Light for the World is a global development organisation. We empower people with disabilities and enable eye health services in low-income countries. Over the last three decades we improved health systems, enabled education for all, and amplified the voices of people with disabilities. We focus on the poorest and hardest to reach because that’s where we will have the biggest impact. 

Our programmes include:

• Eye Health – preventing blindness and promoting eye health for all.

• Inclusive Education – ensuring children with disabilities receive quality, inclusive education.

• Inclusive Economic Empowerment – ensuring that barriers are removed for men and women with disabilities to access decent work.  

In Ethiopia, our country strategy for the year 2021-2025 focuses on Eye Health, Inclusive Economic Empowerment, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Inclusive Education and Humanitarian Action. Advocacy and disability inclusion are cross cutting theme.  Currently, Light for the World Ethiopia is supporting projects in Addis Ababa City Administration, Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, Sidama, and SNNP regions. Light for the world therefore seeks the services of an experienced and self-driven person to lead this innovative and ambitious project hence the vacancy below.

Reports to: Deputy Country Direct/Head of Programmes (HoPs)

Terms on Employment: One year contract with the possibility of extension

Job Purpose:

The Programme Manager – Livelihoods for Resilience Program (L4R) provides strategic leadership and oversight for the implementation of the ADA/IPA-funded L4R project, ensuring technical quality, partnership alignment, and organizational visibility. This includes managing consortium partnerships (CARE Ethiopia, AutRC, and others), and supporting the design and delivery of disability-inclusive humanitarian action and livelihood programmes. The Programme Manager will steer planning, implementation, compliance, learning, and resource mobilization initiatives in line with LftW’s strategic objectives.

Project Design/Development, Appraisal, Coordination, and Implementation

• Ensure programme implementation aligns with LftW’s strategy, donor requirements (e.g. ADA as part of IPA, and relevant government frameworks.

• Provide technical leadership and strategic guidance to CMs and project teams in L4R and HA sectors.

• Coordinate consortium member partners to develop and implement harmonized project action plans, budgets, and MEL frameworks.

• Lead the CMs‘planning and implementation as well as conducting feasibility assessments, and budgeting.

• Ensure the L4R Program implemented effectively within the project timeline and budget in collaboration and coordination with Lftw, CARE-Ethiopia and Aus.RedCross Ethiopia teams. 

• Lead the design and development of new programmes in Humanitarian Action and Livelihoods, in close collaboration with the Institutional Partnership/IP/ and Strategic Program Teams/SPT/ at HQ 

Partnership, Networking and Advocacy

• Foster strong partnership relationships and coordination among consortium members and implementing partners.

• Represent LftW in national and regional forums related to L4R program and disability inclusion of the program, other livelihoods and, humanitarian aid new projects that could be possible fundraised under your leadership in the future.

• Promote strategic alliances with government bodies, OPDs, INGOs, and private sector actors to strengthen inclusive and sustainable programming.

• Strengthen local networks in Livelihood resilience and HA sectors, including regional and national coordination platforms and OPD networks.

•  Advocate for inclusive humanitarian responses and livelihood resilient development approaches at national, regional, and international platforms.

Technical support and capacity building 

•  Provide ongoing technical assistance to CMs, partners, and field staff in inclusive economic empowerment, DRR, and disability-inclusive humanitarian action.

• Support the capacity development of CMs, partners through tailored training, mentoring, and technical resources.

• Work with HR and MERLA to identify capacity gaps and coordinate partner learning interventions.

Project Management and Donor Compliance

• Lead the preparation and signing of project agreements and amendments with CMs, partners, ensuring compliance with ADA/IPA and LftW standards.

• Ensure timely disbursement of funds and follow-up on financial acknowledgments and documentation (e.g. credit notes, bank receipts).

• Monitor implementation of project agreements and donor conditions, ensuring timely course correction where necessary.

• Review and approve partner financial and narrative reports, ensuring quality, data accuracy, and submission within agreed timelines.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Learning, and Accountability (MERLA)

• Oversee the effective monitoring of partner projects, including periodic field visits and remote support.

