Program Assistant

About BRAC

BRAC is a highly-regarded international non-governmental development organization dedicated to creating a world free from exploitation and discrimination, where everyone can reach their full potential. It is a leader in developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programs that assist poor and disadvantaged communities in low-income countries, including those affected by conflict and disaster. BRAC is an organization of and for the people of the Global South, pioneering new development and social enterprise approaches to empower communities toward prosperity.

About the Programme

In partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, BRAC International is implementing an initiative to create a positive and measurable impact for 1.2 million adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and 9.5 million people across seven East and West African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. This partnership aims to support AGYW living in poverty, an issue amplified by the global pandemic. The program will deliver scalable economic development approaches to communities, fostering the agency and voice of AGYW, and giving them the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations, achieve sustainable livelihoods, and engage in advocacy. BRAC International is using an integrated and holistic model to address the various life cycles of a young woman living in poverty, ensuring she can safely transition from adolescence to adulthood. She’ll be equipped with the appropriate skills, tools, and access to finance to effectively exercise her agency and build a fulfilling and productive livelihood.

Purpose

The Program Assistant (PA) will be responsible for the overall implementation of direct field-level program activities for three pillars: Social & Economic Empowerment (Livelihood & Education pathways), and Enabling Environment for AGYW. The PA will lead the participant selection process, set up and manage clubs, and supervise and follow up on mentor activities. Other responsibilities include conducting mentor training, procuring and distributing assets, selecting participants for the education pathways, working with schools, and following up on school-related activities. The PA will also maintain program documents, prepare programmatic data, and other required reports, while working closely with regional technical staff, BRAC microfinance counterparts, and key community stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Program Implementation Support

• Social Empowerment Pillar: Lead community-level inception activities for the AIM program, including community and participant selection, club selection and setup, club launching, and participant enrollment. Handle mentor selection, training, and onboarding, community mobilization, linkage services, and value chain mapping. Lead the implementation and supervision of activities in assigned clubs according to the program’s design, activity plan, and budget. Conduct household and other surveys, and form and manage AIM safe spaces/clubs to meet program targets. Closely follow up with participants to minimize attrition and prepare monthly attendance and bi-monthly drop-out reports, ensuring mentors collect both manual and digital attendance.
• AIM Livelihoods Pathway: Conduct participant-wise livelihood option selection and organize technical, entrepreneurship, and other need-based training. Provide enterprise development support, and coordinate market development and facilitation activities. Follow up with participants through initial and subsequent home visits and group visits to ensure asset safety and growth, increase household income, and build confidence. Collect livelihood shared cost portion installments and deposit them at the branch office. Form and follow up with VSLAs to promote a savings culture and ensure a minimum of 80% of AIM livelihood participants transition to formal microfinance institutions.
• Education Pathway: Select participants for AIM – Education, mobilize them, and support the setup of peer mentor study circles. Assist with distributing school-related costs (in-kind or cash), monitor resource use and attendance, and create linkages between enabling environment activities and school management. Support the identification of out-of-school very young adolescents (VYAs) and adolescent girls (AGs) interested in completing their education and conduct surveys as required.

Other Responsibilities

• Enabling Environment Pillar: Involved in the formation of the Youth Development Committee (YDC), including training, meetings, and other community-level activities. Map local service providers and support Branch Managers in establishing relationships with them. Support GBV and SRH referrals and other relevant referrals, as well as ensuring gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) activities. Support the identification of AIM youth and mobilize them for community dialogues and action planning.
• Procurement, Coordination, and Supervisory Support: Select, train, and supervise AIM club mentors, providing ongoing coaching and mentoring. Help with all branch-level procurement, logistics, and supply, and maintain program documents, files, and registers. Support school improvement planning and execution, follow up on teacher development activities, and supervise school-related activities. Manage and strengthen the Management Information System (MIS), including data collection and reporting through both manual and digital platforms (BInsight). Ensure internal monitoring to assess service quality, data integrity, and documentation, as well as ensuring timely and accurate data collection for internal and external reports. Attend monthly coordination meetings, provide updates, and flag any issues needing attention. Ensure cash flow by submitting timely cash requisitions for day-to-day activities and prepare and submit financial and other reports.
• Safeguarding Responsibilities: Responsible for ensuring the safety of team members from harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation. Act as a key source of support and expertise on safeguarding to create a safe working environment. Practice, promote, and endorse the safeguarding policy and ensure its standards are implemented in all actions. Follow and encourage others to follow the safeguarding reporting procedure if any reportable incident occurs.

Requirements

Educational Requirements

A Graduate/Diploma in Social studies, Community development, Gender and Development, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related subject is required.

Experience Requirements

At least one year of experience in the international development sector is needed. This includes experience working with marginalized communities to implement community development programs such as education, microfinance, livelihood, agricultural and food security, or girls’ and women’s empowerment programs.

Skills and Competencies

Ability to spend extended periods in the field and travel within the country. Computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft Office and mobile devices are essential. Experience using digital reporting and survey platforms (e.g., KoBo, Google forms, SurveyMonkey, CommCare, SurveyCTO) is preferable. Strong teamwork and collaboration skills, with a demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse individuals, are also necessary. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to BRAC’s mission, as well as community mobilization, communication, and facilitation skills.

Employment Type & Salary

This is a contractual position with a negotiable salary.

Application Instructions

To apply, candidates must email their CV and a letter of interest to bimcf.tanzania@brac.or.tz. The email should mention educational grades, years of experience, and current and expected salary. The subject line must include the position name and the preferred region. Only complete applications will be accepted, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The organization believes every stakeholder has the right to be protected from harm, abuse, and exploitation, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, disability, or ethnic origin. Therefore, the recruitment process includes extensive reference and background checks, self-disclosure of prior misconduct, and criminal records. BRAC is an equal opportunities employer.