Partners in Health (PIH) is a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through service delivery, training, advocacy and research, PH works globally to bring the benefits of modern science to those most in need and to serve as an antidote to despair. PIH has programs in Haiti, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kazakhstan and Boston.

PIH began working in Malawi in 2007, where today we support the Ministry of Health (MOH). Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU) has its headquarters in Neno District with operations across the country.

We therefore seek to recruit suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the following positions;

Position: Livelihood Officer

Department: Primary Health Care Department

Reports to: Social Medicine Manager

Second Line Reporting: PHC and Programs Director

Commitment: Full Time (Monday-Friday)

Working Hours: Regular Office Hours (40Hrs/Week)

Location: Neno

POSITION SUMMARY

The Livelihood Officer is responsible for strengthening household and community resilience through agricultural, livelihood, and disaster-response interventions in Neno District. The Officer serves as a bridge between communities experiencing poverty and climate vulnerability, and the government departments, and partner organizations working to address these challenges across the district.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Livelihood & Agricultural Resilience Programming

Supports the design and implementation of livelihood activities for APZU-identified vulnerable households, including agricultural inputs support (seeds, fertilizer, Goats), kitchen gardens, and small enterprise development aligned with Neno District development priorities.

Collaborates with the District Agricultural Development Office (DADO) and extension workers to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices among vulnerable communities, including APZU patients and their households.

Supports implementation of Economic Literacy and Income-Yielding Assets (ELIYA) and similar agricultural and economic empowerment programs operating in the district.

Maps livelihood opportunities and agricultural support institutions operating in and around Neno District and create functional referral linkages between vulnerable communities and these institutions.

Develops monthly activity work plans.

Disaster Response & Shock-Sensitive Social Protection

Coordinates APZU’s contribution to District Disaster Response mechanisms, working closely with the District Commissioner (DC) Office, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), and the national Disaster Risk Management framework.

Supports delivery of emergency social protection measures during shocks (floods, droughts, disease outbreaks, economic crises), including coordination of cash transfers, food assistance, and temporary shelter support for disaster-affected patients and communities.

Maintains an up-to-date district shock and vulnerability profile, tracking climate and economic risks that may affect APZU patients and communities, and reporting this to the Social Support Manager for proactive program planning.

Supports integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) principles into APZU community health programming, working with Community Health Workers to build community awareness of preparedness and resilience strategies.

Social Protection System Strengthening

Supports district and local government offices in enhancing community resilience to socioeconomic shocks among the poorest and most vulnerable, aligned with Malawi’s National Social Protection Policy .

Contributes to strengthening shock-sensitive social protection systems at district level by supporting the government to maintain updated beneficiary registries and link humanitarian and development responses.

Supports quality improvement and expanded coverage of social security services to address lifecycle risks, including support for early childhood development, woren’s economic empowerment, youth skills development, and services for people with disabilities.

Promotes nutrition-sensitive social protection by collaborating with multi-sector nutrition programs and government nutrition departments to support prevention and management of malnutrition among vulnerable groups (children under 5, TB patients, pregnant and lactating women, PLHIV).

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Research, Data & Quality Improvement

Maintains records of all livelihood activities, household-level interventions, disaster response actions, stakeholder engagements, and partnership outcomes.

Prepares monthly and quarterly reports on livelihood and resilience activities, outcomes, challenges, and opportunities for the Social Medicine Manager and relevant program leads.

Participates in monthly data review meetings, contributing livelihood and community resilience data to inform program learning and adaptation.

Supports the development of case studies, learning briefs, and evidence to demonstrate the impact of livelihood and resilience interventions on patient health outcomes.

Resource Planning & Budget Oversight

Manages livelihood program budgets responsibly, ensuring expenditures on agricultural inputs, emergency response supplies, and community activities are documented and aligned with APZU financial policies.

Contributes to resource mobilization efforts by providing programmatic evidence to support grant proposals and funding applications related to livelihood, resilience, and social protection.

