Partnership and Compliance Officer

Job ID: 94998 Job Title: Partnership and Compliance Officer Company: Self Help Africa Location: Lilongwe Contract type: Full time Fixed Contract Hours: 37.5 Salary: As per scale Reports to: Legal and Compliance Manager Organisation Overview About Self Help Africa: 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. Our current five‑year organisation strategy defines our 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 three core values are: Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships. Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change. Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever‑changing World. Job Purpose Reporting to the Legal and Compliance Manager and working closely with Project Managers and Program Managers, the Compliance and Partnership Officer ensures organisational and donor compliance while building and managing strategic partnerships that strengthen program delivery, accountability, resource mobilisation, and overall organisational impact. Key Responsibilities Support project accountant on financial reviews. Provide guidance on contractual issues. Review requests from partners on budget variations. Advise MT on common issues arising from reviews. Participate in planning and review meetings. Keep abreast of changes in donor guidelines and requirements and communicate these to MT and project team. Identify and compile inherent and operational risks faced by the projects. Inspect records compiled by the projects to evaluate how risks have been managed. Check compliance to donor rules and regulations. Compile risk status reports for review by the Legal and Compliance Manager using information gathered during partner expenditure verification. Monitoring and Evaluation of Internal Controls Evaluate the adequacy of processes, design and the effectiveness of internal control systems in meeting business and control objectives. Identify and document control and process weaknesses and provide evidence to support findings. Propose practical and value‑adding recommendations to address control weaknesses and/or process inefficiencies. Prepare and present clear and concise reports that reflect expenditure verification results/outcomes. Participate in follow‑ups of expenditure verification findings for both partner and internal parties. Prepare consolidated monthly report summarising all critical findings for review by the Legal and Compliance Manager and further action by programme team. Communicate any interim findings as the expenditure verification progresses. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or a related field. At least 3 years of experience in a similar role. Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Demonstrated capacity and willingness to learn – open to new ways of doing things. Professional attitude towards work. Friendly, customer‑service orientation. Pro‑active self‑starter with ability to lead across teams. Please upload your CV and Cover Letter outlining your suitability for the role here. The deadline for receiving applications is Sunday 5th July 2026 at 5pm. Equal Opportunities Employer All candidates offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. Specific roles may require police or DBS vetting. Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those 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. We expect 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 their understanding of these recruitment procedures. Working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need! Self Help Africa is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr Self Help Africa