Job Description

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries

Founded in 1968, Concern works in 25 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean with its headquarters in Ireland.

Concern started working in Malawi in 2002. Our Country Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027 focuses on climate and environment, social protection, gender and social inclusion, sustainable food systems for food security and partnerships. For sustainability and lasting change, our advocacy and influence, people centred and evidence based approaches focus on system strengthening and resilience building as we seek to address the root causes of poverty.

Concern invites applications from interested candidates qualified for the following positions;

District Programme Manager (1 Vacancy)

Contract Duration: Fixed Term One (1) Year Contract

Duty Station: Kasiya- Lilongwe Rural

Reporting to the Programme Coordinator, the District Programme Manager will oversee all projects in Lilongwe Rural and Mchinji districts ensuring high-quality and timely programme implementation and operational and financial efficiency and effectiveness. Responsibilities include developing and executing Detailed Implementation Plans for FS4FS and FARMSE projects, conducting monthly team meetings and ensuring alignment with grant objectives. The role also involves managing the performance of logistics, procurement, security, HR and administrative functions. Financial duties include budget management, expenditure monitoring, and forecasting, while ensuring compliance with policies and donor requirements. S/he will also implement performance management processes, mentor staff, identify training and learning opportunities, and conducts regular check-ins and site visits. Additionally, the role involves establishing positive and productive relationships with government offices, donors, and stakeholders, maintaining a directory of key contacts, communicating project milestones, and attending relevant coordination meetings.

Responsibilities and Tasks#

Project Management for Programme Quality:

• Programme Development and Implementation: Liaise closely with the Programme Director and Programme Coordinator on programme development and implementation issues. Lead the creation and execution of Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs) for both the FS4FS and FARMSE projects, ensuring all activities align with grant objectives and assigning responsibilities and timelines to teams.
• Team Coordination: Conduct monthly meetings with all implementing teams (Concern and partners) to review achievements, ensure proper accounting for previously implemented activities, and make necessary adjustments to the DIPs for future tasks. Ensure all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities, and coordinate work plans and field activities to monitor progress towards project objectives within agreed timeframes.
• Geographical and Participant Targets: Ensure that geographical and participant targets meet grant agreements. Lead the implementation of geographical scoping and participant recruitment processes.
• Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation: Facilitate the smooth implementation of studies, assessments, and surveys by researchers, consultants, and the Concern and partner MEAL teams. Oversee routine monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure they align with the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP). Ensure that learning from these activities is applied and shared with the team, and implement recommendations to improve program quality.
• Context Assessment: Continuously evaluate the project’s context, assumptions, and changes in the working environment to ensure the program remains relevant. Propose adjustments as necessary.
• Accountability: Lead the team in ensuring transparent communication of project information to stakeholders, communities, and participants. Maintain robust complaints and response mechanisms to effectively address and resolve concerns, ensuring accountability and trust in the project’s processes and outcomes.
• Reporting: In coordination with Concern and partner staff, lead the development of data-driven internal monthly reports and contribute significantly to the creation of timely and comprehensive donor reports as per the grant agreement reporting schedule.
• Site Visits and Feedback: Undertake regular monitoring and support visits to programme sites, providing feedback to staff and management and ensuring follow-up on recommendations.

Operations Management :

• Logistics and Transport Management: Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of project staff, materials and supplies. Oversee transportation and distribution logistics for field activities and manage logistics related to staff movement, including storage and transportation arrangements and accommodations
• Procurement Management: Develop and implement procurement plans in alignment with project needs and timelines. Ensure compliance with Concern Worldwide’s procurement policies and donor regulations. Lead the team in submitting timely and well-specified supply requests.
• Administration: Oversee administrative tasks, including documentation, filing, and maintenance of project records. Monitor and manage office supplies and equipment. Ensure proper management, maintenance, and security of project assets.
• Security Management: Assess and report security incidents in line with Concern’s Security Management Plan. Ensure the safety and security of staff, project sites, and assets. Implement and enforce security protocols for all staff.
• Human Resources and Team Management; Implement and oversee Concern’s performance management processes, ensuring performance objective setting & periodic performance reviews are in place: Supervise, lead, and support direct reports for both projects: Identify staff and partner capacity needs, provide technical support, mentoring and coaching: Ensure timely dissemination of learnings to the wider team: Conduct regular check-ins with direct reports and lead monthly meetings with the wider programme teams, including partners, to ensure cohesive & inclusive team dynamics: Ensure project staff are aware of and effectively implement Concern’s Policies & Procedures; Ensure compliance with Concern’s staff health, safety and security protocols
• Records Management: Ensuring all records including files, documents, distribution lists etc. are properly and adequately maintained and periodically lodged with Concern’s Head Office in Lilongwe as per Concern’s policies and procedures

