Project Development Officer

Based in the coastal town of Fort Dauphin in the southeast of Madagascar, this post will provide support to the public health, conservation, sustainable livelihoods and education projects run through the NGO. The successful candidate will work within a combined Malagasy and International team to assist in developing projects, writing the proposals enabling these to gain funding, supporting with the implementation of projects and evaluating their success. The role is predominantly office-based, and the diversity of activities undertaken will provide a wide ranging experience for a development professional who can effectively and efficiently deal with a comprehensive range of tasks related to the complex world of overseas development work.

Initially an internship for the first 6 months, this exciting post would suit someone with some experience or a passion to learn, and would be essential in-country experience for anyone wishing to begin a career in international development.

Title: Project Development Intern for initial 3 months, change of title and responsibilities to Project Development Officer subject to passing probationary review.

Timeframe: 12 months extendable

Probationary period: 3 months

Contract: Voluntary, unsalaried

Reporting to: Head of Project Development 

Primary responsibilities

Development of new projects (including funding searches); preparation and editing of proposals and reports; information formatting; monitoring and evaluation of current projects; researching International best practice; liaison with the London project development team and local staff

Duties and responsibilities

• Compile funding proposals based on past evaluation, team discussion and International best practice in an engaging and professional manner
• Write project reports that clearly demonstrate the successes and challenges of the projects, learning from the project and give clear budgetary information
• Conduct internet searches for potential donors to fund the programme and relating projects
• Conduct research into International best practice with regard to health, conservation, sustainable livelihoods and education programmes and take the lead in discussing these with the team
• Take a leading role in ensuring that all of the statistics relating to the projects are accurate
• Take an active role in project management meetings, leading these where appropriate
• Work with the Malagasy team in increasing their skills and capacity, providing mentoring or training where appropriate
• Assist in developing monitoring and evaluation tools for projects and to work with the team in the field on implementing these
• Analyse data and be able to clearly and concisely present to the team. skills, with demonstrable ability in gathering and assimilating information from various sources, compiling documents (reports and proposals), and identifying lessons learnt and best practice
• Work alongside the Head of Project Development and Head of Finance in developing and managing the budgets relating to projects
• Take the lead in writing social media for the health, WASH and education based projects
• Form part of the team representing projects when required
• Liaise with the UK team in London ensuring clear communication at all times
• Maintain a database of projects and funders alongside the UK team in London
• Maintain the database of photographs for projects
• Take an active part in international team meetings and the support to other members of the team
• Any other tasks required by the Head of Project Development or Director of Operations and Heads of Departments commensurate with this role

Interested applicants should send a CV and covering letter outlining how their skills and experience match the requirements in the role description criteria to Lisa Bass by email on Lisa@seedmadagascar.org. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Long-listed applicants will have an initial informal chat with Madagascar based staff and short listed applicants will then be offered a face-to-face interview with the London team in person.

More information on the work of SEED Madagascar can be found at www.madagascar.co.uk