Background

In August 2021, United Purpose and Self-Help Africa (UP/SHA) merged at a Global Level. In Malawi the country programmes have merged together under one organogram. The merger of United Purpose and Self-Help Africa has given us a unique opportunity to create an organization built on our shared values and ideals and one that draws on our collective experience, knowledge and skills to expand and improve our work across the countries we work in. This is never more evident than in Malawi as it is also the only country where both UP and SHA operate.

Our WASH work supports our wider organizational aims of supporting people to live healthier, wealthier, safer and more climate-secure lives. We strive to enable sustainable, inclusive and resilient WASH services, at scale, through working at community; local government; local WASH ‘markets’; and the broader enabling environment. In Malawi, our WASH experience began in 1992 and we have since grown to become one of the biggest implementers of quality rural water supply and sanitation programmes. UP/SHA WASH portfolio includes large, stand-alone WASH projects, and multi-sectoral interventions with a WASH component. Our work covers:

1. Development-focused WASH interventions in communities, schools and healthcare facilities
2. Strengthening markets for WASH products and services
3. Wider governance and WASH systems strengthening
4. Humanitarian and resilience building

UP/SHA is increasingly taking an area-wide and systems strengthening approach to WASH, with the overarching objective of supporting local governments in achieving the SDGs for WASH, focusing on universal, sustainable WASH access across target districts we work in. UP/SHA WASH Program delivers 10-12 projects on average annually with a turnover of about $3m each year on average across 15 districts reaching close to 1 million people per year. For the last two years, UP/SHA has worked on evolving it’s programmatic strategy and portfolio in WASH to maximize its sustainable and scalable and impact on Malawi’s WASH sector. The Deputy Program Manager role will have an apex-view and management across the portfolio, helping to further evolve and implement our exciting WASH programmatic strategy. The Deputy WASH Program role is perceived to be a permanent ongoing role, subject to annual contracting.

  Job purpose:

The Deputy WASH Programme Manager’s (DPM) core responsibility in collaboration with, and under the supervision of the WASH Progamme Manager/Regional Advisor is for the coordination of planning, delivery, quality control, management, monitoring and evaluation of WASH stand-alone projects and multi sectoral interventions with WASH components in Malawi. This will include management of existing and future project teams, resources, budgets, workplans and deliverables, ensuring that implementation is on track to meet expected targets and expenditure is in line with the budgets. The DPM will work to ensure we are evolving and implementing our new WASH strategy to deliver Sustainable WASH services at scale in close collaboration with government stakeholders in all the districts we operate. The DPM will also provide technical guidance and mentoring to the WASH Project Managers and team to ensure high quality program delivery and impact.

The Deputy WASH Programme Manager will more broadly support business development of UP/SHA’s WASH portfolio in Malawi through business development, concept notes, proposal writing and representing the organization at relevant events and functions at the request of the WASH Program Manager/ Regional Advisor. They will also be involved in discussing the evolving WASH added value and programmatic strategy of UP/SHA in Malawi, together with the WASH PM/RA and the Global WASH Advisor. This is a key position at the apex level of UP/SHA’s large and growing WASH portfolio in Malawi.

Key duties and responsibilities

The Deputy WASH Programme Manager shall:

