Program Manager

ActionAid Malawi

ActionAid Malawi

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 (SRI) project in Lilongwe rural, Balaka and Mulanje and Phalombe districts, from May 2020 until April 2026. 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 centers (CBCCs). The strategy 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 position.

Position: Project Manager

Reporting to: Programmes and Policy Lead

Role Overview: To provide leadership and strategic management of the School Readiness Initiative Project in line with Transforming Systems for Social Justice (CSP) and the signed Memorandum of Understanding with the funder and implementing partners.

Role Dimension: Plans, coordinates, and works closely with Directorate of Basic Education Office, District Social Welfare Office, Child Protection Officers, and other key stakeholders both at community and district levels. The Role supervises the Project Officers based in the districts of project implementation.

Responsibilities

  • Rights Based Project Design, Planning, and Implementation
    1. Develop annual plans and budgets for the project
    2. Develop implementation plans and schedules
    3. leads implementation of plans and budgets in line with project contracts,
    4. Coordinate Policy research, campaigning, and advocacy work
    5. Leads, guides, and facilitates the Project team in rights-based programming
    6. Provides specific technical support to regions and partners.
    7. Sits in strategic technical working groups coordinated by the ministry of gender, community development and child welfare.
    8. Is technical contact to the donor on the project implementation.
  • Management of ALPS related accountabilities (appraisal, planning, strategy development, M&E, Impact assessment).
    1. Develop annual and medium-term plans and budgets for the project.
    2. Develop and implement a participatory M&E /impact Assessment System for the project.
    3. Coordinate project appraisals, review, and evaluation.
    4. Ensure continuous participatory review, reflections, and shared learning.
    5. Consolidate and submit financial and narrative project reports per agreed schedule.
  • Policy influencing, collaboration and alliances
    1. Represent ActionAid Malawi and participate in relevant policy forums.
    2. Facilitate alliances /network/coalition building and strengthening
    3. Links grassroots issues to national / international policy agenda
    4. Leads in the development and nurturing of partner organizations
    5. Monitors compliance of partners to the MOU drawn with ActionAid Malawi.
  • Financial Management and Prudent Resource Utilization.
    1. Prepares cash flow forecasts and payment requests for the project.
    2. Lead in reviews and approvals of proposals from partners within his /her approval limits.
    3. Ensures project activities are implemented within approved budgets and for intended objectives.
    4. Monitors adherence to internal control systems by staff and partners.
    5. Manage project assets and resources in line with the Local Finance Policies and Procedure Manual.
  • General Management and Administration
    1. Ensures availability of resources and equipment for staff to achieve agreed objectives of the project.
    2. Conduct Monthly Project Management meetings to review progress and take management decisions.
    3. Provides timely feedback and responses to project related tasks / requests from line supervisor and other stakeholders.
  • Human Resource Management
    1. Appraises other project staff annually with half year review of progress on a one-to-one basis.
    2. Lead development of Key Result Areas for project staff
    3. Supervise Project staff guided by the agreed key result areas.
    4. Facilitate capacity building and /or strengthening of project staff.

Qualifications

  • A minimum of bachelor’s in early childhood development, social sciences, development studies, education, or any relevant field from recognized university
  • Familiar computer packages e.g., Microsoft word, excel, PowerPoint
  • A minimum of 5 years working with children in community-based care centers and lower Primary school
  • Experience in project planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation
  • Team player and good communication skills

Essential Skills

  • Leadership and management
  • Strong analytical / problem solving skills
  • Analysis and report writing
  • 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

The closing date is 17.00hrs 20th June 2025

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 leaders, are encouraged to apply. Due to the high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with short listed applicants.