Regional Projects and Partnerships Coordinator

Job Purpose:

The Regional Projects and Partnerships Coordinator (RPPC) is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation, coordination, and contextual adaptation of IRSA’s projects in the assigned region. Working closely with National Program Managers (NPMs), the RPPC ensures programme activities are locally grounded, responsive to community needs, and aligned to national strategies. The RPPC also supports field-level engagement, community mobilisation, and cross-functional collaboration for greater impact.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

The Regional Projects and Partnerships Coordinator will be primarily responsible for the following key focus areas:

1. Programme Delivery & Coordination

• Coordinate the operational implementation of development, seasonal, and emergency projects in the assigned region.
• Translate national programme frameworks into actionable regional workplans.
• Support the integration of interventions across sectors to ensure holistic and sustainable outcomes.
• Monitor field delivery and resolve implementation challenges in coordination with relevant NPMs, the HoP and the related stakeholders.

2. Team Oversight & Support

• Provide hands-on operational support to project staff, ensuring timely delivery and alignment to approved plans.
• Mentor and support the Project Managers and the Regional Support Officer in planning and reporting.
• Foster a high-performance team culture that is collaborative, adaptive, and responsive.

3. Community Engagement & Advocacy

• Actively engage with local stakeholders, partners, and community structures to build trust, ensure relevance, and amplify community voices.
• Identify and escalate advocacy issues emerging from fieldwork that align with IRSA’s strategic themes (e.g. sustainable livelihoods, women and youth empowerment, etc).
• Represent IRSA in relevant local forums and partnerships.

4. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Communications and Fundraising teams to support programme storytelling, donor visibility, and impact reporting.
• Facilitate site visits and contribute content or insights for appeals, reports, and proposals.

5. Safeguarding, MEAL, and Compliance

• Promote adherence to IR safeguarding protocols and coordinate with the regional safeguarding focal point.
• Collaborate with the regional MEAL officer to ensure indicator tracking, data quality, and learning integration.
• Support quality assurance and continuous improvement across projects cycles.

6. Proposal Development & Grants

• Provide field-level inputs to support new proposals and concept notes.
• Participate in needs assessments and contribute to programme design processes based on regional context.

7. Relationship with National Program Managers (NPMs)

• NPMs provide thematic and technical direction; RPPCs translate these into contextual implementation.
• RPPCs do not have direct line authority but are expected to guide and support teams in executing national plans locally.
• Mutual collaboration and information sharing are essential to ensure strategic and operational alignment.

Key Working Relationships & Interfaces:

• Head of Programmes,
• National Program Managers,
• Regional Project Staff,
• Regional MEAL, Safeguarding, Finance, Admin, Procurement, Communications, and Volunteer Officers,
• Fundraising and Communications Team.

External:

• Local implementing partners and CBOs,
• Regional government departments and institutional stakeholders,
• Community leaders and structures.

Educational Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelors’ degree in project management, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum 6–8 years in program management in the development/humanitarian sector.
• Experience working with vulnerable communities and grassroots partners is preferred.

Skills & Professional Competencies:

• Strong coordination, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and administrative abilities, with attention to detail.
• Confident communicator with ability to liaise across multiple functions.
• Robust leadership and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of project management tools, data reporting, and programme monitoring.
• Commitment to IRSA’s values: Ihsan (Excellence), Ikhlas (Sincerity), ‘Adl (Justice), Rahmah (Compassion), and Amana (Custodianship).
• Expertise in project management applications and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of humanitarian regulations and standards relevant to Islamic Relief South Africa and Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Please forward a copy of the completed application form (available on the website), 1 page motivational letter, salary expectation and your CV along with a certified copy of your ID to recruitment@islamic-relief.org.za before 06 July 2026.

Dearest applicant, kindly consider the following:

If the requirements of the application as above, is not met, we will consider the application as incomplete and this will therefore not be accepted.

Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you are not contacted within a month after the closing date.

Over and above operational requirements Islamic Relief South Africa will take into account the country’s and organizational employment equity imperatives.