Programme Development and Knowledge Coordinator

About the role: This is a 12 month, new role with unaccompanied terms based in Lilongwe, Malawi with a salary of Grade 4 with a salary between €44,133 and €53,941 a year.

You will report to the Country Director, and work closely with Programme Director, Programme Managers and Coordinators. You will also work closely with the Country Management Team. You will work with HQ Desk Officer and ensure effective coordination with HQ Technical Advisors in knowledge products, communications, advocacy, partnerships and proposal development. You will also liaise closely with partners and stakeholders, including local NGO on proposals and grant-related matters, ensuring programme quality and capacity building.

We would like you to start on 1 September 2022.

Your purpose:

To lead efficient and quality knowledge products, communications, advocacy, research, partnerships and proposal development processes within Concern Malawi.

Key responsibilities include: engagement with stakeholders and partners on advocacy and communications initiatives, oversight of research, documentation and knowledge management to promote learning and policy engagement, identification of funding opportunities, coordination and oversight of quality proposal development, oversight of production and appropriate use of communications materials to relevant target audiences. You will represent Concern at key donor and external coordination meetings with government and development partners in consultation with CD and PD.

You will be responsible for:

Advocacy

• Oversee the implementation of Concern Malawi Advocacy strategy with focus on the key technical and programme areas of the country programme
• Plan, coordinate and execute advocacy initiatives, campaigns and other actions to engage stakeholders and policymakers around specific policy issues in coordination with Country Management Team.
• Engage with relevant advocacy / policy forums and stakeholders, and identify and implement innovative and relevant advocacy initiatives in partnership with relevant actors.
• Engage in review and feedback processes for updating/creating government policy and programme implementation plans, strategies and tools, as relevant.
• Oversee production of advocacy products for distribution to government, development partner or donor stakeholders. Contribute to Concern global advocacy initiatives, ensuring that Concern Malawi work is reflected and captured.

Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Ensure learning by the country programme from relevant best practice internally and externally both nationally and globally.
• Engage in relevant national and global networks to promote Concern’s work.
• Works with MEAL team to develop a research agenda and coordinate with global team to build evidence for Concern innovative approaches
• Spread information relating to the outcome of research projects widely and – in particular – to the Government and to other humanitarian and development actors.

Communications:

• Oversee the effective social media and communication activities showcasing Concern Malawi programme and advocacy activities
• Ensure collection and proactive use of programme and technical content for use in social media and other communications activities such as photo, video documentation, case studies, photos, to demonstrate s the achievements and challenges of programmes implemented.
• Ensure review of communications materials to ensure quality and adherence to Dochas Code of Conduct and other guidelines.

Programme Development and Resource Mobilisation

• Actively identify and keep abreast of funding opportunities and key donor priorities and approaches; liaise directly with donors and consortia partner on the same as appropriate.
• Arrange and facilitate proposal design/programme development meetings, ensuring participation of relevant colleagues from across the different sub-teams, and consortia partners as necessary.
• Work with programme and finance teams to develop cohesive, quality concept notes and proposals, ensuring internal and external deadlines met and technical expertise/knowledge incorporated.
• Maintain resource mobilisation aspects on the Grant Management System (GMS) to monitor donor pipeline opportunities and, in support of PDPMs, proactivity identify funding gaps to be filled.

Partnership Support and Development

• In liaison with CD, PD, SD, CFC, coordinate identification and provision of capacity building for partner organisations in areas of organisational development and programme implementation
• Engage with relevant networks, advocacy organisations and community organisations/associations to progress technical, programme or advocacy activities of Concern Malawi
• As a member of the country team, actively promote compliance with Concern’s Programme Participants’ Protection Policy, the Code of Conduct and all associated policies.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

• Educated to degree level in International Development or a related discipline.
• At least five years INGO experience, including at least two years working in a programme development or policy role.
• Technical experience in areas of resilience building, climate change, gender equality, social protection, and emergency response.
• Fluent spoken/written English language skills; proven excellent report and proposal writing ability.
• Familiarity with key humanitarian and development donors (e.g. FCDO, OFDA, EU, Irish Aid, UN etc.)
• Significant experience of proposal development and familiarity with proposal and reporting formats.
• Ability to thrive and act independently in a high-pressured, results-focused, dynamic environment.
• High attention to detail in reviewing and inputting to reports, proposals and other documents.
• Excellent analytical skills. Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector working
• Experience identifying and documenting lessons learned, development of quality advocacy and knowledge management products.
• Highly organised, with experience developing work-plans and tracking tools.
• Good networking abilities, interpersonal communication and presentation skills, ideally in multicultural contexts and with colleagues/partners/stakeholders at different levels.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in in Malawi and/or Southern Africa.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and using learning to strengthen practice.
• Experience working in consortia and with local implementing partners.
• Facilitation and/or training experience; keenness and ability to build capacity of partner organisations (e.g. in donor requirements, proposal/report writing, critical analysis, quality standards, comms).
• Willing to take on new responsibilities, within reason and if needed, especially in emergency scale-up.