Jobs at Africare Zambia – Jan 2016

Africare is a leader among private, charitable U.S. organizations assisting Africa. Africare is also the oldest and largest African-American led organization in the field. Africare’s programs draw on its expertise in community engagement, local capacity building, behavior change, and developing private sector partnerships to address needs broadly in two key sectors: (1) Public Health and HIV/AIDS and (2) Agriculture and Food Security

Throughout its 40-year history, Africare has reached over 30 million people across the continent with innovative, sustainable, culturally appropriate and life-changing projects to improve the quality of life in communities throughout Africa. We strategically invest in innovating and implementing community based solutions to complex problems, with a strong focus on skills transfer to create leaders out of beneficiaries. Our work has transformed communities and garnered wide recognition for its impact and sustainability.

Africare’s staff members operate in 13 countries across Africa. Headquarters is based in Washington, DC where the President’s office and the Finance, Development, and Programs Departments are based.

We are currently searching for a Country Director to oversee our Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe programs. The candidate will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi, Lusaka, Zambia or Harare, Zimbabwe, but will have responsibility for all three programs and will therefore need to travel extensively between the three locations.

Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe have a population of approximately 16.36 million, 14.54 million and 14.15 million people respectively. These country offices have worked intensively with traditional development funders. However, we intend to expand the funding sources in our portfolio and therefore seek someone who can lead the Africare programs in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to develop a more diversified funding base. Support from traditional donors will remain a key portion of the portfolio, though, so the ideal candidate should also be comfortable managing these relations as well.

The Country Director (CD) is a well-established manager and diplomat who serves as the primary representative and provides leadership to all Africare programs in the countries assigned. The CD reports to the Chief of Programs. The CD ensures that all activities are responsive to the needs of the host country. S/he is a spokesperson for Africare in the country and the primary communication link between the in-country program(s) and Africare headquarters. Responsibilities include: analysis and interpretation of the country’s development needs and opportunities; program development and fundraising; staff development and supervision; oversight of administrative and financial management in country; and project monitoring, documentation and reporting. The CD provides leadership as well as technical and logistical guidance to ongoing projects, development of new business, and administrative functions.

• Provides leadership to Africare operations by establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with private sector firms, government officials, host country planners and staff, local officials, third country and international development personnel, and U.S. Government/non-government personnel.
• Establishes and maintains close contact with officials and representatives of other agencies and organizations for the purpose of interpreting and stimulating interest in Africare goals, objectives, philosophies, and resources as they relate to host country priorities and projects.
• In conjunction with Africare staff and key host country personnel, analyzes and interprets the country’s social and economic development needs and opportunities, providing technical guidance in the preparation of project requests and associated documentation.
• Engages international agencies, foundations and businesses to widen opportunities for collaboration and project funding.
• Engages Africare’s technical units in initiating new business development activities following Africare’s Opportunity Review process.
• Responsible for constant review and analysis of evaluations and best practices developed during the implementation of Africare projects throughout the continent to ensure incorporation into business development programs with potential partners.
• Determines new areas of Africare involvement while developing and implementing viable projects that offer employees the opportunity for job success.

• Supervises all Africare staff members and contract personnel in the country of assignment.
• Undertakes annual performance appraisal of staff in accordance with Africare policies.
• Establishes rapport with staff/personnel, and is responsible for ensuring a healthy work environment across all field offices in the country of assignment.

As County Director, you will work closely with the Director of Finance and Administration (who has a dual report and works under the fiduciary direction and oversight of Africare’s Chief Financial Officer; and is responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the country office). The Director of Finance and Administration will assist the Country Director in the timely submission of any proposals to Africare’s headquarters. S/he will also advise either you when the financial performance of the country office has been compromised and/or is inconsistent with projected or actual budgets. In coordination with you, the director of finance and administration will prepare monthly financial reports and quarterly funds requests that are reported to headquarters; and will approve all invoices and payments before seeking your approval.

• Assesses, monitors and evaluates project activities to ensure adherence to goals prescribed in project plans and consistency between budget burn rates and activity implementation rates.
• Ensures that all prescribed conditions for ongoing programs are being met, and that national/local officials are operating on the same understanding with regard to ongoing projects. Adheres to established program schedules, and completion of assigned work in accordance with deadlines established for projects.
• Serves as team member with Africare/Washington evaluation personnel, providing technical assistance and counsel with respect to programmatic and operational evaluations.
• Assures preparation and timely submission of country plans or reports and programmatic recommendations for International Program Office review and consideration, including budgetary, administrative, program, training, and related documentation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Minimum of 10 years of management experience with progressively increasing responsibility. Excellent supervisory skills working with diverse staff.
• Documented experience in producing high quality technical and cost proposals that are approved for donor or private-sector funding. Track record of building partnerships and networks with PVOs, the private sector, and other development partners.
• Experience developing funding opportunities through fostering relationships with international donor agencies, foundations, U. S. and foreign private sector, and other domestic sources.
• Minimum Bachelors Degree (Master’s Preferred) in development management, agriculture, health, finance or public administration, with a focus on Africa preferred.
• Strong understanding of US government funding regulations (other donors such as the UN system and private foundations strongly preferred in addition).
• Excellent communication and analytical skills.
• Previous experience in strategic planning and participatory processes.
Africare offers a competitive salary along with an excellent benefits package.

Applications should include a CV and cover letter. In the cover letter (of no more than two pages in length) the candidate should briefly describe his or her motivation for the position and highlight relevant experience.

Please send CVs to [email protected], including “COUNTRY DIRECTOR” in the subject line.