Financial Management:

• Budget Management: Take overall responsibility for managing the FS4FS and FARMSE budgets. Work with the Programmes Coordinator and Finance Manager to align budgets with authority levels and ensure staff under your supervision understand their budgets and budget codes.
• Expenditure Monitoring: With support from senior programme and finance management, effectively monitor project expenditure to ensure it stays within budget and is delivered cost-effectively. Ensure all expenditures are reasonable, allocatable, allowable, and correctly coded to the appropriate budget lines by reviewing transaction listings.
• Forecasting: Coordinate with programming and partner staff to effectively forecast monthly, quarterly, and annually, using the detailed implementation plan and procurement plans. Conduct spend versus actual analysis to support better forecasting. Develop tools and templates to enable accurate forecasting, and support teams in using these tools.
• Coordination: Convene and coordinate with other budget holders to ensure a collaborative approach in providing detailed explanations for expenditures and justifications for forecasting during monthly donor management account meetings.
• Policy Adherence: Ensure adherence to all relevant Concern policies and procedures, including those related to operations and finance, as well as donor requirements.

Manage External Relations & Collaboration:

• Relationship Management: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with government offices, donors, and other stakeholders at the district level. Maintain a directory of key stakeholders in government offices, donor organizations and structures in both districts.
• Communication and Accountability: Ensure timely communication of key milestones to relevant stakeholders. Provide regular briefings on project implementation status to ensure accountability.
• Reporting: Collate and compile field-generated information, completing periodic progress reports in compliance with donor requirements for inclusion in the programme report by the lead agency.

Minimum Qualifications:#

• Bachelors’ Degree in Social Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Project Management or relevant field
• At least 5 years’ experience working in humanitarian, recovery, food security, livelihoods, DRR and resilience related development programmes with managerial experience
• At least 5 years’ experience in Agriculture, Food Systems, Livelihoods, Resilience Development, Social Protection or relevant field
• Proven track record in effective project management, including project planning and budget management.
• Experience collaborating with local government institutions and structures.
• Experience integrating gender and equality issues within program design and management.
• Strong skills in partnership building, influencing, and negotiating with a diverse range of actors, including governments, UN agencies, academic institutions, networks, donors, national/local NGOs, and community groups.

Programme Support Officer – Agriculture (2 Vacancies)

Contract Duration: Fixed Term One (1) Year Contract

Duty Station: Kasiya – Lilongwe Rural

 The Programme Support Officer – Agriculture will operate under the ‘Availability Pillar’ with the objective of increasing food availability for consumption and market engagement. The role encompasses coordination, training, watershed management, and market access facilitation, aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security among vulnerable households by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and effective resource management. The Programme Support Officer will work with 180 Lead Farmers across 8 watershed sites, impacting approximately 4,320 follower farmers and their communities.

