Re-advertisement for Energy Programmes Manager

Self Help Africa Malawi is an international non-governmental organisation working to create opportunities for lasting improvement in peoples’ lives. We work in partnership with others to support a range of livelihoods and food security, WASH and health, sustainable energy and gender equality programmes reaching over 1,000,000 people a year across Malawi. Globally, we work in nine countries across Africa, Asia and South America. This is an exciting time to join us as we seek to tackle the global challenges in progressive and innovative ways.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Deputy Country Director, the Energy Programme Manager will provide strategic and technical leadership in the delivery and development of the SHA Energy programme in Malawi. S/he will be expected to oversee the implementation of SHA’s existing portfolio of Energy projects in Malawi, provide technical input to the team and sector in Malawi, continue to develop programme approaches based on evolving best practice and the changing landscape, and mobilise resources for continued growth of the programme.

The Energy Programme Manager will leverage their technical and contextualised knowledge to provide expert advice and advocacy to Malawi’s energy sector (particularly in the areas of cleaner cooking, carbon finance and off-grid electrification) and maintain the programme’s close and productive relationships with its donors and stakeholders to expand the reach, sustainability and impact of our work.

Duties and responsibilities

1.     Programme Management and Oversight

1.1  Quality Assurance

• Ensure the programme portfolio is delivered in line with good practice and quality benchmarks in line with sector-based standard operating standards and GESI tools etc
• Work with the Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Working Group through National MEAL Manager to ensure that we are documenting learning and integrating it into programme design and delivery.
• Ensure MEAL data collected is in line with national MEAL framework through participatory M&E approaches and integrating feedback from staff, partners and project participants.
• Liaise with relevant organisation technical advisors and incorporate learning and global expertise in the programme cycle
• Ensure value for money and efficiency across the programme cycle

1.2  Compliance & Risk

• Oversee the development and timely submission of high-quality donor technical and financial reports, in collaboration with projects and operations colleagues
• Ensure that processes are in place to allow for systematic and inclusive feedback to communities and stakeholders on all programme reports and evaluations undertaken
• Working with Project Managers to ensure all projects develop annual, quarterly and monthly plans and that these are actioned and reported against
• Deliver a consolidated risk assessment for the programme portfolio every month and ensure mitigation measures are actioned and followed
• Ensure that internal audit is adequately budgeted across the portfolio
• Ensure that internal audit findings and recommendations are followed up on and actioned as per agreed timelines
• Ensure that every project in the portfolio has a grant opening and closing meeting and that these are filed
• Ensure that every project has monthly review process
• Ensure adequate oversight on all financial transactions and project activities to reduce the risk of non-compliance with policies and risk of fraud
• Ensure annual procurement planning and that all project procurement is cost effective in line with donor and organisational policy
• Ensure that project implementation is complying to donor driven policy and direction, such as the DSA policy, and engaging in communication and advocacy through the MT where donor direction is not in line with the Malawi 2063 or the organisation’s vision and mission.

1.3  Finance

• Oversee internal monthly financial reports and project budgets and cashflow forecasts
• Ensure full project spend without disallowance
• Authorise all project related expenditure in line with SHAs Delegation of Authority framework
• Support and oversee project related procurements.

1.4  Safeguarding

• Ensure that all projects have an active trained safeguarding focal point who can effectively disseminate the reporting channels and policy
• Ensure that all projects have a safeguarding plan and report against this during monthly meetings
• Ensure that reporting channels are promoted and visible across all projects in the portfolio
• Ensure that all colleagues within your portfolio have undergone safeguarding training and signed the global code of conduct
• Ensure all staff, partners and stakeholders sign, comply and promote the SHA Safeguarding policy and code of conduct.

1.5        People Management

• Manage teams of staff across all projects in your portfolio and provide line management to Project Managers
• Incubate and enhance skills development of staff across the programme, encouraging learning and development, identifying opportunities for professional development and upward mobility within the organisation
• Ensure all staff members in your portfolio have completed an induction, have passed probation and that annual PDRs are conducted
• Ensure the portfolio has the right team in place in line with the strategy and the values of the organisation
• Ensure that the portfolio can retain and attract skilled and experienced gender balanced teams
• Ensure that you are promoting wellbeing across your team and that staff are encouraged to take their leave entitlements and access training and wellbeing opportunities provided by the organisation
• Cultivate a culture of accountability, adherence to group policies, and prioritization of staff welfare and security.

