Terms of Reference

Posted: 2026-06-10 23:55:04  Deadline: June 30, 2026   2 Year Contract   Salary: Confidential

The Project Manager provides strategic leadership and coordination for the ALIGN project, overseeing implementation across multiple countries, managing sub-grant portfolios, supporting evidence generation and policy influence, ensuring donor compliance, and strengthening partnerships that advance adolescent health and nutrition outcomes.

Position Details

Position Title: Project Manager | ALIGN – Advancing Local Innovations for Adolescent Health and Nutrition
Contract Type: Consultancy
Duration: 2 years
Eligibility and Geographic Scope: Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Reports To: Lead Agency (Action Against Hunger) and Consortium Steering Committee
Mode of Engagement: Hybrid/online
Project: ALIGN – Advancing Local Innovations for Adolescent Health and Nutrition
Collaborates With: Consortium partners, CSOs, YLOs and national stakeholders

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of annual work plans and budgets aligned with all ALIGN project components.
Ensure alignment of project activities with donor requirements, consortium priorities and project objectives.
Serve as the primary liaison between The Youth Café, Action Against Hunger USA and ENN.
Monitor project risks, resolve operational challenges and report strategic issues to the Consortium Steering Committee.
Ensure compliance with organisational policies, World Bank Environmental and Social Framework requirements and safeguarding obligations.
Oversee delivery of Technical Support Packages including capacity assessments, mentorship, technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation support, and safeguarding guidance.
Facilitate policy dialogue and planning processes with government counterparts and health service providers.
Support the establishment and management of youth engagement mechanisms, youth councils, scorecards and social listening platforms.
Lead establishment and facilitation of the Cross Country Community of Practice, including stakeholder convenings, webinars, workshops and learning exchanges.
Lead development of sub-grant operational processes including eligibility criteria, due diligence and performance monitoring systems.
Represent The Youth Café on the Technical Selection Committee overseeing sub-grant management processes.
Lead outreach efforts to attract strong CSO and YLO applicants across eligible countries.
Oversee sub-grantee selection, grant agreement execution, compliance monitoring and fund disbursement processes.
Provide adaptive support to sub-grantees and monitor implementation progress and performance.
Coordinate operational research activities with consortium partners and sub-grantees to assess performance, scalability and cost effectiveness.
Lead monitoring and evaluation capacity strengthening initiatives for CSOs and YLOs.
Oversee adolescent feedback mechanisms including SMS polling, social listening tools and scorecards.
Lead knowledge management and advocacy activities including policy briefs, practice notes and academic publications.
Represent The Youth Café in national and global policy and decision making forums.
Oversee preparation of donor compliant narrative and financial reports.
Maintain audit ready project documentation and ensure compliance with donor standards.

Qualifications and Experience

Master's degree in Public Health, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Public Administration or a closely related field.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience managing multi country donor funded projects.
Demonstrated experience managing sub-grant portfolios including compliance monitoring, capacity building and fiduciary oversight.
Proven track record facilitating multi stakeholder platforms, communities of practice or peer learning networks.
Strong expertise in adolescent health and nutrition programming, RMNCAH+N policy engagement, or public sector budgeting and government systems.
Must hold a valid work permit or be legally authorised to work in the country of residence.
Experience working with youth led organisations and civil society organisations in Sub Saharan Africa.
Demonstrated ability to produce high quality donor reports, policy briefs and knowledge products.
Excellent English communication, writing and presentation skills.

Desirable Qualifications

Experience with World Bank financed projects and familiarity with Environmental and Social Framework requirements.
Working knowledge of the GFF x CIVIC Platform, GANN, MAMI Global Network, or similar adolescent health and nutrition initiatives.
Proficiency in French.
Experience using digital community engagement tools, social listening platforms or monitoring and evaluation data systems.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

A cover letter of not more than one page setting out suitability for the role and confirming availability from 1 July 2026.
An updated CV of not more than four pages.
Contact details for two professional referees.

Email applications to: human.resource@theyouthcafe.com
Cc: admin.compliance@theyouthcafe.com
Subject Line: Project Manager – ALIGN Project

Deadline for submission: 30th June 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Official Job Description: https://www.theyouthcafe.com/open-opportunities/a-call-for-application-project-manager-align-advancing-local-innovations-for-adolescent-health-amp-nutrition

The Youth Café Open Opportunities: https://www.theyouthcafe.com/open-opportunities/