Project Manager – Climate and Health GCF Premobilisation Activities at Save the Children

The Opportunity

Save the Children International is inviting applications from suitably qualified personnel to fill the position of Project Manager- Climate and Health (Community Health and Wellbeing for Rural Communities in Southern Malawi- Green Climate Fund Premobilisation activities). The Climate and Health Project Manager will be the team lead and focal point for proposal review and pre-implementation activities, for a $36m, Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded ‘community health and well-being for rural communities in Southern Malawi (CHWBRC)’ project expected to be approved in October 2024 and with full project implementation starting in around March 2025. This one of the first ever – and largest – climate health projects in Malawi and will be among the first five ever approved by the Green Climate Fund globally.

The Project Manager is responsible for providing leadership and coordination for the remaining business development activities for the GCF funding proposal approval, as well as managing the small-scale activities planned for the pre-implementation stage of the CHWBRC project. She/he leads the development and implementation of Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs) and Workplans for the different issues being addressed, recruitment and management of consultants, securing effective input from Save the Children staff, implementing partners staff as necessary. The PM is ultimately responsible for compliance with the reporting requirements of the pre-implementation donors, and for providing updates on activities and progress to the donors and Save the Children member partners.  The role will also involve working very closely with several Malawian Government departments, to agree activities, develop MOUs and establish coordination meetings for the project. Particularly, the Ministry of Health, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, and the Environmental Affairs Department.

He/she also has the responsibility to create and maintain an operational environment where the Child Safeguarding Policy is effectively implemented and to understand and fulfill his/her specific and additional responsibilities in achieving compliance of Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy standards. This includes, ensuring that all participants of the programme are provided with ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Provide overall leadership and coordination for the business development activities through the Green Climate Fund review process, seeking technical input from global Save the Children colleagues and external partners.
• Lead in overall management of pre-implementation activities for the CHWBRC project, especially assessments and research which will lead to a more effective and impactful project implementation upon full project launch, as well as project set-up tasks
• Manage relationships with key government stakeholders, including MoH, DCCMS, EAD, DODMA, and others, as well as external institutional partners such as WHO and FCDO

Programme Management

• Ensure overall coordination of inputs from colleagues from Save the Children International Malawi, Save the Children UK, Save the Children Australia to effectively answer any questions that arise from the GCF’s proposal review.
• Organize, coordinate, and chair meetings regarding the proposal review and assign questions to different technical leads – e.g. health advisor, WASH advisor, HR Director
• Act as key liaison point between the different stakeholders inputting into the GCF review process, ensuring effective communication, and avoiding conflict as a key priority.
• Manage recruitment of consultants to implement activities for the CHWBRC pre-implementation activities, including supporting development of ToRs, sitting on procurement committees to select consultants, and evaluating bids.
• Develop Detailed Implementation Plans for pre-implementation activities and monitor progress against them, working with (health) technical specialists and colleagues from Save the Children UK
• Support with the set-up of the project activities in Save the Children’s internal project management system (PRIME), for both pre-implementation activities and for the full project implementation
• Managing expenditure for project activities, and reviewing budget reports provided by the finance team, accounting for variance and tracking the spend to embody sound financial management.
• Managing regular meetings with all involved in project set-up and implementation, and providing summaries, detailing key actions for stakeholders
• Managing partner input into the project set-up, setting direction for two national NGOs and one Government ministry, including community selection processes, and informing of progress

Technical Support

• Support in hiring and quality assuring the work of external consultants, including work to link health and climate data to establish effective alert triggers for early warning systems.
• Coordinate the review of the design of formative research to establish effective messaging for early warning systems.
• Review research outputs from consultants, including checking data analysis outputs and ensuring technical quality of reporting.
• Input into questionnaire and tool development to assess standards of health centres and schools, across WASH and solar aspects.
• Provide continuous support to ensure Gender, Inclusion, Advocacy and Child Protection are integrated into the GCF pre-implementation activities. There should be a focus on children with disabilities and other excluded groups as defined locally, especially ensuring they are included in any formative research assessments, so their voices are heard

Operational Management

• Support external SCI visitors including SCI Members to the GCF programme and complementary projects.
• Ensure compliance with SCI policies and procedures by programme SCI staff and partners staff with respect to Child Safeguarding policy, media and communications policy,  Code of Conduct, Whistleblowing Policy, Fraud Prevention policy and other relevant policies and procedures;
• Ensure the security, health and wellbeing of staff and that other processes and policies and systems reflect SCI’s principles of equity and fairness.

Representation, Coordination and Partnerships:

• Support the Country Office to establish and sustain strong strategic partnerships with relevant government departments, other CSOs, local DPOs and referral agencies.
• Participate in national, regional and/or global networks and other SC Country events/fora on relevant thematic issues to foster collaboration/partnership and exchange of learning – especially on emerging issues in the climate and health nexus
• Ensure effective communication at a country level with key partners in the climate-health space, especially UNDP and WHO, as well as other institutions such as SEED foundation, Christian Health Association of Malawi
• Support relevant departments in the government in their coordinating role and in providing policy guidance and direction around issues of climate change and health – a new and emerging priority sector – to promote synergies and harmonization of efforts amongst the organizations working on these thematic areas.
• Work closely with the team coordinating the work on the electrification of health facilities, led by Clinton Health Action Initiative (CHAI) to ensure Save the Children’s project activities are in alignment and our voice is heard.
• Ensure the programme is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and take a leadership role within National Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and Civil Society Networks, ensuring specific needs of children are being addressed.
• Identify opportunities and materials to contribute to communications and media work, acting as a spokesperson when required on behalf of the Country Director and the Supervisor;

Documentation, Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms 

• Ensure preparation of timely and high-quality Programme progress reports and donor reports as required (biannually at a minimum).
• Ensure there is upward and downward accountability, assessment of how knowledge and skills on key programme issues are acquired and applied by SC staff, implementing partner staff and other key stakeholders and provision of necessary support.
• Ensure that programme learning is built into the programme cycle and shared with the Technical Advisors, implementation team and Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Country Director – Operations

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree or Equivalent experience in any one of the following fields: Public Health, Nutrition, Climate, Development Studies, Community/Rural Development, Social Development Studies or similar.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Minimum of 7 years programme management experience working in development, focusing on health projects.
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development and coordination of proposal development processes.
• Knowledge of the health sector in Malawi and functional knowledge of health actors.
• Excellent relations and networks with Ministry of Health
• Previous experience of managing consultants, and managing research projects at a community level
• Experience working with and responding to comments from donors to short timescales.
• Solid experience in award management including significant budget management and monitoring and institutional donor management experience.
• Some background in statistics or data analysis
• Programme operational management and leadership experiences.
• National and field level representation with key stakeholders and co-ordination with other NGOs/UN, donors and Government.
• Demonstrated technical understanding of gender and inclusion issues and how these play out in the Malawian context.
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing effective partnerships with partners, government entities, other NGOs and donors.
• Proven leadership qualities, negotiation skills, and ability to collaborate with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including across a range of time zones.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently toward goals in a complex, diverse environment with multiple and changing demands.
• Able to handle broad-based, often complex, communication for internal and/or external audiences and able to ensure open communication across program teams.
• Experience in capacity building of government counterparts at the national and/or local level.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills, a collaborative and flexible manner, creativity and willingness to innovate.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows/Word/Excel

Location: Lilongwe

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5^th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Method Of Application

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.  A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.