Project Coordinator

Project Title

• Connected Care – Innovative Community-Based Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Ecosystem for CYWD in Oromiya and Sidama Regions

Project Number

• CC-ETH-2026-002

Donor / Partner

• Liliane Fonds (LF)

Project Duration

• 3 years (2026–2028)

Duty Stations

• Addis Ababa (head office) and field bases in Bishoftu and Ambo (Oromiya) and Hawassa (Sidama), covering 20 target woredas

Vacancy Type

• Internal/External — open to current Cheshire Ethiopia staff and external applicants

Application Deadline

• 10 working days from the date of this announcement

Job Title

• Project Coordinator

Job Grade

• As per Cheshire Ethiopia organizational salary scale (Project Coordinator Grade)

Number of Positions

• One (1)

Contract Duration

• One (1) year, renewable subject to performance and availability of funds

Location

• Addis Ababa, with frequent travel to Oromiya and Sidama project woredas

Reports To

• Program Director

Organizational Background

Cheshire Ethiopia (Registration No. 0505) is a leading national non-governmental organization committed to disability rehabilitation and inclusive health services since 1962. With over six decades of experience in community-based rehabilitation (CBR), Cheshire Ethiopia’s mission is to ensure the rights and full participation of persons with disabilities. The organization operates from established centers in Addis Ababa, Menagesha, Hawassa, and Dire Dawa, with an annual production capacity of over 1,200 wheelchairs, prosthetics, and mobility aids, and a network of 500+ trained community health workers across Oromiya and Sidama regions.

Cheshire Ethiopia, in partnership with Liliane Fonds, is implementing “Connected Care”, a three-year (2026–2028) initiative to establish Ethiopia’s first hybrid high-tech/low-cost assistive technology (AT) ecosystem. The project integrates Mobile Rehabilitation Units (MRUs), community-managed AT production labs, a tele-rehabilitation platform, and the “Ekul” community solidarity financing model to close critical rehabilitation service gaps for 3,000 Children and Youth with Disabilities (CYWD) across 20 woredas of Oromiya (13 woredas) and Sidama (7 woredas).

To deliver this ambitious model, Cheshire Ethiopia is recruiting a project team of ten (10) staff across four position types, based at the project coordination office in Addis Ababa and at MRU field bases in Bishoftu, Ambo, and Hawassa. This vacancy is open to both internal candidates (current Cheshire Ethiopia staff) and external applicants.

Position Purpose

The Project Coordinator will serve as the primary operational focal person for the “Connected Care” project, holding overall responsibility for planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of all project activities across Oromiya and Sidama regions.

The position requires a dynamic professional with strong project management competencies, a sound understanding of community-based rehabilitation and assistive technology programming, and genuine commitment to disability-inclusive development. The Project Coordinator will supervise the MRU Field Team Leads, Community Mobilizers, and Finance Officer, and will work with Regional Health Bureaus, Education Bureaus, and community partners to ensure timely, quality, and inclusive delivery of project results.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

•       Lead the development and regular updating of annual work plans, activity schedules, and procurement plans in line with the project proposal and Liliane Fonds requirements.

•       Coordinate and oversee the deployment and operation of the three Mobile Rehabilitation Units (MRUs) across Oromiya (13 woredas) and Sidama (7 woredas), including monthly service cycles and the 48-hour emergency response protocol.

•       Oversee the establishment and operation of the three Community AT Laboratories in Bishoftu, Ambo, and Hawassa, including apprenticeship progression (Apprentice, Craftsperson, Master levels) for CYWD employees.

•       Supervise the rollout of the integrated tele-rehabilitation and digital client management platform, ensuring quality assurance and consistent use across MRU teams.

•       Coordinate implementation of the “Ekul” solidarity financing framework, including coffee ceremony donations, Equb integration, and patron sponsorship mechanisms, toward the project’s local cost-recovery targets.

•       Serve as the principal point of contact for the project.

•       Organize and coordinate CBR certification training (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced levels) and stakeholder inclusion training for teachers, health workers, and traditional/religious leaders.

•       Directly supervise the three MRU Field Team Leads, three Community Mobilizers, and the Finance Officer; provide technical guidance and performance management.

•       Implement the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework, including tracking of key indicators (CYWD served, AT abandonment rate, local financing percentage, CBR retention, and community satisfaction) via the Kobo/Power BI dashboard.

•       Prepare high-quality monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project progress reports for internal use and for submission to Liliane Fonds.

•       Support preparation of annual budgets and participate in budget revisions in coordination with the Finance Officer; monitor expenditure against approved budget lines and flag variances promptly.

•       Ensure full compliance with legal, regulatory, organizational, and donor requirements; identify and escalate project risks and document mitigation actions.

•       Uphold and promote Cheshire Ethiopia’s safeguarding, child protection, and do-no-harm policies across all MRU, AT lab, and community outreach activities.

•       Coordinate the project kick-off workshop, quarterly learning circle meetings, annual disability inclusion festival, and mid-term and final evaluations.

•       Maintain systematic documentation of project activities, beneficiary data, lessons learned, and success stories for organizational learning and donor communication.

Working Conditions

The Project Coordinator and Finance Officer are based at Cheshire Ethiopia’s project coordination office in Addis Ababa, with regular field travel to project woredas. MRU Field Team Leads, AT Maintenance Specialists & Drivers, and Community Mobilizers are based at the MRU field bases in Bishoftu, Ambo, and Hawassa, with frequent travel by motorized tricycle to remote and rural communities across Oromiya and Sidama regional states. All post holders must be prepared to work under varying field conditions, including travel to hard-to-reach villages.

Salary and benefits for all positions are set according to Cheshire Ethiopia’s organizational salary scale for the relevant grade. The initial contract duration for all positions is one (1) year, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, project needs, and availability of funds as outlined in the Connected Care project budget.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cheshire Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or disability status. Women, persons with disabilities, and qualified candidates from Oromiya and Sidama regions are strongly encouraged to apply. Cheshire Ethiopia is committed to a workplace free from discrimination and dedicated to the principles of inclusion and diversity.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

•       Master’s Degree in Public Health, Development Studies, Rehabilitation Sciences, Project Management, or a related field — minimum 5 years of relevant experience.

•       OR Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Rehabilitation/Disability Studies, Social Work, or a related discipline — minimum 7 years of relevant experience.

•       Additional qualifications in disability-inclusive development, assistive technology, or project management are an added advantage.

Experience

•       Proven experience coordinating or managing multi-site health, rehabilitation, or development projects at project coordinator/manager level in an NGO setting.

•       Demonstrated experience with community-based rehabilitation (CBR), assistive technology programming, or disability-inclusive development; mobile/outreach service delivery experience is a strong advantage.

•       Experience managing multi-regional project implementation and working with government health and education structures (regional bureaus, woredas, health facilities).

•       Familiarity with international donor project management, financial oversight, and reporting requirements (experience with Liliane Fonds or similar donors is an asset).

Skills and Attributes

•       Strong project planning, coordination, and team supervision skills across geographically dispersed field teams.

•       Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation, including indicator tracking, dashboard-based reporting (e.g., Kobo, Power BI), and results-based reporting.

•       Solid financial literacy and budget management ability.

•       Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic; knowledge of Afaan Oromo and/or Sidaamu Afoo is an advantage.

•       Deep commitment to disability inclusion, gender equity, and the rights of marginalized populations.

•       Willingness and ability to travel frequently to remote and underserved woredas across Oromiya and Sidama.