EXPECTED COMPETENCIES, ATTRIBUTES, AND BEHAVIORS

Core Competencies

Program design

Knowledge of smart agriculture and diversification

Monitoring and evaluation skills

Strong coordination and partnership skills

Data analysis and use for decision-making

Behavioral Attributes

Teamwork & Collaboration

Flexibility & Resilience

Service Orientation

Integrity & Accountability

Leadership Competencies

Execution & Follow-through

Problem Solving

Communication

Supportive Supervision

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy, Rural Development, Agribusiness

3-5 years’ experience in social support, Agronomy, rural development or development programs

3-5 years’ experience in program management and agriculture systems strengthening

3-5 years’ experience working with government and partners

BENEFITS AND REMUNERATION

An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidates commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The ideal candidate must be willing to be based in a rural district and travel regularly to facilities and communities.

• Supports the design and implementation of livelihood activities for APZU-identified vulnerable households, including agricultural inputs support (seeds, fertilizer, Goats), kitchen gardens, and small enterprise development aligned with Neno District development priorities.
• Collaborates with the District Agricultural Development Office (DADO) and extension workers to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices among vulnerable communities, including APZU patients and their households.
• Supports implementation of Economic Literacy and Income-Yielding Assets (ELIYA) and similar agricultural and economic empowerment programs operating in the district.
• Maps livelihood opportunities and agricultural support institutions operating in and around Neno District and create functional referral linkages between vulnerable communities and these institutions.
• Develops monthly activity work plans.
• Coordinates APZU’s contribution to District Disaster Response mechanisms, working closely with the District Commissioner (DC) Office, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), and the national Disaster Risk Management framework.
• Supports delivery of emergency social protection measures during shocks (floods, droughts, disease outbreaks, economic crises), including coordination of cash transfers, food assistance, and temporary shelter support for disaster-affected patients and communities.
• Maintains an up-to-date district shock and vulnerability profile, tracking climate and economic risks that may affect APZU patients and communities, and reporting this to the Social Support Manager for proactive program planning.
• Supports integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) principles into APZU community health programming, working with Community Health Workers to build community awareness of preparedness and resilience strategies.
• Supports district and local government offices in enhancing community resilience to socioeconomic shocks among the poorest and most vulnerable, aligned with Malawi’s National Social Protection Policy .
• Contributes to strengthening shock-sensitive social protection systems at district level by supporting the government to maintain updated beneficiary registries and link humanitarian and development responses.
• Supports quality improvement and expanded coverage of social security services to address lifecycle risks, including support for early childhood development, woren’s economic empowerment, youth skills development, and services for people with disabilities.
• Promotes nutrition-sensitive social protection by collaborating with multi-sector nutrition programs and government nutrition departments to support prevention and management of malnutrition among vulnerable groups (children under 5, TB patients, pregnant and lactating women, PLHIV).
• Maintains records of all livelihood activities, household-level interventions, disaster response actions, stakeholder engagements, and partnership outcomes.
• Prepares monthly and quarterly reports on livelihood and resilience activities, outcomes, challenges, and opportunities for the Social Medicine Manager and relevant program leads.
• Participates in monthly data review meetings, contributing livelihood and community resilience data to inform program learning and adaptation.
• Supports the development of case studies, learning briefs, and evidence to demonstrate the impact of livelihood and resilience interventions on patient health outcomes.
• Manages livelihood program budgets responsibly, ensuring expenditures on agricultural inputs, emergency response supplies, and community activities are documented and aligned with APZU financial policies.
• Contributes to resource mobilization efforts by providing programmatic evidence to support grant proposals and funding applications related to livelihood, resilience, and social protection.

• Program design
• Knowledge of smart agriculture and diversification
• Monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong coordination and partnership skills
• Data analysis and use for decision-making
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Flexibility & Resilience
• Service Orientation
• Integrity & Accountability
• Execution & Follow-through
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Supportive Supervision

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy, Rural Development, Agribusiness
• 3-5 years’ experience in social support, Agronomy, rural development or development programs
• 3-5 years’ experience in program management and agriculture systems strengthening
• 3-5 years’ experience working with government and partners