Background

Project Zawadi is a non-profit organization working in Tanzania’s Bunda District of the Mara Region. For 25 years, Project Zawadi has partnered with students, teachers, and communities to create lasting, locally driven change.

Through its three core programs, Project Zawadi works to ensure that Tanzanian children and youth have access to quality education. These programs include:

• Student Sponsorship
• School Support, also known as Model Schools
• Teacher Training, also known as Tenda Teachers

For more information, visit: www.projectzawadi.org

Job Summary

The Fundraising and Communications Manager will focus on identifying and supporting fundraising opportunities, particularly within Tanzania, while ensuring strong and consistent communication with donors and partners.

This position combines relationship-building, content development, donor engagement, communications, and coordination across teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fundraising and Communications Manager will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support fundraising efforts in Tanzania, including identifying and cultivating relationships with donors, companies, and partners.
• Assist with donor outreach, follow-up, and engagement activities.
• Support the planning and successful execution of fundraising events, including the November event in Arusha and the Chamriho event in Bunda.
• Coordinate with field staff to gather stories and translate impact into compelling content.
• Work closely with Tanzania and U.S. teams to ensure strong and consistent donor communication.
• Develop high-quality communications and maintain records, including:
  • Donor updates
  • Newsletters
  • Social media content
  • Grants
  • Sponsorships
  • Fundraising outcomes
• Assist in developing annual fundraising targets, budgets, and communication plans.
• Coordinate with the Programme Team to conduct assessments and feasibility studies that support effective programme design and implementation.
• Prepare and submit monthly fundraising and communication updates, as well as quarterly reports, to the Country Office.
• Develop and implement institutional fundraising, communication, and partnership strategies aligned with the needs and priorities of Project Zawadi.
• Ensure fundraising, communication, and partnership strategies are integrated into Project Zawadi’s plans.
• Build fundraising and partnership capacity within the Programme Team by training staff on:
  • Donor relations
  • Funding policies
  • Reporting
  • Contract management
  • Compliance requirements

Required Qualifications and Competencies

Applicants should meet the following qualifications and competency requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or any related field.
• Relevant fields may include:
  • Sociology
  • Development Studies
  • Agriculture Economics
  • International Relations
  • Communications
  • Public Relations
  • Journalism
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in:
  • Grant writing and acquisition
  • Donor contract management
  • Partnership development
  • Networking
  • Strategic communications
• The motivation letter should clearly highlight successful proposals developed and secured.
• Strong understanding of programme design and development, especially in the following areas:
  • Education
  • Livelihoods
  • Gender and GBV
  • Child Protection
  • Related sectors
• Proven experience in communications, including:
  • Managing social media platforms
  • Developing newsletters
  • Writing success stories
  • Preparing communication materials
  • Supporting organizational visibility and branding initiatives
• Strong skills in:
  • Content creation
  • Storytelling
  • Photography coordination
  • Digital communication
  • Stakeholder engagement
• Experience in developing communication plans, media engagement, event coordination, and maintaining consistent organizational messaging across different platforms.
• Demonstrated leadership and innovation skills.
• Ability to work independently, flexibly, and effectively under strict deadlines.
• Excellent proposal writing, report writing, and communication writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and communication skills.
• Ability to represent Project Zawadi in donor forums and build partnerships with:
  • NGOs
  • Government institutions
  • Media
  • Other stakeholders
• Proven experience in building the capacity of non-funding staff on:
  • Fundraising
  • Donor compliance
  • Contract management processes
  • Communication standards
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to present facts and ideas clearly, professionally, and creatively.

Compensation

Project Zawadi offers a competitive salary based on qualifications and experience, with opportunities for growth

• Support fundraising efforts in Tanzania, including identifying and cultivating relationships with donors, companies, and partners.
• Assist with donor outreach, follow-up, and engagement activities.
• Support the planning and successful execution of fundraising events, including the November event in Arusha and the Chamriho event in Bunda.
• Coordinate with field staff to gather stories and translate impact into compelling content.
• Work closely with Tanzania and U.S. teams to ensure strong and consistent donor communication.
• Develop high-quality communications and maintain records, including: Donor updates, Newsletters, Social media content, Grants, Sponsorships, Fundraising outcomes
• Assist in developing annual fundraising targets, budgets, and communication plans.
• Coordinate with the Programme Team to conduct assessments and feasibility studies that support effective programme design and implementation.
• Prepare and submit monthly fundraising and communication updates, as well as quarterly reports, to the Country Office.
• Develop and implement institutional fundraising, communication, and partnership strategies aligned with the needs and priorities of Project Zawadi.
• Ensure fundraising, communication, and partnership strategies are integrated into Project Zawadi’s plans.
• Build fundraising and partnership capacity within the Programme Team by training staff on: Donor relations, Funding policies, Reporting, Contract management, Compliance requirements

• Grant writing and acquisition
• Donor contract management
• Partnership development
• Networking
• Strategic communications
• Managing social media platforms
• Developing newsletters
• Writing success stories
• Preparing communication materials
• Supporting organizational visibility and branding initiatives
• Content creation
• Storytelling
• Photography coordination
• Digital communication
• Stakeholder engagement
• Developing communication plans
• Media engagement
• Event coordination
• Maintaining consistent organizational messaging across different platforms
• Leadership and innovation
• Ability to work independently, flexibly, and effectively under strict deadlines
• Excellent proposal writing, report writing, and communication writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and communication skills
• Ability to represent Project Zawadi in donor forums and build partnerships
• Proven experience in building the capacity of non-funding staff on fundraising, donor compliance, contract management processes, and communication standards
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to present facts and ideas clearly, professionally, and creatively

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or any related field.
• Relevant fields may include: Sociology, Development Studies, Agriculture Economics, International Relations, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in grant writing and acquisition, donor contract management, partnership development, networking, and strategic communications.
• Strong understanding of programme design and development, especially in Education, Livelihoods, Gender and GBV, Child Protection, and related sectors.
• Proven experience in communications, including managing social media platforms, developing newsletters, writing success stories, preparing communication materials, and supporting organizational visibility and branding initiatives.
• Experience in developing communication plans, media engagement, event coordination, and maintaining consistent organizational messaging across different platforms.
• Demonstrated leadership and innovation skills.
• Ability to work independently, flexibly, and effectively under strict deadlines.
• Excellent proposal writing, report writing, and communication writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and communication skills.
• Ability to represent Project Zawadi in donor forums and build partnerships with NGOs, Government institutions, Media, and other stakeholders.
• Proven experience in building the capacity of non-funding staff on fundraising, donor compliance, contract management processes, and communication standards.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to present facts and ideas clearly, professionally, and creatively.