Wash Project Manager

Job ID: 97909
Job Title: Wash Project Manager
Company: Self Help Africa
Location: Malawi
Contract type: Fixed Term Full Time
Reports to: Deputy Wash Programme Manager

Organisation Overview:

About Self Help Africa:

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change.

We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

Our current five-year organisation strategy, defines our mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our three core values are:

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

About the Project

This project aims to strengthen the sustainability of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in 45 primary schools with P-Class learners across Nsanje, Dedza, and Salima districts in Malawi by piloting a contextualised Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools. Building on existing WASH infrastructure, the project will improve daily hygiene practices, establish sustainable operation and maintenance (O&M) systems, strengthen school and community ownership, and enhance district-level monitoring and accountability. Implemented by Self Help Africa Three-Starship with UNICEF, WASHTED, district authorities, and government ministries, the project will support schools to progressively achieve One Star, Two Star, and Three-Star WASH standards through supervised handwashing, improved sanitation and menstrual hygiene management, school-led O&M financing, and institutional capacity building. By embedding the approach within existing government and community structures, the project seeks to improve children’s health, attendance, and learning outcomes while generating evidence for scaling up sustainable school WASH management across Malawi.

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Deputy Program Manager (DPM), s/he is accountable for the overall planning, implementation, monitoring, quality – control and reporting of all WASH Projects. S/he will manage human, financial and other resources for all the WASH Projects. S/he will have responsibility for ensuring that the projects are managed effectively and efficiently. S/he will line manage all WASH Project Teams in Nsanje, Dedza and Salima , working in close collaboration with Project Accountant, MEAL Intern and National MEAL Manager. S/he will also oversee implementation of school WASH projects in the 3 districts of Nsanje, Dedza and Salima including staff.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall day to day management oversight for the planning and delivery of the project in all 3 districts of Nsanje, Dedza and Salima (Each district has 15 schools totaling up to 45 schools), ensuring that the project is implemented within acceptable quality, timeframe and budget.
• Ensure the implementation of the project is in compliance with UNICEF requirements, government policies and global and national standards.
• Provide technical leadership in school WASH three star activities and all related WASH activities within the school.
• Ensure effective project budgetary control and monitoring is in line with SHA’s financial procedures and guidelines, and fraud and risk management policies.
• Produce timely and quality technical and financial reports both for donors and internal use; timely review & submit the reports to DPM for review.
• Ensure proper project/program assessments, design, monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management processes are employed in the WASH program; and fully engage to make sure that appropriate monitoring tools including electronic based platforms are used to support the monitoring and decision-making processes.
• Develop and submit weekly updates and monthly monitoring and documentation reports to Deputy WASH Program Manager.
• Ensure that appropriate human resource performance monitoring mechanisms with proper coaching and mentoring are practiced enhancing smooth staff relations and accountability.
• Work with the WASH Program Manager to handle WASH donors, support donors and partners’ visits, briefings and meetings.
• Promote major cross cutting themes including environment, gender, protection, disability, peace building and core values of the organization.
• Ensure implementation of project activities in line with SHA’s safeguarding policy and procedures. This includes ensuring promotion of a positive culture of openness and transparent where team members are able to raise concerns.
• Represents SHA at national sector technical forums, events and meetings, where agreed with WASH Program Manager

Key Relationships:

Internal:

Deputy WASH Program Manager

WASH Project Engineer

WASH Filed Facilitators

Project Accountant

Stores and Administration Officer

National MEAL Manager

MEAL Intern

External

Implementing partners District Council

Qualification:

At least Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field like Public/Environmental Health, Community Development or related discipline, a master’s degree being an advantage.

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

• At least 5 years’ relevant experience in WASH in an international NGO working as a Project Manager
• Demonstrable experience in project management and people management
• Strong character traits, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity and integrity
• Proven experience of managing donor(s) funded projects or programs
• Good computer skills including MS Word, Excel and internet
• Knowledge and Experience in WASH in schools and Hygiene promotion and Operation and maintenance services.
• Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding risks and mitigating actions.
• Experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems including monitoring
• Experience in proposal development, budget preparation and report writing
• A full clean driving license and ability to drive a four-wheel drive manual vehicle is essential.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written in English
• Creates and encourages a climate of team-work and collaboration in a diverse cultural environment.
• Has high-level management and supervisory skills

How to Apply:

Full Job Description here.

Please upload your CV and Cover Letter outlining your suitability for the role here.

The Deadline for Receiving applications is Friday 28th August 2026 at 5pm

Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer:

All candidates offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.  Specific roles may require Police/DBS/ vetting.

Important information:

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need!

Self Help Africa is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.