Background

Girls First Initiative (GFI) is a locally led, women-driven organization based in Tanzania. The organization works to break the cycle of poverty by investing in the education, health, and economic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women in underserved communities.

GFI delivers its work through three programme pillars: Her Education, Her Health, and Her Economy. The organization has reached more than 30,000 girls and young women across 21 schools in five regions of Tanzania.

Position Summary

The Project Officer will be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day implementation of GFI programmes across schools and communities in Tanga Region.

The successful candidate will work closely with schools, local government representatives, community leaders, caregivers, and community volunteers to ensure that programmes are effectively implemented and reach vulnerable girls and young women.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee the daily implementation of GFI programmes across schools and communities in Tanga.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Ward Executive Officers, teachers, community leaders, and caregivers.
• Help identify and support vulnerable girls within programme communities.
• Organize and facilitate school outreach activities, life skills sessions, and menstrual health education.
• Support the distribution and tracking of scholarships, learning materials, and menstrual health tools.
• Mobilize and support caregiver groups and women-led cooperatives under the Her Economy programme.
• Support savings groups and entrepreneurship training activities.
• Maintain accurate records of beneficiaries, programme activities, and outcomes.
• Prepare regular reports for the Program Manager and M&E team.
• Identify and document success stories, case studies, field challenges, and programme lessons.
• Coordinate logistics for community events, trainings, and infrastructure activities in Tanga.
• Ensure safeguarding standards are followed when working with adolescent girls and young women.
• Represent GFI at relevant local government and community forums when required.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Education, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience implementing community-based programmes.
• Experience working on programmes involving girls, gender, education, health, or related areas will be an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of the local context, culture, and communities in Tanga Region.
• Experience working with schools, local government structures, and community leaders.
• Good record-keeping and basic reporting skills.
• Fluency in Kiswahili.
• Working knowledge of English is preferred.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Tanga districts, including rural and hard-to-reach communities.
• A strong commitment to girls’ and young women’s rights, gender equality, and safeguarding principles.

Key Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and community engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining effective coordination with the Dar es Salaam head office.
• Good organizational and planning skills.
• Reliability in managing field schedules and programme activities.
• Integrity and discretion when working with adolescent girls and their families.

• Coordinate and oversee the daily implementation of GFI programmes across schools and communities in Tanga.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Ward Executive Officers, teachers, community leaders, and caregivers.
• Help identify and support vulnerable girls within programme communities.
• Organize and facilitate school outreach activities, life skills sessions, and menstrual health education.
• Support the distribution and tracking of scholarships, learning materials, and menstrual health tools.
• Mobilize and support caregiver groups and women-led cooperatives under the Her Economy programme.
• Support savings groups and entrepreneurship training activities.
• Maintain accurate records of beneficiaries, programme activities, and outcomes.
• Prepare regular reports for the Program Manager and M&E team.
• Identify and document success stories, case studies, field challenges, and programme lessons.
• Coordinate logistics for community events, trainings, and infrastructure activities in Tanga.
• Ensure safeguarding standards are followed when working with adolescent girls and young women.
• Represent GFI at relevant local government and community forums when required.

• Strong interpersonal and community engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining effective coordination with the Dar es Salaam head office.
• Good organizational and planning skills.
• Reliability in managing field schedules and programme activities.
• Integrity and discretion when working with adolescent girls and their families.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Education, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience implementing community-based programmes.
• Experience working on programmes involving girls, gender, education, health, or related areas will be an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of the local context, culture, and communities in Tanga Region.
• Experience working with schools, local government structures, and community leaders.
• Good record-keeping and basic reporting skills.
• Fluency in Kiswahili.
• Working knowledge of English is preferred.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Tanga districts, including rural and hard-to-reach communities.
• A strong commitment to girls’ and young women’s rights, gender equality, and safeguarding principles.