The Organisation:

ActionAid Malawi is a locally registered non‐governmental organisation under the Company’s Act 1984 as a company limited by guarantee and is affiliated to ActionAid International, a federation of national organizations working in over 45 countries in Africa, Asia, America, and Europe regions. ActionAid International is a global justice Federation working to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication. ActionAid works to strengthen the capacity and active agency of people living in poverty and exclusion, especially women, to assert their rights.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant position of Business Development, Grants Management, and Communications Manager.

Reporting to: Programmes and Policy Lead

Duration: Two years renewable depending on funding and performance.

Location: Lilongwe

Role Overview:

The Business Development, Grant Management and Communications Manager will lead the development and implementation of AAM’s fundraising strategy to drive income growth and deliver on CSP VI objectives. This pivotal role blends hands-on technical business development with strategic oversight, including developing country-specific funding strategies, proposals and concept notes, cultivating donor relationships, donor intelligence, and ensuring quality assurance with full cost recovery. The Manager will oversee compliance and grant management by strengthening internal controls, monitoring co-financing risks, producing risk and compliance reports, supporting audits and close-out processes, and guiding staff on donor rules and partnerships. In addition, the role will enhance AAM’s organisational profile and reputation through innovative partnership and communications strategies, positioning the organisation as a credible and trusted partner.

Major Responsibilities

1. Business Development

• Prepare and input into strategies for diversifying AAM’s institutional funding base –including providing senior technical input into prospecting research and financial modelling for the team.
• Lead in donor intelligence/scoping, market research and identification of new donors or potential funding opportunities.
• Act as bid manager, coordinating a team of including in country programme teams, finance and PQE staff to develop content for grant proposals -ensuring they meet donor requirements. Actively participate in relevant donor meetings and networking events to further develop funding relationships.
• Manage, initiate and act on opportunities to strategically engage with, involve and deepen AAM’s existing relationships with new and existing donors.
• Develop senior level partnerships with other organisations working in the development sector on resource mobilisation, including institutions, potential consortium partners, private sector organisations, I/NGO’s and relevant research institutions.
• Ensure revenue targets as per CSP VI are met.

2. Contract/Grant Management

• Regularly monitor the grant management performance against contractual indicators and timelines and flagging any risks for appropriate management action.
• Provide technical advice to ensure adherence to the grant specific rules, regulations and procurement standards.
• Provide technical advice to ensure adherence to ActionAid policies and practice.
• Maintain schedule of all planned donor reporting and ensure proactive planning and preparation to ensure successful completion and timely and accurate submission of reports. Including, review of donor narrative and finance reports to ensure quality assurance and donor compliance.
• Work with project accountants to monitor cost recovery charged and support cash flow management including pre-financing requests, timely and accurate payment requests made to donor and tracking outstanding amounts due from the donor.
• Lead in implementation of Contract Management System.
• Support implementation of audit findings and other reviews.

3. Communications

• Lead the development of and track implementation of AAM’s Communications Strategy.
• Ensure update of media database to facilitate robust and responsive media engagements.
• Ensure monitoring of AAM media coverage and identification of opportunities for positive media coverage.
• Lead and cultivate strong media relationships and understanding for AAM coverage.
• Organise media events such as press conference, media tours and media training related to AAM’s program interventions.
• Ensure news and feature stories on AAM are written and submitted for free publication in mainstream media institutions.
• Ensure development and publication of all AAM communications materials e.g., monthly newsletters, media statements, annual reports, fliers, posters, banners, brochures, booklets and video documentaries.
• Develop engaging and accessible digital content (graphics, short videos, stories, posts) for AAM’s digital channels (website, social media, email, etc.) and to share with the Federation for fundraising and rooted campaign work.
• Support Fundraising and Communications Officer to create monthly social media monitoring reports using analytics tools.

4. Staff and partners capacity development and organizational management

• Support recruitment and induction of new staff in line with AAM HR policies.
• Conducting probationary reviews with staff and annual performance management reviews.
• Lead in provision of capacity building to staff and partners on Business development, grant management and Communications.
• Develop and monitor annual performance targets for Business Development, Grants Management and Communications.
• Develop, monitor and review the annual plan and budget for the function.
• Serve as a management focal person to the board upon delegation.
• Contribute to formulation and compliance with AAM internal control and accounting systems.
• Participate in internal and external meetings.

5. ActionAid Malawi Values, Practices and Priorities

• A strong commitment to develop, promote and practice AAM’s vision, mission, values and strategy.
• Leading innovation and change: Establish a culture of excellence in respective team that values experimentation and continuous improvement.
• Feminist Leadership: Championing feminist leadership principles and values including commitment to diversity and inclusion (race, gender, power).
• AAM Values Practice: Ensure personal and team culture that demonstrates all of ActionAid values including Mutual Respect, Equity and Justice, Integrity, Solidarity with People Living in Poverty and Exclusion, Courage of Conviction, Independence, and Humility
• Child protection and safeguarding –Ensure AAM and sector’s approach to child protection and Safeguarding is embedded in all initiatives holistically.
• Collaboration: Proactively leverage on cross functional learning, participate (where applicable) in international platforms and cross functional project initiatives within AAM and the Federation.
• Accountability: Promoting, practicing and contributing to the continuous improvement of transparency and accountability in the organisation.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s /master’s degree in social sciences, Project Management, Development Studies, Business Administration, Marketing or their equivalent. Masters preferred.
• At least five years’ experience in a leadership role, of which 3 years should be in Fundraising for Not-for-Profit Organisations.
• Proven experience of institutional, corporate and trusts/foundations fundraising particularly of donors of strategic relevance to AAM.
• Experience of developing and implementing successful programme funding strategies and of delivering income against targets.

