Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

About Self Help Africa :

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.

Our three core values are:
▪ Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
▪ Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
▪ Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

About the Project:

Self Help Africa (SHA) has been implementing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programming in Thyolo District for the past 10 years, with a strategic focus on increasing and sustaining equitable access to safe water and sanitation services in the context of climate change. With funding from The One Foundation, the WASH programme in Thyolo will deliver two projects: a WASH and Climate Resilience project and a general WASH project. In addition to support from The One Foundation, the programme also receives funding from Co-op UK to implement WASH interventions in collaboration with tea estates. SHA’s work in Thyolo is implemented in close coordination with district councils, relevant government line ministries, Thuchila Tea Association, MAFECO, and other WASH stakeholders, ensuring alignment with district priorities and national WASH strategies. Key interventions include provision of access to safe water, improved sanitation, hygiene promotion, water resource and catchment management and systems strengthening aimed at improving service delivery, accountability, and long-term sustainability. The project will adopt a district-wide WASH systems approach that integrates climate resilience, water resources management, health, agriculture, and food and nutrition security.

Job Purpose:

The Water Resources Officer will report to the WASH and Climate Resilience Project Manager. He will work hand in hand with the field facilitators and civil technician by providing technical support in implementation, monitoring and reporting of all sustainable nature resource management. The officer will support and build capacity of team members internally and external stakeholders in water catchment, water resources and WASH and climate resilience. The role will work closely with various district sectors and departments like forest, Agriculture, Environment, irrigation, water, community and health

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Support – Land and Water Resources Management

• Provide technical support for climate-resilient WASH interventions, including water resource and catchment management activities.
• Support and lead district-level assessments on catchment mapping, groundwater availability, water demand–supply balance, and catchment protection.
• Guide the co-design and implementation of catchment and watershed restoration interventions linked to sustainable WASH service delivery.
• Support the identification of sustainable financing and management options for water source protection and WASH infrastructure operation and maintenance.
• Coordinate afforestation, soil and water conservation, and erosion-control interventions
• Support implementation of land rehabilitation activities in priority sub-catchments
• Support training and mentoring of farmers on climate-smart agriculture practices including soil conservation, agroforestry, deep-bed farming, and erosion control

Capacity Building and Community Engagement:

• Strengthen the capacity of district councils, community management structures, and tea estate partners to plan, implement, and manage WASH services using a systems-based and climate-resilient approach.
• Support the selection, formation, and training of Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs).
• Support the capacity building of lead farmers and other structures
• Support the formulation and implementation of Village Level Action Plans (VLAPs).

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Liaise with district authorities, water resource institutions, NGOs, private sector actors, and community leaders to ensure coordinated project implementation.
• Participate in district-level and sector coordination meetings related to water resources and WASH programming.
• Support integrated planning between land, water, agriculture, and environment etc.  sectors

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting:

• Support the collection, analysis, and reporting of technical and programme data related to water resources development.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess the quality of works and compliance with technical standards.
• Consolidate learning, lessons learned, and best practices and share them with government, donors, and other stakeholders.

Key Relationships:

Internal:

• Deputy /WASH Program Manager
• WASH and Climate Resilience Project Manager
• Livelihoods Programme Manager
• WASH Filed Facilitators
• Project Accountant
• Stores and Administration Officer
• MEAL Officer
• MEAL coordinator
• National MEAL Manager

External:

• Local Partner
• District Council

Qualification:

• Degree in hydrology, water resources management, natural resources management, environment or a related field of the organization.
• Five years of relevant experience in water resources management and natural resources/environmental related activities

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

• Experience of working of Water Resources and catchment management interventions
• Good knowledge and experience in groundwater monitoring and management
• Extent and relevance of knowledge of water resources assessment/management tools and methods including geo-spatial analysis.
• Extent and relevance of experience in analysing water resources, management issues and capacity development needs.
• Extent and relevance of experience in working with government stakeholders and both WASH and non-WASH actors.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementing programmes and projects related to water resources management
• Technical report writing, data analysis (GIS knowledge is a plus), project management, problem-solving, and communication.
• Ability to work independently and take a lead with new ideas.

How to apply:

Full job description here. 

Qualified and interested candidates who meet the stated requirements must submit a completed Application Form, along with an up to date Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter here. 

The closing date for applications is 12th January 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Important information: 

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre- employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.