• Lead join field monitoring of L4R Program with CMs, government stakeholders and the donor as needed and planned. 

• Lead baseline, mid-term and end-line evaluations and donor-led assessments in coordination with CO’s MERLA Manager.

• Support MERLA Officer and Manager in documenting lessons learned, best practices, and case studies from programme implementation and share internally and with the donor.

• Ensure partner reports are evidence-based and contribute to adaptive programme management and organizational learning.

Communication, Documentation, and Visibility

• Ensure programme achievements are documented and shared with internal and external with donor and stakeholders in collaboration with the CO’s Communication Manager.

• Collaborate with the MERLA and Communications teams to produce high-quality reports, case studies, and human-interest stories and project photos.

• Contribute to the visibility of LftW and the L4R consortium at national and regional levels through strategic engagement and knowledge dissemination.

Budgeting and Financial Oversight

• Lead the overall planning, forecasting, and monitoring of L4R Program and HA projects budgets in collaboration with the CO’s Finance and Grant Management team.

• Ensure transparent, accountable, and efficient budget utilization by consortium members and implementing partners.

• Monitor budget burn rates, ensure financial reporting accuracy, and flag budget risks, project audits findings and action proactively.

People Management:

• Provide leadership and coaching to the project team and contribute to staff recruitment, performance management, and professional development.

• Cultivate a culture of high performance and self-driven team with strong adherence to our organizational values: Respect, Accountability, Inclusion and  learning within the project team.

Grant Acquisition and Projects Resource Mobilization

• Lead and/or contribute to the development of concept notes and proposals for livelihoods and HA-related funding projects opportunities.

• Liaise with the IPs, SPTs  and Grants Controlling teams to ensure the technical soundness, strategic alignment, and maintain internal Lftw processes and donor compliance of all projects submissions and approval.

• Engage in donor scoping, intelligence gathering, and bid development in line with LftW’s fundraising strategy.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Identify and mitigate operational and programme-related risks in a timely manner and take appropriate action for your level and or report on time to your line manager for next actions.

• Ensure all projects under your portfolio comply with internal safeguarding policies, donor regulations, compliances and relevant national laws.

• Collaborate with audit and assurance teams during internal and donor-led reviews

Key Relationships

• Internal: Deputy Country Direct/Head of Programmes (HoPs), MERLA, DIAU, Finance & Operations, IP, SPT, HR, , Regional Programme Officers

•  External: Consortium member partners (CARE, AutRC, others), government offices, OPDs, donors (ADA/IPA), private sector partners, coordination platforms.

Safeguarding Commitment

Light for the World is committed to safeguarding the rights of the people it serves and expects all staff to adhere to its Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct

Job Requirements

Qualifications Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in development studies, Rural Development, Humanitarian Response, Social Work, Livelihoods, Agricultural Economics, or related field.

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in managing multi-sectoral programmes focused on livelihoods, resilience, and/or humanitarian assistance. Out of which  5 years NGOs experiences in the past is desirable

• Demonstrated experience managing consortium-based, donor-funded programmes (preferably with ADA/IPA, EU, ECHO, or similar donors).

• Track record of successful proposal development, donor reporting, and grant management.

• Strong knowledge of inclusive livelihoods programming, disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and disability inclusion.

• Experience in working with and building the capacity of civil society organizations, particularly OPDs and local partners.

• In-depth understanding of the humanitarian-development nexus, localization, and inclusive development principles.

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent project and people management skills, including budget oversight.

• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, negotiation, and representation skills.

• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of Amharic or other local languages.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with project management and MEAL systems preferred.

• Commitment to Light for the World’s mandate and values

How To Apply

Please send non-returnable CV and a cover letter mentioning how your experiences match with the job advertisement until August 12,2025. Please mention your expected salary in your application letter and include 3 professional references into your CV. Applications should be sent to THIS LINK

Note: Persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview