Project Background

Through the Malawi Governance for Solutions (GfS) Activity, USAID seeks to build on the incremental gains in decentralization and associated service delivery improvements, with the understanding that to make the significant leaps now required for Malawi to meet its own development goals—in the face of a fast-growing, young population—a bold, adaptive, and sustainable approach is required. To successfully remove critical bottlenecks and diffuse effective governance practices, DAI will deploy a locally driven approach—Facilitate, Catalyze, and Scale—drawing on Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) as a core methodology. Through the Facilitate, Catalyze, and Scale approach, DAI will help local stakeholders to tackle the root causes of service delivery failures through best-fit solutions and offer demonstrative models based on positive deviance. Through both process-oriented facilitation and the provisions of technical support and grants, GfS will foster stable, resilient, and more self-reliant partnerships that best position local communities to address their own challenges and contribute to the trajectory of Malawi Vision 2063.

Objectives of the assignment

Reporting to the Senior PDIA Advisor, the Liaison Officer Coordinator plays a pivotal role in overseeing and supporting Urban/District Liaison Officers (UDL & DLOs) in his/her region to successfully implement Problem-Based Interventions (PBIs) and Enabling Interventions (EIs) and fostering strategic partnerships at both the district and national levels. This position is responsible for ensuring clear communication, coordination, and collaboration among ULOs & DLOs, fostering learning between peers and ULOs & DLOs. The core functions will include strengthening Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (CLA), Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL), Communications and Operations. The LOC will also work with Result Area Leads to ensure seamless and joint integration amongst the GfS team members in the specific region for efficiency and effectiveness of GfS interventions.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Ensure the seamless execution of PBIs and EIs by offering technical assistance, guidance, and resources to ULOs and DLOs
• Overseeing the production and revision of intervention narratives and reports.
• Supporting the Senior PDIA Advisor to ensure that ULOs and DLOs are applying the PDIA approach is all GfS interventions (EIs and PBIs)
• Organizing weekly and other collaborating and cross-learning meetings for ULOs & DLOs in geographical areas of responsibilities
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to ULOs and DLOs supporting their efforts in establishing and nurturing strategic relationships with key counterparts in district government
• Collaborate closely with the MEL team to monitor the progress of PBIs and EIs and ensure adherence to gender justice principles initiatives.
• Facilitate regular coordination meetings for ULOs and DLOs in the region, providing a platform for activity reporting, addressing challenges, and identifying emerging best practices and lessons learned.
• Actively contribute to the development of strategic partnerships and collaborations with diverse stakeholders, fostering transparency, accountability, and constructive dialogue.
• Work closely with the Communications Specialist to craft impactful success stories, showcasing achievements and sharing impact with a broader audience.
• Ensure that gender and social inclusion principles are mainstreamed at all project levels, leading to equitable and sustainable outcomes centered around gender justice.
• Facilitate learning between peers, ULOs and DLOs ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into project activities.
• Provide central-level support to Result Area Leads to ensure seamless and joint integration amongst the GfS team, supporting coordination and collaboration efforts at the national level.
• Contributing to ensuring synergies across GfS interventions at central level, as well as maintaining key relationships with other USAID IPs and the government.
• Strong understanding of problem-based interventions, project management principles, and stakeholder engagement
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with a focus on inclusivity and gender-responsive approaches.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in computer office applications
• Proficiency in English and fluency in Chichewa and one or more other Malawian languages would be an advantage.
• Experience in public speaking and event facilitation.
• Experience in working with USAID programs is an added advantage.

Qualifications

This role is contingent on donor funding.

• Master’s Degree in relevant field, including public policy, governance, public administration, and management with 10 years working experience