WASH Business Development Coordinator

Job Title: WASH Business Development Coordinator
Location: Blantyre
Contract Period: Two years (subject to renewal)

Summary:

Water For People is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that works with people and partners to develop innovative and long-lasting solutions to the water, sanitation, and hygiene problems globally. The organization strives to continually improve, experiment with promising new ideas, and leverage resources to multiply its impact. To learn more, visit www.waterforpeople.org.

Water For People in collaboration with focus District Councils has over the years developed and tested sustainable business models to expand water and sanitation service coverage in the Districts and beyond. The country program aims to achieve sustainable water and excreta management through catalyzing water and sanitation businesses and supporting the development of approaches that can be taken to scale without the need for external grant funding

Essential Job Functions and Duties:

• Drive innovation in the water and sanitation business space in line with the overall vision of the Malawi and Water for People global sanitation program.
• Design a program with the aim of achieving Sustainable Sanitation regarding all the programs work.
• Develop and implement a country strategy relating tothe initiation, development and growth of pit emptying and latrine building services in different segments of the population.
• Coordinate all Water and Sanitation as a Business activity in Malawi, maintaining regular contact with all project staff, partner staff and relevant government bodies
• Manage the technology development process in Malawi and ensure that water and sanitation engineering process remain targeted and relevant to the sector and needs of the water and sanitation businesses.
• Develop project implementation plans, track progress against plans, and oversee expenditures.
• Ensure that a good learning relationship and effective communication channels are developed between the Program staff
• Provide expertise in developing water and sanitation businesses in Malawi and develop systems which improve the sector and entrepreneur capacity.
• Identify needs, opportunities, gaps, and constraints in potential water and sanitation markets, models, and entrepreneurs, and provide mentoring and support to sanitation businesses.
• Conduct business landscaping studies and oversee the management of market analysis work.
• Engage with local government to understand and if necessary, improve the regulatory operating environment for emerging sanitation businesses.
• Document successes, failures and lessons learnt and share knowledge internally and externally.
• Actively collaborate with Water For people strategic partners and other sector players to promote sanitation as a business
• Establish and facilitate multi-stakeholder learning platforms at National and District level aimed at discussion water and sanitation as a business

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Demonstrated success in managing a team of innovators.
• An understanding of how business works, what determines success or failure (both within businesses themselves and within the operating environment) and how entrepreneurs make decisions.
• Must be flexible, have a nose for innovative entrepreneurial approaches, able to work under tight deadlines and have excellent follow through skills. Be a self-starter and work with limited supervision.
• Comfort and confidence in communicating with entrepreneurs, and talent in communicating with diverse and international constituents.
• Understanding of what is required when using international grant funds, in terms of effectiveness and accountability.
• Excellent verbal/written communications and presentation skills. Good analytical skills and the ability to extrapolate lessons to other situations.

Qualification and experience

• A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Over 3 years of experience in business development and those who have worked in water and sanitation projects will have an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Good analytical skills of business performance of both formal and informal sector
• Demonstrated success in project implementation.
• Must be flexible, able to work under tight deadlines and have excellent follow-through skills. Be a self-starter and work with limited supervision.
• Excellent verbal/written communications and presentation skills and good analytical skills
• Experience and Knowledge of Development work related issues in Malawi.
• Competent in use of MS Word, Excel, and a statistical analysis program (preference for SPSS or Access)

For detailed Job description for all positions advertised visit our website https://www.waterforpeople.org/careers/

Please send your application letter and CV including copies of relevant certificates through email to The Human Resource Officer at malawi@waterforpeople.org. The email heading should bear the title of the position being applied for

Closing date of application is August 21, 2025

Note: Due to the many applications that we normally receive, shortlisting and interviews will be done on a rolling basis without waiting for the closing date. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.