Project Officer

Youth Impact Labs East Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 480 000 - 722 000; Full time

Job summary

An international non-profit organization is seeking a Project Officer located in South Africa to drive childcare and livelihood activities. The role involves hands-on implementation, partnering with communities, and designing innovative market-based interventions aimed at economic empowerment and childhood development. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of experience working with other agencies. The position champions partnerships and ensures inclusive service delivery for vulnerable women and children, promoting social cohesion and economic growth.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Diverse and inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience working with other agencies for a minimum of 3 years.
• Proven ability to foster relationships with communities and organizations.
• Preference for experience in private sector and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Support development and implement innovative market-based interventions.
• Plan, implement, and monitor project activities.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination among stakeholders.
• Manage implementing partners for performance tracking.
• Conduct research to inform policy development on childcare.

Skills

Fluent in English and Amharic

Problem-solving skills

Excellent communication skills

Networking skills

Computer literate (Microsoft Office)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in project management or related field

Job description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Position Title: Project Officer

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position: 1

Program / Department Summary

Empowering Families, Enriching Lives: Scaling LIWAY’s Childcare Models for Two-Generational ECD is a two-year project (September 2024 – August 2026) in Addis Ababa, funded by the Conrad Hilton Foundation. This initiative is dedicated to improving early childhood development (ECD) while fostering economic empowerment by addressing systemic gaps in childcare access and workforce participation. By implementing scalable and evidence-based childcare solutions, the project aims to create sustainable and market-driven models that enhance the well‑being of vulnerable families, particularly internally displaced people, refugees, and host communities.

The project focuses on expanding access to affordable, high‑quality childcare by establishing new childcare centers and upgrading existing ones in underserved areas. These centers will provide a safe and nurturing environment where children receive essential care, nutrition, and early learning opportunities that promote cognitive, emotional, and social development. By reducing the childcare burden on women, the project enables them to engage in education, skills training, and employment, ultimately increasing household income and economic stability. Recognizing the interconnected nature of childcare and workforce participation, the project integrates childcare support into labor market interventions, ensuring women and youth have better access to job opportunities, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs.

A key component of the project is its commitment to evidence-based policy advocacy. By conducting rigorous research on childcare needs, economic impacts, and best practices, the project generates valuable data that informs decision-making at both local and national levels. This research supports the development of policies that institutionalize childcare as a fundamental service, ensuring financial accessibility, regulatory improvements, and greater private sector involvement in childcare provision. The project also strengthens partnerships with government agencies, private sector actors, and development organizations to drive systemic reforms and promote sustainable childcare solutions.

Utilizing a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, the project catalyzes market-based solutions that create jobs and increase incomes women, youth, and displaced communities. It enhances job matching services, supports technology-driven employment solutions, and fosters collaboration with employers to integrate childcare support into workforce strategies. By building the capacity of childcare providers, offering financial incentives, and linking childcare services with employment initiatives, the project ensures long‑term sustainability and scalability.

General Position Summary

The Project Officer is the driver of childcare and livelihood activities, responsible for hands‑on implementation and engagement with refugees, host, and IDP communities. He/she works closely with partners and government offices to ensure inclusive, high‑impact delivery of services that improve ECD and economic opportunities for vulnerable women.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Intervention Design & Implementation

• Support development and implement innovative market‑based interventions, focusing on childcare service, labor market/employment opportunities and technical and vocational skill development, that address the root causes of market failure and promote inclusive economic growth/market system strengthening.
• Support design interventions and concept notes, including viable business models that consider vulnerable women (Host, Refugees and IDPs).
• Support design interventions that build social cohesion and foster trust among host, refugee and IDP communities.
• Support identify, assess and onboard relevant key market players (implementing partners).
• Support map key market actors, value chains, and support services, considering vulnerable women (Host, Refugee and IDP) communities.

Project Implementation

• Support the Project Manager in planning, implementing, and monitoring project activities.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination among partners, government, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and review project proposals, concept notes, MoUs, ToRs and technical documents, and provide constructive feedback for quality improvement.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, and coordination sessions with partners and stakeholders.
• Support the management of implementing partners (IPs), including onboarding, performance tracking, technical guidance, and compliance monitoring.
• Follow up with internal departments such as Procurement, Finance, HR, and Logistics to ensure timely processing of project activities, approvals, and support.
• Facilitate collaboration with key stakeholders, including government agencies, implementing partners, private sector actors, and the community.
• Represent the project at relevant external meetings and conferences to share results, promote collaboration.

Knowledge And Experience

• Experience in private sector and community is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in project management, business administration, and another related field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in working with other agencies.

Success Factors

• Fluent in English and Amharic; additional language is a strong benefit.
• Great problem‑solving skills, unafraid to ask questions, and results‑motivated.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and networking skills with a wide range of actors.
• Computer literate, especially in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to foster solid working relationships with Government, communities, and partner organizations.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC, and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Applications

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically. Only candidates that are short‑listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

Deadline

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 27 October 2025 / 4:00 PM