Project Manager - Strengthening the Capacity of CSOs Project

Experience Needed :   At least 7 years of progressive experience in managing development projects

Education Level:          Bachelor’s degree in development studies, public administration, management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).

Contract LENGTH :      3 years 

Location :                    Cairo - Maadi

About Life Makers Foundation

Life Makers Foundation (LMF) is an Egyptian youth-led, voluntary, and non-governmental umbrella organization. It was established in 2011 to foster youth engagement in addressing emerging challenges at the local and global levels. Since its establishment, LMF has worked closely with community-based organizations to build youth capacities and support their efforts to develop their societies and respond to humanitarian needs and disasters. LMF operates in 24 governorates through a nonformal network of partner youth-led organizations and registered offices across Egypt, with a broad portfolio of projects and local initiatives in the sectors of Health, Education, Livelihoods, Humanitarian Assistance, Environment, and Youth Participation.

LMF adopts the core principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence in its operations to ensure the provision of assistance with no discrimination towards differences in ethnicity, religion, race, or any other consideration. LMF provides development and humanitarian interventions for the most vulnerable while preserving their dignity and ensuring their participation.

Life Makers is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-religious, non-political, and non-partisan movement that was launched in 2003 to mobilize the best of the human spirit to alleviate human suffering and protect human life and human rights.

About the Project 

This project aims to strengthen the role of local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Beni Suef, Fayoum, Luxor, Aswan, Sohag, Qena, and North and South Sinai, enabling them to engage in sustainable development actively. The project provides sub-grants and tailored capacity-building support to at least 30 local CSOs. Through training, coaching, and institutional development, CSOs will be empowered to improve their services and community impact. The project also promotes structured coordination between CSOs and local authorities. Key thematic areas include economic empowerment, civic participation, women and youth empowerment, inclusion of persons with disabilities, digitalization, and sustainable development.

Job Purpose  

The Project Manager will lead an EU-funded initiative that supports local civil society organizations (CSOs) in Upper Egypt and the Sinai through sub-grants and capacity-building interventions. S/he has overall responsibility for all aspects of project implementation, ensuring the project achieves its objectives of strengthening the capacity of at least 30 local CSOs for active local governance and sustainable development. This role requires strong coordination with stakeholders and adherence to donor (EU) requirements to deliver the project’s two main components: a sub-granting program and a CSO capacity building program.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and management of the project, ensuring that all activities (including the sub-granting program and capacity building component) are planned and executed in line with the project’s objectives and timeline.
• Supervise the project team (Project Senior Officer, Project Officers, Field Coordinators, M&E Officer, Finance/Accountant, Procurement Officer) and coordinate their efforts to maintain high performance and integration across project components.
• Oversee the design and implementation of the sub-granting mechanism, including approving guidelines and selection criteria, and supervising the award of approximately 30 sub-grants to local CSOs via three annual calls for proposals. Ensure that the sub-grant selection and award processes are transparent and accountable.
• Guide the project’s capacity building strategy, overseeing the delivery of training, mentoring, and consultative activities that strengthen partner CSOs’ organizational capacities. This includes promoting close consultation and coordination between CSO beneficiaries and local authorities as a core approach to improve local governance.
• Establish and maintain effective coordination with key stakeholders, including local government authorities, community leaders, and partner organizations, to secure support for project activities and alignment with local development priorities.
• Monitor project progress and quality of outputs, working closely with the M&E Officer to track performance indicators and outcomes. Utilize monitoring data to inform decision-making and adapt project plans as needed to achieve results.
• Manage project finances and resources in line with EU donor regulations, with support from the Project Accountant. This includes budget oversight, ensuring the eligible use of funds, and compliance with financial reporting requirements.
• Ensure that all procurement of goods and services for the project follows EU guidelines (in coordination with the Procurement Officer) and that visibility and communication activities comply with EU requirements.
• Lead the preparation of high-quality project reports (narrative and financial) for the donor and organizational management. Represent the project in meetings with the EU, government counterparts, and other stakeholders, effectively communicating progress, challenges, and achievements.

Core Competencies and Skills

Achievement focused:

• Follow Results-based management (RBM) in achieving planned goals and objectives.

Working Smart:

• Achieve more in less time.
• Balances between work life and personal life to ensure the sustainability of high-quality performance.
• Able to contribute and create a participatory, enjoyable, fulfilling, and rewarding work environment.

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable to making decisions and managing resources efficiently.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for himself/herself (and the team), takes responsibility for self-development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their vision, engages, and motivates others to contribute to the bigger vision of LMF.
• Future orientated and thinks strategically.
• Thinks globally and acts locally.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with project team, colleagues and external partners.
• Values diversity as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener and easy to communicate with.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest and encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, public administration, management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in managing development projects, including significant experience with donor-funded programs (EU-funded project management experience is highly desirable).
• Demonstrated expertise in project cycle management, including strategic planning, workplan development, budgeting, and staff supervision.
• Experience with grant management or Financial Support to Third Parties (sub-granting schemes for CSOs) and familiarity with capacity building initiatives for civil society.
• Strong understanding of working with civil society and local government structures in Egypt; experience in Upper Egypt and/or Sinai is an asset.
• Knowledge of EU donor rules and compliance requirements, including financial management, procurement procedures, and reporting obligations.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to mentor staff and coordinate a multi-disciplinary project team across different locations.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise and build relationships with donors, government officials, community stakeholders, and partner CSOs.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, including capacity to handle operational challenges in field-based contexts.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and proficiency in Arabic (spoken and written) are required.