• Prepare and input into strategies for diversifying AAM’s institutional funding base –including providing senior technical input into prospecting research and financial modelling for the team.
• Lead in donor intelligence/scoping, market research and identification of new donors or potential funding opportunities.
• Act as bid manager, coordinating a team of including in country programme teams, finance and PQE staff to develop content for grant proposals -ensuring they meet donor requirements. Actively participate in relevant donor meetings and networking events to further develop funding relationships.
• Manage, initiate and act on opportunities to strategically engage with, involve and deepen AAM’s existing relationships with new and existing donors.
• Develop senior level partnerships with other organisations working in the development sector on resource mobilisation, including institutions, potential consortium partners, private sector organisations, I/NGO’s and relevant research institutions.
• Ensure revenue targets as per CSP VI are met.
• Regularly monitor the grant management performance against contractual indicators and timelines and flagging any risks for appropriate management action.
• Provide technical advice to ensure adherence to the grant specific rules, regulations and procurement standards.
• Provide technical advice to ensure adherence to ActionAid policies and practice.
• Maintain schedule of all planned donor reporting and ensure proactive planning and preparation to ensure successful completion and timely and accurate submission of reports. Including, review of donor narrative and finance reports to ensure quality assurance and donor compliance.
• Work with project accountants to monitor cost recovery charged and support cash flow management including pre-financing requests, timely and accurate payment requests made to donor and tracking outstanding amounts due from the donor.
• Lead in implementation of Contract Management System.
• Support implementation of audit findings and other reviews.
• Lead the development of and track implementation of AAM’s Communications Strategy.
• Ensure update of media database to facilitate robust and responsive media engagements.
• Ensure monitoring of AAM media coverage and identification of opportunities for positive media coverage.
• Lead and cultivate strong media relationships and understanding for AAM coverage.
• Organise media events such as press conference, media tours and media training related to AAM’s program interventions.
• Ensure news and feature stories on AAM are written and submitted for free publication in mainstream media institutions.
• Ensure development and publication of all AAM communications materials e.g., monthly newsletters, media statements, annual reports, fliers, posters, banners, brochures, booklets and video documentaries.
• Develop engaging and accessible digital content (graphics, short videos, stories, posts) for AAM’s digital channels (website, social media, email, etc.) and to share with the Federation for fundraising and rooted campaign work.
• Support Fundraising and Communications Officer to create monthly social media monitoring reports using analytics tools.
• Support recruitment and induction of new staff in line with AAM HR policies.
• Conducting probationary reviews with staff and annual performance management reviews.
• Lead in provision of capacity building to staff and partners on Business development, grant management and Communications.
• Develop and monitor annual performance targets for Business Development, Grants Management and Communications.
• Develop, monitor and review the annual plan and budget for the function.
• Serve as a management focal person to the board upon delegation.
• Contribute to formulation and compliance with AAM internal control and accounting systems.
• Participate in internal and external meetings.
• A strong commitment to develop, promote and practice AAM’s vision, mission, values and strategy.
• Leading innovation and change: Establish a culture of excellence in respective team that values experimentation and continuous improvement.
• Feminist Leadership: Championing feminist leadership principles and values including commitment to diversity and inclusion (race, gender, power).
• AAM Values Practice: Ensure personal and team culture that demonstrates all of ActionAid values including Mutual Respect, Equity and Justice, Integrity, Solidarity with People Living in Poverty and Exclusion, Courage of Conviction, Independence, and Humility
• Child protection and safeguarding –Ensure AAM and sector’s approach to child protection and Safeguarding is embedded in all initiatives holistically.
• Collaboration: Proactively leverage on cross functional learning, participate (where applicable) in international platforms and cross functional project initiatives within AAM and the Federation.
• Accountability: Promoting, practicing and contributing to the continuous improvement of transparency and accountability in the organisation.

• Business development
• Grants management
• Communications
• Fundraising strategy development
• Proposal writing
• Donor relationship management
• Financial modeling
• Market research
• Contract management
• Risk management
• Compliance monitoring
• Auditing support
• Communications strategy implementation
• Media relations
• Digital content creation
• Staff capacity building
• Performance management
• Budget management
• Feminist leadership principles
• Child protection and safeguarding
• Collaboration
• Accountability
• Transparency

• Bachelor’s /master’s degree in social sciences, Project Management, Development Studies, Business Administration, Marketing or their equivalent. Masters preferred.
• At least five years’ experience in a leadership role, of which 3 years should be in Fundraising for Not-for-Profit Organisations.
• Proven experience of institutional, corporate and trusts/foundations fundraising particularly of donors of strategic relevance to AAM.
• Experience of developing and implementing successful programme funding strategies and of delivering income against targets.
• Proven