Project Manager - Sisi ni Kesho

Organization: Co.P.E. – Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti NGO

Location: Nyololo, Iringa, Tanzania

Contract: 1-year contract subject to six months probationary period.

Start date: 1st January 2027

Application deadline: 9th November 2026

Salary: Competitive

About Co.P.E.

Co.P.E. - Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti is an Italian Non-Governmental Organization committed to development and humanitarian cooperation since 1983, with a continuous presence in Tanzania since 1988. Registered in Tanzania in 2005, the organization has its headquarters in Dar Es Salaam but also operates in the Iringa and Songea regions.

COPE's first project in Tanzania started in 1988 in Migoli, in the Iringa region. In Nyololo, COPE established the Kituo cha Afya, inaugurated in 2007 to provide medical care for a population of about 65,000 people, and in 2010 it added a Care and Treatment Clinic offering HIV testing, prevention and treatment. COPE also founded and runs the Sisi ni Kesho children's centre, and takes part, with Nyololo Hospital and other partners, in a project supporting the health and education of children with disabilities.

Co.P.E. - Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti NGO

Address: 11 Sembeti Street, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam

P.O. Box: 23462

Phone: +255 (0)621600028

Email: iringa@cope.it

Registered under: Section 12(2) of Act No. 24 of 2002 - The Non – Governmental Organizations Act, 2002

About Sisi ni Kesho

Sisi ni Kesho is a children's centre launched by COPE in 2004 in the village of Nyololo, built with the involvement of the local community. The centre now hosts 20 children, who have been identified through the local social services and admitted in accordance with Tanzanian government regulations. A team of 13 caregivers ("mamas"), working in shifts, looks after the children in their daily activities.

At Sisi ni Kesho, children receive care, nutrition, medical monitoring, antiretroviral treatment when needed, and activities that support their physical, cognitive and emotional development. The goal is to help them grow up safely and, where possible, return to their family of origin or be placed with an adoptive family.

The Role

We are looking for a responsible, organized, and compassionate Project Manager to run the centre's day-to-day operations. You will oversee the wellbeing and progress of the children, coordinate the caregivers, keep the finances transparent and accurate, and ensure that the centre runs smoothly and accountably.

Key Responsibilities

Child Welfare and Development

• Monitor the school, family, and personal progress of each child, and keep individual records up to date.
• Maintain regular contact with the schools the children attend, and with the schools that host them, following up on attendance, results, and any difficulties.
• Liaise with families and relevant local authorities or social welfare offices when needed.
• Promote child protection and children's rights in all aspects of the centre's work.

Team Supervision

• Supervise, guide, and support the caregivers ("mamas") working at the centre.
• Plan and coordinate their work, handle conflicts, and encourage good teamwork and communication.

Financial Management and Transparency

• Keep the centre's accounts and bookkeeping.
• Record and manage all income and expenditure of Sisi ni Kesho.
• Ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds, including funds from donors, and prepare financial reports for donors and the board.
• Prepare and monitor budgets.

Logistics and Inventory

• Keep an inventory of everything the centre needs and uses (food, supplies, school materials, hygiene items, etc.).
• Monitor consumption and plan purchases accordingly.
• Handle the shopping and procurement for the centre, keeping costs under control.

Planning and Partnerships

• Plan the centre's activities and monitor their results.
• Support fundraising, project writing, and relationships with donors, NGOs, and partner institutions.
• Contribute to narrative and financial reporting.

Requirements

• Certificate or degree in social work.
• Proven experience in orphanages, children's homes, schools, NGOs, or similar settings. We value at least 1 year of experience, and 2 or more years will be an added advantage.
• Experience in bookkeeping and budget management, and in supervising staff.
• Direct experience with vulnerable children (inclusion, psychosocial support).
• Excellent knowledge of English and Kiswahili, written and spoken.
• Good computer skills (Word, Excel, email) and comfort with digital tools for management and reporting.
• Integrity, empathy, a strong sense of ethics, and full commitment to transparency.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Tanzanian laws and international standards on child protection and children's rights (courses or certificates are a plus).
• Experience with project writing, fundraising, and working with donors.
• Leadership and conflict-management skills, and the ability to communicate with partners and institutions.

How to Apply

Please send the following documents to: iringa@cope.it, by 9th November 2026, with the subject line "Project Manager – Sisi ni Kesho":

• A detailed CV
• A cover letter
• Copies of relevant certificates.
• Contact details of at least two professional references.

Candidates who do not submit their application on time and in the manner requested will not be admitted to the selection process. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview. Sisi ni Kesho is committed to child safeguarding: the selected candidate will be subject to reference checks and will be required to follow the centre's child protection policy.

Organization Details

Co.P.E. - Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti (COPE)

Address: 11 Sembeti Street, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam

P.O. Box: 23462

Phone: +255 (0)621600028

Email: iringa@cope.it

Registered under: Section 12(2) of Act No. 24 of 2002 - The Non – Governmental Organizations Act, 2002