Support to Malawi Social Cash Transfers Programme (SCTP) Deputy Team Leader 115 views0 applications

CGA Technologies is an international consultancy firm, registered in the UK, with associated companies in South Sudan, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Malawi; and also staff based in Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Since 2011, we have worked to deliver national-scale, sustainable change in the fragile and/or poor countries where we operate; we specialize in doing that by increasing participation and achievement in education, through at-scale cash support to citizens, and by leveraging each to make the other more effective. We are part of the Corus International family of organisations.

CGA have had a permanent office in Malawi since 2015, working in the health, education, and social protection sectors.

We are currently looking for a Deputy Team Leader [surge/cover] to join our work, funded by KFW, supporting the Government of Malawi Social Cash Transfers Programme (SCTP), and join our wider growing team in CGA Malawi. The role is being advertised as a temporary maternity cover of at least six (6) months, with an overlap with the incumbent.

Background to the SCTP

The Social Cash Transfers Programme (SCTP) is known locally as Mtukula Pakhomo which translates to “lifting up households”. The SCTP is a social protection and cash transfers project which provides bi-monthly unconditional cash transfers to ultra-poor and labour-constrained households in all 28 districts of Malawi. The project aims to “address the most acute lifecycle and poverty vulnerabilities” by providing a shock-resistant social protection system.

CGA have been involved in supporting the operation and development of the SCTP since July 2020. Our team of technical advisers and management information system (MIS) developers work with Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW) counterparts at their offices in Lilongwe.

The SCTP is a result of 15+ years of social protection work in Malawi and is perhaps the most comprehensive national social safety net in Africa, relative to country income. The success of the SCTP has recently been highlighted in published research, showing for every cash transfer given there is a 2.94x income multiplier for citizens. The SCTP has sustained service delivery throughout COVID-19 and currently has 308,381 households enrolled on the programme with over 1.3m people indirectly benefiting.

Specifics of the role

Reporting line: The SCTP Deputy Team Leader [surge/cover] will report directly to the SCTP Team Leader and SCTP Project Director but will have strong working relationships with the wider CGA Malawi team.

Summary of responsibilities and duties:

Specific tasks and responsibilities for the Deputy Team Leader [surge/cover] include:

Social Protection specialism

• Assist with leading the theoretical and strategic approach of the SCTP and linking the project with other government and social protection sector systems, working with the CGA Team Leader, Project Director, and senior Strategy/Policy specialist

Programme and operations co-management

• Assist with the day-to-day responsibility and leadership in all aspects of the SCTP, including a key role in managing the 10+ CGA staff and consultants who work on the project supporting MoGCDSW.
• Assist with the management of programme budgets e.g keeping track of expenditures whilst liaising with government colleagues regularly and keeping funders/donors up to date on budget lines.
• Provide general oversight of all components of the SCTP and be able to regularly update management and donors of all the moving parts and strands.
• Ensure all activities are carried out in line with objectives and work plan timelines.
• Assist in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the programme including conducting regular data analysis.

Strong government and stakeholder relations

• Assist with CGA’s interactions with and support to the Government of Malawi.
• Coordinate and liaise with government and other key stakeholders on a regular basis.

Skills & Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of the social protection sector, including in the design and implementation of social protection programmes and cash transfer programmes and theory and practice of payment methodologies.
• Confidence in decision-making and driving accountability within established government and international systems.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Enthusiastic, responsive and a flexible working style.
• Solutions based person, with a supportive attitude.
• Excellent communication skills including donor report writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to prioritise and achieve results.

Experience:

• Prior experience of managing a social protection and/or cash transfers programme with similar scope and budget is required, ideally in Malawi.
• Experience and knowledge of M&E.
• Experience of working in partnership with governments (at both national and district level) to implement projects.
• Experience of working in and managing a diverse team to achieve results against tight timelines.

Qualifications:

• Degree in economics, social sciences or related subjects. Masters degree or higher is preferable.

Location: The role will be based in the CGA Malawi office in Lilongwe, which is within the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW) at Capital Hill.