Head of Programmes

Are you aiming to work for an organization where it is worthwhile investing your personality, your skills and your time? Are you looking for a job that is exciting and has clear goals? Welcome to Welthungerhilfe!

We are one of the largest and most respected private organizations for development cooperation and humanitarian aid in Germany. As a politically and confessionally independent organization, our value-oriented actions are always based on ethical principles. Our vision is clear: "Zero Hunger by 2030" - If you want to become part of our global community to end hunger around the world, we look forward to receiving your application as:

Head of Programmes*

in Bamako

The position is to start by February 2027. There are very good prospects for an extension. Employment location will be Bamako, Niger. The position is paid according to Salary Group 8.

Under the supervision of the Country Director the Head of Programmes supports the development of the multiannual country programme and contributes to its implementation and monitoring in order to maximise the WHH impact on the basis of Welthungerhilfe strategy and the relevant concept papers and according to WHH quality standards.

The Head of Programmes represents Welthungerhilfe in the country in agreement with the Country Director.

Your responsibilities

Within the Mali country programme, the Head of Programmes acts as a strategic thought partner to the Country Director, working closely with the Head of Operations to shape the programme’s direction, partnerships and future opportunities. The role combines programme development and resource mobilisation with accountability for technical coherence, programme quality and portfolio oversight.
The position offers scope to originate ideas, develop relationships and help build a country programme that can adapt to changing needs, access and funding. Commitment to humanitarian purpose, professional competence and the ability to build trust are central to this mandate.

Specific responsibilities include:

1. Shape the country programme’s direction. Work with the Country Director to identify where WHH can make a meaningful contribution, drawing on community priorities, partner knowledge, programme evidence and developments in the operating context. Bring informed judgement, constructive challenge and practical options to strategic discussions.
2. Turn ideas into credible opportunities. Lead the development of a prioritised funding pipeline, from identifying opportunities and cultivating relationships through to programme design and proposal development. Assess opportunities against strategic relevance, delivery capacity, access, quality and financial sustainability. Recommend which opportunities to pursue, reshape or decline.
3. Build relationships that support programme development. Develop sustained engagement with donors, institutional partners and potential consortium members. Communicate clearly what WHH and its partners can contribute, using evidence and a realistic understanding of capacity. Translate promising conversations into concrete collaboration, programme concepts and funding opportunities.
4. Develop substantive partnerships with national and local organisations. Identify complementary expertise, relationships and capacities, and involve partners in defining programme priorities and approaches. Establish clear expectations for decision making, resources, accountability and mutual learning. Ensure that partners’ knowledge and perspectives influence programme choices.
5. Protect programme quality and promote learning. Remain accountable for technical coherence, appropriate implementation approaches and the use of MEAL findings and community feedback. Maintain distinct responsibilities for delivery management, technical advice and quality monitoring. Ensure that concerns are surfaced, examined and acted upon, and that learning informs both current implementation and future proposals.
6. Develop and deploy shared technical capacity. Lead the progressive development of a national pool of technical specialists and MEAL capacity serving the country portfolio. Allocate support according to programme needs, complexity, urgency and team capacity, with field presence and mobility planned accordingly. Draw on expertise available elsewhere in WHH where appropriate, and recommend dedicated country capacity when sustained demand and resources justify it.
7. Connect programme ambitions with operational and financial feasibility. Work with the Head of Operations and Head of Finance to ensure that programme design and budgets reflect realistic delivery requirements, technical support and shared costs. Support coherent resource planning across projects and timely adaptation as the portfolio grows or contracts.
8. Build trust and strengthen national leadership. Develop colleagues through clear expectations, coaching, constructive feedback and meaningful delegation. Recognise expertise and contextual knowledge, encourage initiative and create space for disagreement and early reporting of difficulties. Model accountability by explaining decisions, acknowledging uncertainty and following through on commitments.

Successful delivery requires intellectual curiosity, initiative, sound programme judgement and the ability to turn analysis into action. The Head of Programmes should be comfortable developing opportunities in uncertain conditions, testing assumptions and adapting approaches as evidence changes. They should combine persuasive communication with careful listening, ambition with realism, and personal accountability with the ability to enable others.

An understanding of local relationships and ways of working should inform how the role builds cooperation and achieves results, while upholding WHH’s values, quality standards and organisational responsibilities.

Your profile

• A university or college degree in a relevant field
• Relevant regional experience in the Sahel region
• Systems and Programme thinking approach
• Donor experience with ECHO, BMZ, GFFO, and ideally KfW
• Very good proposal and report writing skills
• Strong communication and writing skills in French and English

Our offer

We offer you the opportunity to work in a responsible and interesting field as part of an extremely dedicated team. Welthungerhilfe attaches great importance to the personal and professional development of its employees and the balance of their work and private life. Remuneration is based on our gender-independent salary scale. In addition, Welthungerhilfe offers numerous other benefits, which are listed under "Our benefits".

Please send your application via our online recruiting system by October 31, 2026. Welthungerhilfe is committed to fighting terrorism in all its activities. Accordingly, any applicant who is offered employment will be screened against lists of known and suspected terrorists.

*Welthungerhilfe values diversity and ensures an inclusive, non-discriminatory working environment. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community.

Our Benefits

Find out what benefits Welthungerhilfe offers for employees.

Our Projects

We fight against hunger and poverty by implementing projects in numerous countries.

Our Strategy

"Zero Hunger by 2030"
Our strategy guides us in our work.

Transparency and Quality

Welthungerhilfe, its employees, as well as its partners commit to transparency and quality.

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