About OSSEDI Malawi

OSSEDI Malawi is a registered local non-governmental organization established in 2004, working in the areas of Climate Change Resilience, Basic Education, Health & Nutrition, WASH, Sustainable Livelihoods, Economic Empowerment, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), and Humanitarian Response. Our work is guided by a strong MEAL system, community-based participatory approaches, and a commitment to transparency and accountability.

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic Field Officers to drive community-level change at the heart of an integrated project tackling climate justice, resilient livelihoods, WASH, and health. A key focus of this role is promoting positive behavioral change, particularly in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), to empower individuals to make informed health decisions. Your daily activities will involve mobilizing communities, facilitating engaging training sessions, nurturing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and championing climate-smart practices. Crucially, you will foster social cohesion and conflict sensitivity, ensuring peaceful co-existence is a cornerstone of all project activities. This position is ideal for a hands-on professional with strong facilitation skills and a passion for holistic, community-led development.

Key Responsibilities

• Mobilize and sensitize communities on climate justice, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster risk reduction.
• Facilitate training on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and nutrition.
• Promote behavioural change communication strategies related to health, gender norms, and environmental practices.
• Facilitate community dialogues on peaceful co-existence, conflict resolution, and social cohesion, especially around natural resource use and access to services.
• Form and strengthen Village Savings and Loan (VSLA) groups and link them to markets and financial services.
• Support income-generating activities and small enterprise development (agribusiness, value addition, poultry, tailoring, etc.).
• Work with community structures e,g. (VDCs, VNRMCs, health facility committees, mother groups, farmer cooperatives) to ensure inclusive participation.
• Identify and document success stories, case studies, and lessons learned.
• Collect accurate field data using digital or paper tools and submit timely reports to the Project Manager.
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns through established feedback and complaints mechanisms (GRM).
• Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in all activities, with focus on women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
• Represent OSSEDI Malawi at ward and district coordination meetings as assigned.Malawi employment news

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Public Health, Social Work, Agriculture, Environmental Management, Development Studies, Economics, Peace and Conflict Studies, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of field-level experience with a local or international NGO in Malawi.
• Demonstrated experience in at least two of the following: climate adaptation/justice, SRHR/health promotion, livelihoods, VSLA methodology, economic empowerment, behavioral change communication, or peacebuilding/conflict resolution.

Technical skills

• Excellent facilitation and training skills (in Chichewa and English).
• Basic data collection skills (paper or digital tools like KoboCollect).
• Knowledge of community mobilization and participatory approaches.
• Understanding of conflict-sensitive programming and social cohesion approaches.

Soft skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently under tight deadlines and in remote rural conditions.
• High integrity, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to safeguarding.
• Valid motorcycle riding license is strongly preferred (or willingness to learn).

Language

• Fluent in English and Chichewa (written and spoken)

• Mobilize and sensitize communities on climate justice, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster risk reduction.
• Facilitate training on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and nutrition.
• Promote behavioural change communication strategies related to health, gender norms, and environmental practices.
• Facilitate community dialogues on peaceful co-existence, conflict resolution, and social cohesion, especially around natural resource use and access to services.
• Form and strengthen Village Savings and Loan (VSLA) groups and link them to markets and financial services.
• Support income-generating activities and small enterprise development (agribusiness, value addition, poultry, tailoring, etc.).
• Work with community structures e,g. (VDCs, VNRMCs, health facility committees, mother groups, farmer cooperatives) to ensure inclusive participation.
• Identify and document success stories, case studies, and lessons learned.
• Collect accurate field data using digital or paper tools and submit timely reports to the Project Manager.
• Identify and report safeguarding concerns through established feedback and complaints mechanisms (GRM).
• Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in all activities, with focus on women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
• Represent OSSEDI Malawi at ward and district coordination meetings as assigned.

• Excellent facilitation and training skills (in Chichewa and English).
• Basic data collection skills (paper or digital tools like KoboCollect).
• Knowledge of community mobilization and participatory approaches.
• Understanding of conflict-sensitive programming and social cohesion approaches.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently under tight deadlines and in remote rural conditions.
• High integrity, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to safeguarding.
• Valid motorcycle riding license is strongly preferred (or willingness to learn).
• Fluent in English and Chichewa (written and spoken)

• Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Public Health, Social Work, Agriculture, Environmental Management, Development Studies, Economics, Peace and Conflict Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of field-level experience with a local or international NGO in Malawi.
• Demonstrated experience in at least two of the following: climate adaptation/justice, SRHR/health promotion, livelihoods, VSLA methodology, economic empowerment, behavioral change communication, or peacebuilding/conflict resolution.