Project Manager 

Job Description

FAWE SIERRA LEONE JOB ADVERT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL 

General 

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Sierra Leone chapter is a national organization  established in Sierra Leone in March 1995 with branches throughout the 16 districts in the country. Our  target beneficiaries and constituency are primary marginalized girls and women. Our Mission is to  promote gender responsive policies, practices and attitudes and foster innovations that will provide  opportunities for Sierra Leonean girls and women to prosper in all realms of their lives. Our Vision is to  have a just and inclusive society in which all Sierra Leonean girls and women have access to quality  education and training to achieve their full potential.  

FAWE Sierra Leone is working in collaboration with Comic Relief, an INGO based in the UK, to deliver  the “Girls Access to Education Project” (GATE). for 36 months in three districts (Port Loko, Karene and  Kambia), northwestern Sierra Leone. The GATE project was developed in alignment with the FAWE  Sierra Leone strategic plan 2024-2028 business case, which seeks to improve learning outcomes for  boys and girls at school level and increase their enrolment, retention and well-being. The main focus of  the GATE project is to ensure that a greater number of girls transition to and complete secondary  schools. The project primarily focuses on ensuring that girls stay in schools and are safe, which will not  only positively contribute to the improvement of their retention but also their learning outcomes.  

The programme in Port Loko, Karene and Kambia, districts ‘ Girls Access to Education’, aims to enable  15,000 children from 60 target schools to access and participate in better quality education through two main components:  

1. Improved and safe learning environments for girls in 60 Schools  

• Training of school leadership: 120 school heads and deputies from 60 schools will be trained on  school leadership to make them change agents for girls’ participation and safety in school, who  will monitor and enforce the school safety guide developed under the GATE project.  
• Community of practice meetings: Heads of schools and school mentors will meet on a quarterly  basis to facilitate shared learning among schools and leaders on best practices and measures  taken to ensure girls’ participation and safety in school;  
• School Safety Guide: A School Safety Guide for ending School-Related Gender-Based Violence  (SRGBV) and promoting a safe environment for girls in school will be developed. The guide is a  tool to establish child-friendly reporting mechanisms and address SRGBV impunity in schools by  setting simple requirements of schools to ensure safety of girls. 
• Training of school and peer mentors: Training of 120 school and peer mentors to facilitate girls’  and boys’ clubs in school to encourage girls to speak up and out about the issues affecting them  as well as to encourage boys to support their female peers and make them champions for gender  equality. 

2. Community based platforms including school structures actively engaged to promote girls’  safety and participation in school 

• Engaging community leaders: Engaging Village Development Committees (VDCs), religious  and traditional leaders to intensify and re-enforce the community wide efforts to promote  girls’ education and safety in schools and communities; 
• Engaging men and boys in the communities: Engaging men and boys in the communities  with support from the male school mentors to promote gender equality, make them  champions for girls’ participation and safety in school and create positive role models; 
• Documentation of best practices and role models: At the end of the project, best practices of  men and boys promoting girls’ education, participation and safety in schools and  communities as well as male role models will be identified, documented and shared to  encourage more men and boys to follow these positive examples.  

FAWE-SL is looking for committed, experienced individuals to make up the project team to  manage and implement this exciting new programme in Port Loko, Karene and Kambia districts.  The project will start in October, 2024 and runs for 36 months until September 2027. Positions  being recruited are listed below. 

Applicants should send a covering letter explaining why they are suitable for the position and a  CV either: 

• by e-mail to recruitmentfawesl@gmail.com 
• or deliver in person to the FAWE National Secretariat, 4 Hill Street, Freetown 

All applications should be addressed to: 

The Acting National Coordinator FAWE Sierra Leone Chapter.  

Closing date for applications: Friday 11th October, 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be  contacted.

PROJECT MANAGER 

Position Title: Project Manager 

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone 

Period: Full-time post; October, 2024 – September 2027 

Supervisor: National Coordinator (Line) Head of Programmes (Technical ) Positions Supervised: 3 Districts Supervisors, 3 Field Officers, 1 MEAL Officer, 1 Finance and Logistics  Officer and 3 Office Assistant/Securities 

Salary: Depending on experience and qualifications 

JOB SUMMARY 

The Project Manager will have the responsibility for the development, implementation and management  of the project “Girls Access to Education -GATE in Sierra Leone” in Port Loko, Karene and Kambia  districts. The Project Manager will have the responsibility for the implementation of the project in  coordination with the school/community to realize all project components, including:  

1. Capacity Building for Teachers and School Mentors 
2. Education governance, sensitisation, advocacy 

The candidate will be responsible for the management of a field offices in Port Loko, Karene and Kambia districts consisting of a team of: 