2        Strategy and Programme Development

• Ensure we are working in line with the locally-led development approach
• Provide technical support to programme implementation for Malawi Energy programme staff to deliver consistently high quality, innovative programmes in both the energy and carbon finance sectors.
• Working within the Malawi Country strategy, and working with other Programme Managers, towards the delivery of our Strategic Objectives and ensuring integration across our work
• Feed into the development of new Country Programme policies and position papers
• Keep up to date with global good practice, technology, approaches and emerging trends, as well as innovative ideas, translating them to the Malawi context
• Capture learning and adapt programming accordingly to maximise impact for communities
• Feed into and promote our Community-Led programming policy work. Maintain long term local and international donor relations to ensure continuation and growth of existing funding
• Keep abreast of new funding opportunities and oversee the development of high-quality proposals for existing and new funders based on organisational learning. Diversify funding sources and secure funding for existing and new areas of focus in line with the CP strategy including carbon finance and impact investment.
• Foster establishment and growth in SHA’s sustainable energy social enterprise
• Where requested by other Country Programs, to provide remote technical advice to assist in the delivery of their projects.

3        Partnership, Representation and Advocacy

• Act as a thought leader in the energy sector in Malawi providing technical support and strategic direction to a wide range of stakeholders across private and public sectors, and civil society.
• Support the National Cookstove Steering Committee (NCSC) as a key member of the coordination group for which SHA is the secretariat. This includes leading the organisation of the annual Cleaner Cooking Conference and quarterly coordination group meetings.
• Maintain, strengthen and build networks and alliances at national level with government, academia, donors and local organisations
• Maintain, strengthen and build partnerships with companies and entrepreneurs to augment the programme’s reach and sustainability of impacts through market-based approaches.
• Ensure active engagement of the programme at district level with all relevant government structures
• Act as the primary focal point for all donors that fund the programme portfolio
• Liaise with Government of Malawi counterparts (national and district) and ensure we are visible and working in line with Government needs and priorities
• Represent SHA at workshops and conferences, ensuring our organisation and work is visible
• Maintain and expand our partnerships across Government, academia, private sector, NGOs and wider civil society, working in coordination with our Partnerships Manager
• Proactively engage in relevant fora and working groups to achieve systemic change within the sector
• Ensure all programme learning is shared internally and externally. 

 Minimum Requirements

• Degree level qualification in energy, development, environment or other relevant discipline (post-graduate preferred)
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar position in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on green energy access

Required Skills

Essential Key Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated strategic judgement, planning, co-ordination and prioritisation skills
• Demonstrated project/programme management skills including managing a portfolio of simultaneous projects, monitoring and compliance, budget management, and line managing a team of employees
• Demonstrated communication, partnership building and advocacy skills with a wide range of stakeholders including from private and public sector, and civil society
• Demonstrated understanding of energy in the Global South including improved cooking and off-grid electricity (solar mini-grid and productive uses of energy in particular)
• Experience of developing and monitoring carbon finance projects, particularly improved cooking
• A strong understanding and appreciation of safeguarding principles
• Self-starter, capable of innovatively developing the programme
• Attention to details and flexible approach to work
• Demonstrated cross cultural communication skills and ability to build institutional capacity and provide mentorship to staff

Desirable Experience

• Proven ability to secure funding from a variety of donors including international development agencies, impact investors and the private sector
• Demonstrated experience in programme strategy design
• Ability to pilot innovations and scale-up effective programming initiatives, through an entrepreneurial mindset
• Experience living and working in the energy sector in Malawi and/or Sub-Saharan Africa

How to apply

Qualified and interested candidates who meet the stated requirements must submit a completed Application Form, downloadable on https://gsha.box.com/v/applicationform. The completed application form should be uploaded together with the Cover letter, Curriculum Vitae and Copies Certificates saved in your name to

https://selfhelpafrica.org/ie/careers-apply/?jbcd=500QD00000LqrXD%20-%20Energy%20Programme%20Manager%20(68590)

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

 Closing date for the receipt of completed application forms is 12:00 Midnight of 24^th November 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted

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. Self Help Africa 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 SHA, please visit our website at http://www.selfhelpafrica.org.

SHA is an equal opportunity employer.