Project Officers (2)

The Organization:

ActionAid Malawi is a locally registered non‐governmental organization under the Company’s Act 1984 as a company limited by guarantee and is affiliated to ActionAid International, a federation of national organizations working in over 45 countries in Africa, Asia, America and Europe regions. ActionAid International is a global justice Federation working to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication. ActionAid works to strengthen the capacity and active agency of people living in poverty and exclusion, especially women, to assert their rights.

ActionAid Malawi with funding from Roger Federer Foundation (RFF) is implementing    a “School Readiness Initiative Malawi (SRM) project in Lilongwe rural, Balaka, Mulanje, Phalombe, Machinga, Neno, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Mchinji, Dowa and Ntchisi districts, from October 2026 until June 2028. School Readiness initiative is aimed at supporting “children to be ready for schools and schools ready for children”. The project is implemented in Primary schools and their feeder community-based care centres (CBCCs). The initiative is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4.2 whose focus is on ensuring that by 2030 all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.

 ActionAid Malawi invites applications from suitably qualified personnel to fill the following vacant positions.

Position:   Project Officers (2)

Reporting to: Project Manager

Location: Neno and Nsanje

Role Overview: To facilitate project implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting that will ensure smooth delivery of project, accountability and compliance with contractual obligations agreed with the funder and ActionAid management.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning

1. Inputs into the development of annual and medium/long term plans and budgets for the project
2. Develop implementation plans for the project
3. Conducts need assessment for the project
4. Participates in the development and review of SRI implementation strategies, approaches and tools to ensure alignment with national ECD and school readiness priorities.
5. Supports the integration of cross-cutting issues, including child protection, safeguarding and climate resilience, into project plans and budgets.
6. Develops activity-based implementation schedules and monitors progress against agreed milestones and targets.
7. Supports the identification and management of project risks and develops appropriate mitigation measures.

• Project Implementation

1. Ensures that project activities are implemented in accordance with SRI quality standards, guidelines and agreed implementation approaches.
2. Ensures effective coordination and collaboration with relevant government departments at district and community levels.
3. Facilitates community engagement and ownership of ECD and school readiness interventions.
4. Provide technical support to partners and frontline ECD actors on quality play-based learning and school readiness approaches.
5. Support the strengthening of linkages between CBCCs and primary schools to facilitate children’s smooth transition to Standard 1.
6. Facilitates collaboration between CBCC caregivers, infant teachers, head teachers, government workers, parents and community structures.
7. Supports the establishment and functioning of School–CBCC Transition Platforms and Learning Groups.
8. Supports partners and communities to develop and implement sustainability plans for key SRI interventions.
9. Ensures that child safeguarding, protection and safe programming standards are applied throughout project implementation.
10. Supports documentation and dissemination of promising practices, innovations and lessons emerging from project implementation.

• Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

1. Develops monthly, quarterly and annually narrative project reports.
2. Monitors project performance against approved indicators, targets, work plans and budgets and recommend corrective action where necessary.
3. Conducts regular field monitoring visits to CBCCs, primary schools, partners and communities to assess implementation quality and progress.
4. Ensures quality, accuracy, completeness and timely submission of project data by partners.
5. Supports the use of project data and evidence to inform planning, decision-making and programme improvement.
6. Tracks and documents outcomes and changes resulting from SRI interventions, including improvements in caregiver practice, children’s school readiness and CBCC–school linkages.
7. Participate in baseline, mid-term, endline and other project assessments as required.
8. Facilitates reflection and learning sessions with partners, caregivers, teachers and other stakeholders and ensures that lessons are incorporated into implementation.
9. Prepares case studies, success stories, human-interest stories and other evidence of project results for learning and donor reporting.
10. Ensures timely reporting of challenges, risks, safeguarding concerns and implementation delays to the Project Manager.

• Policy Influencing, networking and alliance building

1. Represents AAM and participates in relevant policy forums locally.
2. Facilitates strategic alliance/network/coalition building and strengthening on advocacy issues at community and district level.
3. Consolidates grassroots issues and connects them to regional and national policy agenda.
4. Engages with District Councils, District Education Offices and other relevant government structures to strengthen institutional ownership of the school readiness interventions.
5. Advocates for increased government and community investment in ECD.
6. Supports the documentation and dissemination of evidence and lessons from SRI to inform policy and practice at district and national levels.
7. Participate in ECD technical working groups, coordination meetings, networks and other relevant platforms.
8. Builds and maintains effective relationships with government, NGOs, civil society organizations, traditional leaders and community structures involved in ECD.

• General management and Corporate Responsibilities

1. Participates in and contributes to Project Forums, Project Team meetings, thematic task forces.
2. Maintains regular flow of information with other projects and strategic partners
3. Provides timely feedback and responses to project related tasks/requests from the Project Manager and other stakeholders within and without AAM.
4. Carries out other functions assigned by the Project Manager
5. Provides regular technical and programme support to implementing partners to ensure quality delivery of SRI activities.
6. Supports partners to identify and address implementation challenges and capacity gaps.
7. Promotes accountability, transparency and effective use of project resources among implementing partners.
8. Follows up on recommendations arising from monitoring visits, reviews and audits.

Qualifications

• A minimum of bachelor’s in early childhood development, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Education, or any relevant field from a recognized University
• Familiar with computer packages e.g., Microsoft word, excel, PowerPoint
• A minimum of 3 years working with children in community-based care centres and lower Primary school
• Experience in project planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation
• Team player and good communication skills

Essential Skills

1. Leadership and management
2. A valid Motorcycle riding license is a must.
3. Strong analytical / problem solving skills
4. Analysis and report writing
5. Planning, organization, time management, coordination, and budget tracking.

Application letters with copies of Certificates should be sent to:

The Executive Director

ActionAid Malawi

P.O. Box 30735

Lilongwe3

Or Email to: Recruitment.Malawi@actionaid.org

 Closing date is 14^th October,2026, at 17.00hrs.

ActionAid Malawi welcomes applications from all sections of the community and promotes diversity. All applications will be considered on their individual merit. An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate in line with ActionAid Malawi Pay and Benefits Policy. Suitably qualified Malawian nationals, especially women are encouraged to apply. Due to high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with shortlisted applicants