Project Coordinator

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Sowing the Seeds of Change is a three-year, internationally funded Program implemented by Development Expertise Center (DEC) as the Ethiopia country partner, in collaboration with Wilde Ganzen (Netherlands) and the global Change the Game Academy (CtGA) Alliance. The Program aims to empower 20 youth-led organizations across Ethiopia to design and implement biodiversity conservation initiatives, mobilize local resources, and position young people as credible advocates in national environmental governance.

This Program aims to strengthen efforts of youth led conservation of Ethiopia's extraordinary biodiversity by investing in youth-led action rooted in local knowledge, peer learning, and sustainable financing.

DEC's role encompasses training delivery, mentorship and coaching, match funding coordination, monitoring and learning, partnership management, and donor reporting within the Ethiopia component of the Program.

JOB PURPOSE / POSITION SUMMARY

The Project Coordinator will serve as the primary responsible person for the day-to-day planning, implementation, coordination, and reporting of the Sowing the Seeds of Change Program in Ethiopia. The coordinator will lead the selection, training, and sustained coaching of 20 youth organizations through the Change the Game Academy Green (CtGA Green) methodology, ensuring the quality, timeliness, and impact of all Program activities.

The role requires a hands-on, field-oriented professional with strong Program management competencies, a commitment to youth empowerment and biodiversity conservation, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholder relationships across local, national, and international levels. The coordinator will be the primary interface between DEC Ethiopia, the global Program team (Wilde Ganzen), youth partners, and other relevant stakeholders, and will be accountable for ensuring that Ethiopia's Program component meets its targets, contributes to organizational learning, and adheres to all donor and compliance requirements.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1. Program Coordination & Technical Implementation

• Lead the comprehensive planning and execution of the Sowing the Seeds of Change program in Ethiopia, ensuring alignment with approved work plans, budgets, and program frameworks.
• Facilitate the transparent, criteria-based selection of 20 youth-led organizations and manage their end-to-end participation in the program.
• Coordinate the delivery of intensive Change the Game Academy (CtGA) Green training and workshops, ensuring methodological fidelity and contextual relevance.
• Provide ongoing technical mentorship and coaching to youth organizations throughout the project cycle, from initial training to the implementation of biodiversity initiatives.
• Manage the distribution, tracking, and accountability of ICT equipment (laptops) provided to partner organizations.
• Mainstream gender-sensitive, inclusive, and youth-centered approaches across all activities, prioritizing the participation of young women and marginalized groups.

4.2. Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Develop detailed annual and quarterly work plans in collaboration with DEC management and international partners (Wilde Ganzen).
• Execute robust MEL activities, including baseline/endline assessments, regular field monitoring visits, and the maintenance of the Community Activity tracking system.
• Produce high-quality progress reports, success stories, and case studies that capture program impact and lessons learned for internal and donor dissemination.
• Contribute evidence-based inputs to global program reviews, mid-term evaluations, and cross-country learning exchanges with partners in Nepal, Kenya, Brazil, and Colombia.

4.3. Match Funding & Resource Mobilization

• Oversee the match funding process, providing youth organizations with technical guidance on local fundraising, community resource mobilization, and financial accountability.
• Manage the disbursement and documentation of match funds, ensuring all processes are transparent and compliant with organizational and donor policies.
• Monitor youth-led fundraising campaigns and fund utilization, proactively identifying and mitigating financial risks or irregularities.

4.4. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Management

• Act as the primary liaison for the Ethiopia component, coordinating regularly with global leads, CtGA Alliance partners, and international stakeholders.
• Represent DEC and the program in national and international forums, policy events, and environmental networks to amplify youth voices and program results.
• Strengthen the enabling environment for youth-led conservation by building strategic relationships with regional government bureaus, local authorities, and civil society actors.

4.5. Communication, Visibility, and Storytelling

• Empower youth organizations to enhance their public visibility through training in digital storytelling, social media outreach, and community engagement.
• Coordinate with the DEC Communications team to produce and share multimedia content (data, photos, and updates) for global communication strategies and online platforms.
• Uphold organizational brand standards and donor visibility requirements across all public-facing documentation and media engagements.

4.6. Financial Stewardship, Compliance & Safeguarding

• Monitor program expenditures against approved budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness, accuracy of financial documentation, and timely reporting of variances.
• Uphold full compliance with Ethiopian NGO regulations, organizational policies, and donor (Wilde Ganzen) frameworks.
• Promote a culture of safety by implementing strict Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) standards across all youth engagements.
• Facilitate accountability-to-affected-populations by maintaining accessible feedback/complaints mechanisms and ensuring the integrity of participant data.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in environmental sciences, Natural Resource Management, Project Management, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline is an advantage

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience in Program coordination or project management within an NGO or development organization
• Demonstrated experience working with youth organizations, community-based organizations, or grassroots civil society groups in Ethiopia
• Proven experience in training facilitation, capacity building, and adult learning approaches
• Experience in environmental programming, biodiversity conservation, or climate change adaptation is a strong advantage
• Experience working with international donors and managing international partnerships is an advantage
• Prior experience with participatory fundraising approaches, match funding, or community resource mobilization is desirable

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of the project management cycle, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting
• Ability to develop high-quality Program reports, work plans, and documentation in English and Amharic
• Solid understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks and tools
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and digital collaboration tools
• Familiarity with Ethiopia's environmental policy landscape, biodiversity context, and civil society sector
• Knowledge of the Change the Game Academy or similar capacity development methodologies is an advantage
• Understanding of gender mainstreaming and social inclusion principles in development programming

Soft Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to work effectively across cultures and at multiple levels
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to prioritize and manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to translate complex ideas for diverse audiences
• Creative problem-solving and adaptive thinking in the face of operational challenges
• High level of personal integrity, accountability, and professional commitment

Language Requirements

• Proficiency in English (spoken and written) — required
• Knowledge of additional Ethiopian regional languages is an advantage

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Travel

The position requires regular travel within Ethiopia, including to field sites in Program regions, to monitor project activities, conduct training, and provide coaching to youth organizations.

Working Hours

The position may require flexible working arrangements, including occasional evening or weekend work during training events, field visits, or reporting periods.

Safeguarding Commitment

DEC is fully committed to the safety and protection of all Program participants, particularly children and young people. The successful candidate must sign and adhere to DEC's Safeguarding and PSEAH policies and will be required to undergo background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Ethical Standards

The coordinator is expected to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, including transparency, impartiality, and integrity in all interactions with Program stakeholders, partners, youth organizations, and communities.

Diversity and Inclusion

DEC actively encourages applications from women, candidates from diverse regional backgrounds, and individuals with lived experience in environmental or community development work. Applications from qualified candidates with a background in youth-led civil society are particularly welcomed.

Skills Required:

• Applied / Natural / Science
• Environmental / Natural / Resource
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development