Senior Advisor, Government Liaison - Malawi

⚠️ Recruitment Fraud Alert:
TaRL Africa does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Be aware of fraudulent messages offering job opportunities in exchange for money or “codes.” All official communication will come from @tarlafrica.org email addresses. If in doubt, contact us at recruitment@tarlafrica.org.

About TaRL Africa

Position:  Senior Advisor, Government Liaison - Malawi  

Reports to: Director, Programs 

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Deadline: 2nd October 2025

About TaRL Africa: 

TaRL Africa initiative is hosted by Empower Learning Africa, a not-for-profit organisation registered and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with teams in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Zambia, and locally registered offices in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. TaRL Africa began as a joint venture by Pratham and J-PAL in 2019, with the goal of supporting governments and organisations across Africa to accelerate children’s foundational skill learning using the evidence-based “Teaching at the Right Level” (TaRL) approach. TaRL Africa's vision is for every child across Africa to have foundational skills so that they can have a better future. Our mission is to ensure education systems effectively equip children with these foundational skills. 

We support governments and organisations in over 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to design, deliver, and scale impactful TaRL programmes while learning and sharing how the approach can be improved for different contexts. Since our inception, we have reached 7 million children in collaboration with partners.

Summary of the Role: 

TaRL Africa is seeking to recruit a Senior Advisor, Government Liaison to support a government-led initiative on TaRL-informed remediation. This responds to the Ministry’s demand for a catch-up program and builds on a co-creation process led by the Ministry together with partners. The initiative aims to adapt and test the TaRL approach integration into remediation within the Malawian foundational education system, laying the foundation for possible scale-up.

The Senior Advisor will play a critical role in managing and cultivating relationships with government officials, agencies, and stakeholders to ensure strong ownership of the pilot and alignment with the Ministry’s foundational learning priorities. The ideal candidate will bring a deep understanding of Malawi’s Ministry of Education structures, policy development processes, and political landscape, as well as strong relationship-building and communication skills.

The position is the primary representative of TaRL Arica in Malawi, supporting with setting-up initial systems and structures required for the team. It requires a self-driven and adaptive leader who can work effectively while guiding teams in a collaborative environment. The role will also involve co-managing selected in-country team members through dotted-line reporting, ensuring alignment of priorities, fostering teamwork, and driving accountability to deliver on the pilot’s objectives.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Policy Engagement

• Develop and implement strategies to engage government stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels.
• Advocate for policies and reforms that enable the institutionalization of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) within Malawi’s education system.
• Monitor and analyze education policies, strategies, and legislation that may affect foundational learning.
  

2. Relationship Management and Representation

• Build and sustain strong relationships with ministries, departments, and key government officials, as well as donors and civil society partners.
• Act as TaRL Africa’s primary point of contact in Malawi, representing the organization in government forums, donor platforms, policy dialogues, and media engagements where relevant.
• Communicate TaRL Africa’s progress and priorities clearly and persuasively through briefings, policy papers, and presentations.
  

3. Strategic Government Affairs Leadership

• Provide strategic guidance to TaRL Africa’s senior leadership on government relations, advocacy opportunities, and risks in Malawi.
• Contribute to long-term planning and decision-making, ensuring country-level realities and government priorities inform TaRL Africa’s strategy.
• Stay abreast of political and policy developments; proactively assess potential risks and opportunities for TaRL.
  

4. Country Leadership and Coordination

• Lead TaRL Africa’s in-country operations in Malawi, ensuring strong systems and structures are in place to support delivery.
• Coordinate TaRL Africa staff and activities in-country, ensuring alignment with regional and global teams.
• Support financial and operational management for Malawi, in collaboration with central operations teams.
• Ensure compliance with local laws, regulations, and ethical standards for in-country engagement.
  

5. Risk Management and Problem-Solving

• Anticipate and navigate challenges related to government engagement, such as policy shifts, bureaucratic hurdles, or political changes.
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks and safeguard TaRL Africa’s relationships and programs.
• Act as a trusted problem-solver for both government and partner stakeholders.

Qualifications and experience:

• Masters degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field .
• Minimum of 7  years in government relations, public affairs, or a related field, with experience working with government institutions and policymakers at local, regional, or national levels.

• Skills: 
  • Strong knowledge of government structures, policy-making processes, and political dynamics.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, and policy briefs, and deliver presentations.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with government stakeholders.
  • Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
  • Experience in leadership and team management
• Personal Attributes:
  
  • Passionate about children’s learning and education
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Knowledge of the Malawi education sector 
  • Proactive and results-driven.
  • Diplomatic with a high level of integrity.
  • Ability to influence and persuade in complex, sensitive situations.
  • Strong networking and interpersonal skills.
  • Knowledge of the organization’s sector or mission area is a plus.

TaRL Africa Values 

1. We put children’s learning first.
2. We are always learning, improving, and innovating. 
3. We are locally rooted for high-quality delivery and sustainable impact. 
4. We are kind, respectful, and collaborative.
5. We are proactive, committed to integrity, and doing our best each day.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff.  Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.