Project Officer: Economic Empowerment

DUE: 10 JULY 2023

Sightsavers implements projects in over 30 countries in Africa and South Asia working to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

Title: Project Officer, Economic Empowerment Project
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Contract:12-month fixed term contract
Salary: Local Terms and Conditions apply

About the role

Sightsavers is growing its new programmatic area in economic empowerment which supports businesses to become successful employers of people with disabilities, and supports people with disabilities to develop skills, confidence and experience to successfully gain work. The programme portfolio is growing at a rapid pace with projects being designed and implemented in numerous countries across Africa and parts of Asia.

The Project Officer will support the Economic Empowerment project to manage activities and relationships with key stakeholders. The post holder will ensure that the project is planned, implemented, coordinated, monitored, evaluated, and adapted to the highest possible quality standards.

The Project Officer will be key in the (Zimbabwe) country office responsible for delivering this innovative project as well as part of a global team, contributing to growth and expansion of the portfolio.

Principal Accountabilities (specific activities and end results): 

  Project Delivery (40% of time) 

• Work with the country project management team and other funding / resources partner to coordinate implementation of activities and sharing of lessons learned.
• Manage all aspects of the project cycle with the partners including effective planning, start-up, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, financial and asset management, reporting, documentation and closeout.
• Liaise and work with the Global Technical Leads (Disability Inclusive Economic Empowerment) and other internal expertise as required.

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (25% of time) 

• Support tool development/adaption e.g., participant database, tracking entrepreneurs, ILO tool, Three Circles Tool, informed consent forms, surveys, feedback forms, participant registration forms
• Support learning and adaptation through developing and implementing tools, events and processes e.g., learning logs, action learning groups, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, analysis and dissemination of performance data
• Document learning and adaptation to feedback into project design, implementation, evaluation and ToC reviews; and to project team, global teams including MEL team and GTLs and to external stakeholders such as partners and participants
• Provide support with development and execution of baselines and endlines:  collection and analysis of data ensuring compliance with ethical practice
• Set up and manage the Participant database to provide quality assurance, compliance with data protection regulations

Working with Partners (20% of time) 

• Identify partner organizations with whom Sightsavers can work to achieve the project and organization’s strategic objective of ensuring that people with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities through both service delivery and advocacy
• Build effective partner relationships and support longer-term relationships that go beyond the duration of the project by disseminating information and advocating for the project’s goals.
• Promote shared learning and collaboration between partners by facilitating partner networks and meetings.

Financial & Resource Management (5% of time) 

• Support project partners in the preparation of budgets and forecasts.
• Monitor expenditure of project financial resources in liaison with the
• Finance Support Services Officer and the Country Director.
• Follow up with partners on actions arising from audits carried out by the finance team or external auditors.

Information & Communication Management (10% of time) 

• Ensure that the country project management team, fund-raising, and communication department in HH receive appropriate materials and information as required to support donor reporting requirements
• Participate in all PR activities related to disability inclusive employment and employment in general, education and social inclusion e.g. Labour Day, Person with Disabilities Day, etc.
• Represent Sightsavers in project and disability-related meetings, and advocate for Sightsavers’ philosophy and policies.
• The principal accountabilities are not meant to be an exhaustive list of tasks. The need for flexibility is required and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

Qualifications and experience: 

• Demonstrable experience with labour market issues, including labour market assessments, skills training/development, internships, employer engagement, disability inclusion, job placements and job fairs.
• A tertiary qualification (Bachelors or above) in social sciences, education, development studies or public health or equivalent, relevant and transferable experience
• Familiarity with national legislation and policies in the field of disability, human rights and employment.
• Significant experience implementing projects, including experience of the disability sector and gender mainstreaming.
• Experience in project monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Experience of designing, managing and carrying out advocacy work for social inclusion/disability projects.
• Experience providing technical assistance to other organizations.
• Knowledge of current issues and best practices in disability, UNCRPD, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and employment is desirable.

Next Steps

We anticipate that on site interviews will take place from the17th of July 2023 onwards and the evaluation process will include a presentation or a task during the interview.

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

Due to project deadlines, we are keen to fill this role as quickly as possible so applications will be considered as soon as they are received.

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

Sightsavers is an employer that does not tolerate any form of harassment and has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. All potential candidates will be subjected to rigorous background checks and controls.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Closing Date: 10 July, 2023