• Line manage WASH Project Managers and teams for the current and future projects in all the districts we operat
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring project work plans and budgeting in line with project log frames, agreed deliverables and resources in close collaboration with Project Managers and teams. This includes ensuring effective and efficient project budgetary control, forecasting and monitoring in line with donor requirements and UP/SHA’s financial procedures and guidelines, and fraud and risk management policies
• Ensure that UP/SHA sustainable WASH programming is consistent with national and global strategies and priorities, including SDGs.
• Supported by and in coordination with the WASH PM/RA and the GWA, deliver ongoing expert technical support, mentoring and guidance to WASH Project Managers and teams in all aspects of project implementation and budget management including (but not limited to) leading initiatives relating to Water Supply Service delivery models, Support CLTS and San/social Marketing, WASH in schools and clinics, nutrition-sensitive WASH, linking waste to energy and agriculture, evolving our SBCC approaches and district systems strengthening activities, etc. Note – it is not an essential requirement to be an expert in all of these fields, and this role is an exciting opportunity to learn and gain exposure in innovate and strategic approaches in WASH.
• Lead the preparation of financial internal and donor reporting in consultation with Project Managers (ensuring timely and accurate submissions to be signed off by WASH PM/Regional Advisor). To include review BVAs and Oversee forecasts/budgets reviews
• Lead the preparation of narrative internal and donor Reporting in consultation with Project Managers (ensuring timely and accurate monthly submissions to be signed off by WASH PM/Regional Advisor). Including overseeing all monthly internal and donor reports
• Working with Project Managers, ensure effective project budgetary control and monitoring in line with donor and UP/SHA financial procedures and guidelines, and fraud and risk management policies.
• Lead the coordination of project activities with other UP/SHA projects and seek and develop partnerships and synergies with other development projects in the same districts.
• Lead effective monitoring and evaluation of projects and their activities, manage data, and share learning and knowledge across all UP/SHA’s WASH projects
• Ensure there is close collaboration with government, traditional leaders and community stakeholders in all the districts we operate
• Oversees drilling operations unit to ensure its viability and sustainability and results-based funding projects for borehole sustainability .
• Represent and raise the profile of UP/SHA’s WASH work with all relevant internal and external stakeholders at district level
• Support and contribute to the development of proposal bids for stand-alone WASH Projects, and multisectoral projects integrated with WASH at the request from WASH Program Manager/Regional Advisor
• Support and contribute to the review and development of WASH Programme Framework in line with Country and Global UP/SHA strategies, providing inputs into processes and discussions with the PM/RD and GWA.

  Minimum Requirements

• At least BSc Degree in Engineering, Water Resources Management, Public Health, Environmental Health or other Related Fields linked with WASH. An MSc degree in these areas will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years in a similar position including experience in field-work and office-based activities.
• Strong, demonstrated programme management experience, effectively and efficiently managing (ideally multiple) projects and teams simultaneously
• Demonstrated technical knowledge and field experience of working in WASH, in rural and potentially also urban contexts, and development and humanitarian,  and an excellent understanding of the challenges of providing access sustainable WASH services.
• Strong evidence of ability to manage multiple budgets with annual turnover of over $2m and deliver multiple projects in line with workplans and milestones with minimal supervision.
• Experience in managing multiple projects and a large team
• Knowledge and experience in business development through partnership/relationship building, researching and identifying sources of funding, proposal writing and submission.
• Ability to design, implement and sustain an effective monitoring and evaluation system and utilizing it for donor reporting and wider evidence creation and dissemination.
• Ability to think creatively and analytically to produce innovative solutions and make sound decisions with minimal supervision.

  Required skills

• Well-developed skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power point etc) and experience using online conferencing platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams and Google Meet).
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Chichewa.
• Personal integrity, commitment to an approach of zero tolerance to financial mis-management or issues of safeguarding
• A full clean driving license and ability to drive a four-wheel drive manual vehicle is essential.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and analytical/problem-solving abilities.

How to apply

Qualified and interested candidates who meet the stated requirements must submit a completed Application Form. Please visit  https://gsha.box.com/v/applicationform   to download the Application Form, and then submit the completed form via email only to  [email protected]

When submitting, please cite the position you are applying for in the subject title and the following should be included;  Cover letter, CV, Copies Certificates and SHA/UP Application form  saved in your name. Any applications that do not include these will not be considered.

No hard copies / physical applications will be accepted.  Please note zipped Folder will not be accessed.

  Closing date for the receipt of completed application forms is  12:00 Midnight of 15 ^th  March, 2023  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

  United Purpose/Self Help Africa takes the safety and well-being of all those we work with, and our staff, very seriously. We have a zero-tolerance policy on abuse. Our recruitment is safe, meaning that we recruit staff with the highest values and standards of ethical behaviour. United Purpose has a Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy, which reflects our commitment to protecting the people with whom we work. All candidates will be expected to comply with this policy and its procedures.

For more information about the organization, please visit our website at  www.united-purpose.org/malawi/

UP /SHA is an equal opportunity employer.