Vacancy title:
Project Coordinator

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Public Administration, and Government, Category: Business Operations, Social Services & Nonprofit, Civil & Government, Management]

Jobs at:
Southern African Development Community

Deadline of this Job:
Saturday, July 4 2026

Duty Station:
Gaborone, Botswana | Lusaka

Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, June 16 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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JOB DETAILS:

Women in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region continue to face significant structural barriers to meaningful economic participation, particularly in accessing financial services. These constraints limit their ability to start, sustain, and expand enterprises, integrate into regional and global value chains, and compete effectively in both formal and informal markets.

Despite ongoing policy interventions, persistent challenges remain, including limited access to affordable finance, low levels of financial literacy, inadequate business development support, and restricted market entry opportunities. These barriers continue to impede inclusive economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development across Member States.

The Enhancing Women Entrepreneurship Development (EWED) Project is designed to address these challenges by aligning with key regional frameworks, including: The SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020–2030), which prioritises inclusive economic growth and regional integration; the SADC Regional Multi-Dimensional Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme (2020–2030), which promotes women’s access to productive resources and economic opportunities; and the SADC Strategy on Financial Inclusion and SMEs Access to Finance (2023–2028), which emphasizes expanding financial inclusion, strengthening SME ecosystems, and improving access to finance.

The project will contribute to strengthening financial inclusion, entrepreneurship development, and trade facilitation for women and young women entrepreneurs, while promoting gender-responsive economic systems and policies. The project will be implemented in four (4) SADC Countries, that is Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho, as per the following objectives:

Overall Objective of the EWED Project:

• Increase access to trade and entrepreneurship development opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the SADC region.

Specific Objectives of the EWED Project:

1. Improved access to credit, grants and investment opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
2. Equip women entrepreneurs with skills in business management, digital trade and product development.
3. Improved access to regional and international markets through networking and trade fairs.

2. Scope of work and specific tasks for the Project Coordinator

The overall role of the Project Coordinator is to facilitate, coordinate, and monitor the effective implementation and timely delivery of the SADC Project on Enhancing Women Entrepreneurship Development. 

The Specific Tasks of the Project Coordinator

• Prepare an implementation plan for the Project, including delivery timelines.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and consultations in the target countries to introduce the Project.
• Undertake baseline and needs assessment on financial access, business capacity, skills gap and market participation and conduct related validation workshops on the findings and recommendations. Facilitate the design and implementation of country-specific training workshops and capacity-building sessions on financial literacy and business management.
• Conduct workshops and consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders to facilitate access to microfinance, business loans, grants and business support services for women’s businesses.
• Facilitate implementation of consultative and capacity building initiatives to advocate for gender-responsive trade reforms and policy reforms on women’s financial inclusion. Deliver training in e-commerce, digital trade and online marketing for women entrepreneurs.
• Support product development and value addition, branding, and enterprise growth capacity development initiatives for women-led businesses.
• Facilitate implementation of mentorship and coaching programs for women entrepreneurs in the target countries.
• Organize networking events and facilitate women entrepreneurs’ participation in regional and international trade fairs.
• Facilitate project monitoring, evaluation, reporting and related procurements

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

Education: 

• At least a Master’s degree in Economics, Business Development Studies, Development Studies, Business Administration, or related field from a recognised institution. 
• Experience: 
• At least 10 years of experience working on gender equality programmes related to entrepreneurship development, trade, and women’s economic empowerment and development;
• Proven experience in designing and facilitating economic empowerment training programmes, particularly for women, youth, and vulnerable groups (including persons with disabilities);
• Demonstrated experience working with governments, private sector, and regional or international organisations or bodies;
• Strong understanding of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and gender-based violence (GBV) dynamics and experience in the SADC region is highly desirable.

Competencies: 

• Knowledge of mainstreaming gender into trade policies or programmes;
• Knowledge of gender-responsive budgeting, sustainable finance, and financial literacy;
• Strong facilitation, capacity-building, and stakeholder engagement skills;
• Excellent analytical, presentation and report writing skills;
• Ability to work independently, under pressure and deliver results within stipulated timelines.
• Understanding of SADC regional economic and industrialization strategies and policies.
• Proficient in the English Language.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: bachelor degree

Job application procedure

Applicants are advised to apply online by attaching Motivation Letter, CV’s, certified copies of educational, professional certificates and references. Applications with inadequate supporting documents will not be considered.

Only applicants who meet the requirements of the SADC Secretariat will be considered for interview. Should you not hear from the SADC Secretariat within two months after the closing date, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.

Closing Date: Applications must be submitted not later than or on the 04 July 2026.

Applications received through any other sources will not be considered

Interested and qualified? Click here to apply

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