamic and challenging environment with an ability to think creatively and solve problems (required)

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office products Word, Excel and PowerPoint (required)

• A good understanding of Government systems and/or relevant sector expertise (required)

• Master’s degree in engineering, finance, economics, business administration, international energy law or related fields
• Fluency in English is required.