➢ 3 District Supervisors 

➢ 3 Field Staff 

➢ 1 Finance and Logistics Officer 

➢ 1 Monitoring Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer MEAL  

➢ 3 Janitorial Security  

The Project Manager will work in close cooperation with the FAWE Sierra Leone Head of Programmes,  The FAWE Finance Manager and the FAWE National Coordinator all based in Freetown. Overall, the  candidate will work under the supervision of the FAWE National Coordinator but technically supervised  by the FAWE Head of Programmes. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 

R1. Program Management 

1. a) Manage and supervise a team of 6 Field Officers and 1 Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and  Learning Officer MEAL in the implementation of the project, including conducting team meetings,  annual appraisals and where necessary disciplinary procedures.  
2. b) Monitor the direction, implementation and progress of the project against its set aims and objectives  and advise on the implementation of changes as required in cooperation with the FAWE Head of  Programmes. 
3. c) Support the project team in the development and implementation of baseline analysis of target  schools and communities for the project and agree the criteria for selection of target schools, teachers and mentors. 
4. d) Coordinate the training workshops and ensure all training materials are prepared, participants  informed and necessary logistical arrangements made. 
5. e) Undertake an evaluation of these workshops and other trainings in consultation with FAWE Head of  Programmes. 
6. f) Lead in the development of systems and tools for monitoring and evaluation of the programme,  supporting measurement of impact and change related to the project aims and objectives as laid out  in the proposal and logframe. 
7. g) Advise the Head of Programme and FAWE National Coordinator in the development of long-term strategies

1. h) Identify training needs of project staff and assist in the organization of training i) Act as the focal point for the project at district level. Liaise, consult and work in close co-operation  with project staff, community groups, District Council and relevant NGOs and Government Ministries  and departments (specifically the Ministry of Education) to raise awareness of the project, share  information, and disseminate materials.  
2. j) Represent FAWE-SL externally through networking with local stakeholders and authorities: Liaise,  cooperate and coordinate with relevant local partner organizations, government officials and  community leaders, and actively participate in the district budget accountability forums. 
3. k) Submit monthly situation reports and bi-monthly project progress reports to Head of Programme and FAWE National Coordinator. 
4. l) Manage the budget, prepare monthly financial reports and ensure that programme funds are spent  in accordance with the agreed budget. 

R2. Field Office Management 

Supervise the activities of the Finance and Logistics officer in the following areas: a) Procurement of goods and services 

1. b) Property management and control including motorbikes and vehicle 
2. c) Operation and maintenance of all office equipment including generator, computers and other IT  equipment etc. 
3. d) Management of support staffs (driver, janitorial security, Office Assistant etc.) e) Monitor security situation in target Districts and specifically Operating Chiefdoms and make  appropriate recommendations to Freetown HQ. 
4. f) Supervise and monitor the monthly financial reporting – income & expenditure. g) Tracking field office budget to actual expenditure. 
5. h) Review and finalize monthly and quarterly budget projections for project and operations activities.  

R3. Non-Specific Responsibility 

Any other tasks as may be assigned by the FAWE National Coordinator or Head of Programmes  

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES: 

Experience 

• A minimum of five years programmes management experience, preferably in the education sector
•  Experience managing staff, coordinating teams, preparing training schedules and making logistical  arrangements 
• Experience in designing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, implementing M&E and analysing  results 
• Experience preparing narrative and financial reports. 
• Experience working with communities and liasing with district authorities and non-governement  organisations.  
• Sound knowledge and skills in budget tracking and Financial Management 

Skills 

• Excellent supervisory and capacity building skills 
• Able to work with computers and must have sound working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
•  Excellent communication, organizational and report writing skills in English • Good analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Able to work under pressure and must be a team player, comfortable in using people and team  management skills  
• Preferably able to drive a motorbike

Education 

A Bachelor Degree in Social Science, Community Development or any related academic degree. 

Required Institutional Core Values 

• Commitment to FAWE Mission and Vision 2024-2028 
• Willingness and ability to travel to remote locations in Port Loko, Karene and Kambia districts to visit  schools and communities, coordinate training and workplace observations for extended periods of  time.  
• Good knowledge of local community, culture and the complexities of working in remote and hard to  reach communities. 
• Fluent in English, and a good working knowledge of Temne and other languages local to Port Loko,  Karene and Kambia districts desirable  
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable 

• Demonstration of respect for colleagues and other partners and stakeholders • High degree of integrity and responsibility in assisting to achieve FAWE-SL Mission and Vision • Ability to work in an accountable and transparent manner