BACKGROUND

Rays of Hope Ministries is a local nonprofit organization based in Malawi that collaborates with the Government of Malawi in education and social interventions. The organization equips teachers and educates children and youth.

In partnership with the Government of Malawi, GENET, and Splash International, Rays of Hope will implement the WASH in Schools for Everyone (WISE) Project in 181 public schools across Lilongwe and Blantyre cities.

The WISE Project aims to improve sanitation facilities in schools, particularly benefiting girls’ menstrual health, increasing school attendance, and contributing to improved learning outcomes.

Rays of Hope is responsible for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) management component of the project, while GENET focuses on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

To support the successful implementation of the project, the organization is recruiting a qualified and experienced Programmes Coordinator (WASH Project Lead).

REPORTING LINE

Reports To: Programs Manager

Contract Type: Full-Time (Renewable)

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Lead will manage the school-based WASH component of the WISE Project by providing technical oversight, implementing behaviour change interventions, and ensuring effective project management.

The role involves planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, stakeholder coordination, and technical leadership for WASH activities in Blantyre and Lilongwe.

The successful candidate will work closely with:

• District Education Managers
• District Health Offices
• School authorities
• Government ministries
• Splash International
• GENET
• Community stakeholders

to ensure successful implementation and sustainability of project interventions.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Stakeholder Engagement

• Strengthen collaboration among project partners, government ministries, NGOs, and local communities.
• Facilitate co-design and joint implementation of project activities.
• Represent the project in high-level engagements with government and partners.
• Promote ownership and sustainability of project interventions.

Program Design and Delivery

• Provide leadership in the design and implementation of WASH initiatives.
• Ensure timely, high-quality, and cost-effective project delivery.
• Align project activities with national WASH priorities.
• Develop and track implementation plans and budgets.
• Support establishment and strengthening of WASH clubs and hygiene promotion programs in schools.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance to field officers and stakeholders.
• Monitor implementation progress and ensure achievement of targets.
• Lead implementation of Project WISE to achieve project goals and key performance indicators.
• Promote behaviour change and effective WASH practices in schools and communities.
• Institutionalize WASH programming as a sustainable practice.

Quality Assurance, Learning and Adaptive Management

• Establish systems to monitor implementation quality.
• Lead collection, analysis, and use of program data.
• Facilitate learning and reflection processes to improve project performance.
• Promote accountability and evidence-based decision-making.

Team, Program and Community Delivery Oversight

• Provide leadership, coaching, and supervision to project staff.
• Lead annual planning, budgeting, and implementation scheduling.
• Strengthen team capacity in facilitation, monitoring, and data utilization.
• Ensure efficient utilization of resources.
• Identify and manage operational and implementation risks.
• Coordinate activities across schools and government structures.
• Ensure timely achievement of project outputs and milestones.

Reporting, Knowledge Management and Strategic Communication

• Produce high-quality monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Ensure reports are analytical, reflective, and learning-oriented.
• Support development of dashboards, briefs, and knowledge products.
• Facilitate performance review discussions with senior management and stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Applicants must possess:

• A Degree in Water Engineering, Environmental Health, Public Health, or a related field.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience in managerial or senior management positions within health-related programs.
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years’ progressive experience in WASH programming, preferably school-based or institutional WASH projects.
• Strong understanding of water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges in Malawi’s primary schools.
• Practical experience in behaviour change methodologies and project cycle management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong computer literacy skills.
• Ability to present information clearly and logically.

• Strengthen collaboration among project partners, government ministries, NGOs, and local communities.
• Facilitate co-design and joint implementation of project activities.
• Represent the project in high-level engagements with government and partners.
• Promote ownership and sustainability of project interventions.
• Provide leadership in the design and implementation of WASH initiatives.
• Ensure timely, high-quality, and cost-effective project delivery.
• Align project activities with national WASH priorities.
• Develop and track implementation plans and budgets.
• Support establishment and strengthening of WASH clubs and hygiene promotion programs in schools.
• Provide technical guidance to field officers and stakeholders.
• Monitor implementation progress and ensure achievement of targets.
• Lead implementation of Project WISE to achieve project goals and key performance indicators.
• Promote behaviour change and effective WASH practices in schools and communities.
• Institutionalize WASH programming as a sustainable practice.
• Establish systems to monitor implementation quality.
• Lead collection, analysis, and use of program data.
• Facilitate learning and reflection processes to improve project performance.
• Promote accountability and evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and supervision to project staff.
• Lead annual planning, budgeting, and implementation scheduling.
• Strengthen team capacity in facilitation, monitoring, and data utilization.
• Ensure efficient utilization of resources.
• Identify and manage operational and implementation risks.
• Coordinate activities across schools and government structures.
• Ensure timely achievement of project outputs and milestones.
• Produce high-quality monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Ensure reports are analytical, reflective, and learning-oriented.
• Support development of dashboards, briefs, and knowledge products.
• Facilitate performance review discussions with senior management and stakeholders.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong computer literacy skills.
• Ability to present information clearly and logically.

• A Degree in Water Engineering, Environmental Health, Public Health, or a related field.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience in managerial or senior management positions within health-related programs.
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years’ progressive experience in WASH programming, preferably school-based or institutional WASH projects.
• Strong understanding of water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges in Malawi’s primary schools.
• Practical experience in behaviour change methodologies and project cycle management.