Responsibilities and Tasks#

Coordination:

• Oversee the training and support of 180 Lead Farmers across 8 watershed sites. Maintain a database of beneficiary details, monitor participation, and inform the MEAL team of any dropouts or changes.
• Maintain effective communication with Lead Farmers to keep them informed about the project’s objectives, activities, and deliverables. Provide regular updates on training schedules, distributions, and other events.
• Collaborate closely with 180 Lead Farmers to help them disseminate knowledge and support to their respective farmer groups, each consisting of 24 follower farmers. Monitor the implementation of activities to ensure are conducted as planned and maintain the database accordingly.
• Maintain good collaboration with the Agricultural Extension Development Officers (AEDO) in their work jurisdiction
• Collaborate with all the District Agricultural Extension Services System (DAESS) at VDC level ( VAC, VASP)
• Collaboration with other Agriculture sectors( Livestock department, Forestry Department, Crops department, Land resource, Irrigation department etc)
• Coordinate with other project sector leads within the project (Markets, Financial Inclusion, Gender, nutrition, M&E)

Training:

• In coordination with the Team Leader and relevant local Ministries, lead the implementation of farmer training for 180 Lead Farmers on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) techniques, crop diversification, winter cropping, irrigation for cash crops, post-harvest handling and processing, and the promotion of bulking, sorting, and grading, including education on vendor/purchaser requirements and demand. Ensure all training aligns with the seasonal calendar.
• Ensure training is scheduled on time and includes a detailed agenda, facilitation guide, and feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement. Work closely with the MEAL team to develop pre- and post-tests to measure training impact.
• Support the establishment and maintenance ofdemonstration plots that enable Lead Farmers to transfer knowledge and skills to Follower Farmers, allowing participants to observe the practical application of techniques. Identify individual farms where best practices can be showcased if necessary.
• Ensure all training aligns with the policies, guidelines, and curricula established by relevant Ministries, as well as Concern’s policies and procedures. Oversee planning, procurement, participant list development, and accountability throughout the training process.
• Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are followed in all trainings
• Integrating all cross cutting issues in trainings including Gender, DRR, CRM, social inclusion etc

Watershed Management:

• Organize and conduct training sessions for 8 watershed sites on Natural Resources Management (NRM), Integrated Watershed Management (IWM), agroforestry, and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). Establish and support management committees for these practices.
• Support the setup and management of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) enterprises such as beekeeping, fish farming, stove making, sustainable charcoal from bamboo, and waste management in 8 watershed sites.
• Lead the cascading of Seasonal forecast and advisories to CPCs and the general communities
• Promote Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives by training 16 Village Civil Protection Committees (VCPC), facilitating community disaster planning and participatory scenario planning, and disseminating weather advisories and alerts using appropriate digital and technological solutions.

Market Access Facilitation:

• In close collaboration with Market PSO link farmer groups with private sector partners to showcase new technologies, seeds/varieties, and alternative fertilizer options.
• In collaboration with Market PSO, facilitate access to irrigation and other agricultural equipment through project revolving funds, microfinance institution (MFI) loans, and equipment fairs at trading centers.
• Support the implementation of both subsidized and unsubsidized seed and farming equipment fairs, utilizing market vouchers and other mechanisms.

Reporting, Documentation, and Dissemination

• Assist in developing the detailed implementation plan by identifying activities, tasks, responsible persons, and timelines for items under the availability pillar.
• Prepare and submit weekly and monthly plans and reports on activities to the Team Leader and Project Manager.
• Support the creation of effective program reporting, monitoring, and evaluation systems for both internal and external use, in coordination with other program staff.
• Lead data gathering, tracking, and reporting on watershed management-related data.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Diploma in Agriculture, Agronomy, Irrigation Engineering, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Risk Management, or a related field. Minimum of 3 years in food security, food systems, or climate smart agriculture programming. Combined experience in irrigation, watershed management, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a significant advantage.
• Proven Minimum of 3 years in food security, food systems, or climate smart agriculture programming. Combined experience in irrigation, watershed management, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is a significant advantage.

How To Apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should send their CV (3 pages maximum including contacts of 3 referees) and Cover Letter to malawi.hr@concern.net with the subject of the email as “District Programme Manager’’ or ‘’ Programme Support Officer- Agriculture’’ depending on the position they are applying for. The deadline for applications is Friday, 19^th July, 2024. Due to the urgency to fill these positions, applications will be shortlisted on a rolling basis. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Concern is an equal opportunities employer. Qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.