Government Relations Country Coordinator at Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO)

Government Relations Country Coordinator, Lilongwe, Malawi – Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO)

The Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO) at the University of Georgia conducts research, develops programming, and influences policies that drastically and measurably reduce human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. The goal of the CenHTRO program in Southern Africa is to reduce the prevalence of labor trafficking in Zambia and Malawi among youth and young adults aged 18-37. Specifically, the objectives are to:

1. Reduce the prevalence of cross-border labor trafficking of at risk 18-37-year-olds in Zambia and Malawi by 15% by 2028;
2. Increase the number of at-risk youth and young adults and labor trafficking survivors who demonstrate financial capability by 50%;
3. Increase the number of equitable financial programs, services, or policies adopted by 30%.

To accomplish the program objectives, CenHTRO and partners conducted baseline research to inform a financial capability intervention aimed at youth and young adults who are survivors of labor trafficking, as well as youth and young adults at risk of labor trafficking. CenHTRO is now poised to implement a financial capability intervention for youth and young adults (aged 18-37) who are survivors of labor trafficking or at risk.

The Government Relations Country Coordinator will work closely with central government stakeholders to garner support and buy-in for the project and enact systemic change. This position will work closely with an established Research & Intervention Country Coordinator, who is based in Blantyre. The role will be oriented towards close engagement with government and financial institution stakeholders in Lilongwe in order to create systemic change against labor trafficking of youth and young adults. Significant project milestones will take place in 2025-2026, including the project launch in Lilongwe and intervention rollout in Mangochi and Blantyre. A very strong, proactive candidate is needed to successfully execute the project launch and intervention rollout.

This is a contract position and the person is expected to have his or her own office space and equipment that enables them to perform their essential duties. It requires a person who is mobile and adept at computing. The position is based in Lilongwe, Malawi.

This grant-funded position is currently funded through September 30, 2026. An additional 2-year phase of funding may be granted beyond this period.

Specific Objectives and Tasks

Liaise with CenHTRO Stakeholders

• Build and maintain effective relationships with CenHTRO stakeholders, particularly government and financial stakeholders, in order to meet CenHTRO’s systemic change goals for this project.
• Keep stakeholders informed of CenHTRO program developments. Report pertinent information from stakeholder meetings to the CenHTRO team.
• Serve as primary liaison between stakeholders and the CenHTRO team, ensuring that stakeholders’ questions and feedback to CenHTRO receive responses, and vice versa.
• Become well-informed on CenHTRO’s systemic change goals, activities, and anticipated outcomes. Monitor progress towards these outcomes, including adherence to timeline.
• Visit stakeholders regularly to maintain their support of the project and support them in meeting CenHTRO’s systemic change goals.
• Identify current and prospective project risks as they pertain to the success of CenHTRO’s work with stakeholders, and consider how best to address them in collaboration with stakeholders and the CenHTRO team.

Monitor Local Context

• Track policy developments that may impact partners’ ability to carry out their work and that are related to human trafficking.
• Track news related or adjacent to human trafficking in Malawi, such as policy changes, other government actions, legal outcomes, and law enforcement actions.
• Through stakeholder relationships with government, NGOs, and financial institutions, monitor on-the-ground developments in the human trafficking and financial inclusion landscape.
• Report pertinent national, regional, and local updates as described above to the CenHTRO project team on a frequent basis.

Monitor Subrecipient Projects

Support the Research & Intervention Country Coordinator with the following tasks:

• Build and maintain effective relationships with the subrecipient organizations responsible for carrying out both the intervention research and financial capability programming.
• Become well-informed on the partners’ project goals, activities, and anticipated outcomes. Monitor the partners’ progress towards project outcomes, including adherence to timeline. Support and monitor timely project reporting.
• Serve as primary liaison between the partners and the CenHTRO team ensuring that subrecipients’ questions and feedback to CenHTRO receive responses, and vice versa.
• Visit the partners regularly in order to conduct informal observations and assessments of planning and activities.
• Support and monitor the partners’ communication and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Identify activities out-of-sync with best practices or compliance according to subaward terms and conditions.
• Identify current and prospective project risks and consider how best to address them in collaboration with the partners and the CenHTRO team.

Qualifications

Master’s degree or PhD, 5-7 years of experience in positions of responsibility on projects in international development settings. Extensive experience (10+ years) living and working in Lilongwe, Malawi. Fluency in written and spoken English and local languages. Knowledge of NGO, government, and research intersections in development work. Experience in anti-human trafficking and/or anti cross-border labor trafficking work an added advantage. People with lived experience are highly encouraged to apply.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• In-depth topical knowledge on human trafficking or demonstrated ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to communicate diplomatically, clearly, and effectively across cultural contexts.
• Ability to build relationships with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including community, NGO, university, and government stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and high level of initiative.
• Ability to work independently and with multiple partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to work as a team member with all project partners and staff.
• Ability to plan and implement required project responsibilities.
• Experience monitoring progress to ensure adherence to project needs and deadlines.
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of experimental designs and project effectiveness in providing evidence.

Projected Start Date

July 2025

 

Method Of Application

Required Documents

Resume/CV with full contact information

Cover Letter

List of references with contact information

Submit applications via email to:

Dr. Claire Bolton

CenHTRO Associate Director

[email protected]