In January 2026, World Vision Tanzania (WVT) announced a senior leadership vacancy for the position of Technical Program Manager – Livelihoods and Resilience. Based in the strategic hub of Arusha, this role serves as the intellectual and operational engine for WVT’s efforts to empower vulnerable communities through sustainable economic growth and climate-smart resilience.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization with a global legacy spanning 75 years. In Tanzania, the organization has become a household name, recognized for its deep-rooted presence in rural areas and its commitment to the “fullness of life” for every child. The Technical Program Manager (TPM) for Livelihoods and Resilience is tasked with ensuring that parents and caregivers have the economic means to provide for their children, thereby breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
1. Position Overview: A Strategic Leadership Role
The TPM – Livelihoods and Resilience is not a standard project management role; it is a Technical Leadership position that oversees the quality, strategy, and funding of livelihoods programming across the entire national office.
| Feature | Details |
| Organization | World Vision Tanzania (WVT) |
| Location | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Experience Required | 10+ Years in NGO Livelihoods/Resilience |
| Education | Master’s Degree Preferred (Agriculture/Economics/Dev Studies) |
| Travel | 10% Domestic and International |
2. The Core Pillars of Responsibility
The role is divided into five distinct strategic areas, each essential for the success of WVT’s mission in Tanzania.
A. Technical Leadership & Program Quality (25%)
The TPM is the “custodian” of program quality. This involves:
- Strategy Alignment: Ensuring that Tanzania’s livelihood priorities are not just local but align with World Vision’s global and regional sectoral priorities.
- Model Contextualization: World Vision uses global project models (like Savings for Transformation or Empowered World View). The TPM must adapt these tools to fit the specific linguistic, cultural, and economic context of regions like Dodoma, Shinyanga, or Arusha.
- Integration: Promoting the synergy between livelihoods and other sectors. For example, ensuring a nutrition program is supported by a “Kitchen Garden” livelihood initiative.
B. Resource Mobilization & Proposal Development (30%)
In the NGO sector, “no money means no mission.” The TPM spends nearly a third of their time ensuring the financial sustainability of the program.
- Donor Mapping: Tracking the priorities of bilateral donors (like USAID or UKAID), multilateral agencies (the UN), and private foundations.
- Grant Acquisition: Writing technical concept papers and high-quality proposals that demonstrate WVT’s unique capacity to deliver results in the livelihoods sector.
C. Capacity Development & Team Performance (20%)
The TPM acts as a mentor and coach to the field staff and partners.
- Training of Trainers (ToT): Conducting high-level training sessions for field staff so they can, in turn, train community members.
- Performance Management: Supervise Grant Managers and technical staff, ensuring they adhere to WVI’s high ethical and professional standards.
D. Learning, Evidence, & Knowledge Management (10%)
In 2026, humanitarian work is driven by data. The TPM must prove that WVT’s interventions actually work.
- Research Partnerships: Collaborating with academic institutions (such as Sokoine University of Agriculture – SUA) to conduct research on climate resilience or market systems.
- Dissemination: Writing abstracts and case studies to share WVT’s success stories at international conferences.
E. External Engagement & Advocacy (15%)
The TPM is the “face” of World Vision’s livelihoods work in Tanzania.
- Government Relations: Engaging with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to contribute to national strategies.
- Private Sector Partnerships: Building bridges with corporates to create “Value Chain” opportunities for smallholder farmers.
3. Technical Specialization: Resilience & Economic Empowerment
To be successful, the TPM must have deep technical depth in several key NGO project models used in Tanzania:
- Savings for Transformation (S4T): Promoting community-based microfinance and a culture of saving.
- Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Helping farmers adapt to the erratic weather patterns seen in East Africa by 2026.
- Market Systems Development (MSD): Moving beyond just “growing food” to helping communities understand markets, pricing, and value addition.
- GEDSI Integration: Ensuring that women, youth, and persons with disabilities are not just participants but leaders in economic activities.
4. Candidate Profile: Qualifications & Attributes
World Vision is looking for a seasoned expert. This is not an entry-level position; it requires a decade of high-level experience.
- Professional Experience: 10+ years in livelihoods. The candidate must show evidence of Resource Mobilization—meaning they have a track record of winning multi-million dollar grants.
- Academic Background: A Bachelor’s degree is required, but a Master’s Degree is highly preferred. The complexity of resilience programming in 2026 requires a high level of analytical and academic rigor.
- Faith Alignment: As a Christian organization, WVT expects the TPM to provide spiritual support to their team and observe conduct compatible with Christian principles.
- Communication: The ability to write “succinctly and clearly” is vital for proposal writing and government policy briefings.
5. The Arusha Context: A Hub for Innovation
Arusha is the headquarters for the East African Community (EAC) and a hub for international NGOs. The TPM based here has the advantage of being close to regional decision-makers and high-level technical forums.
The Arusha work environment is “office-based with frequent travel to the field.” This means the TPM must be comfortable transitioning from a high-level donor meeting in a suit to a dusty village in the Manyara region to conduct a field audit.
6. Application Process: Joining the Mission
The application process is strictly digital. Interested and qualified Tanzanian applicants are encouraged to apply through the World Vision recruitment portal.
- Prepare Documents: Ensure your CV highlights your grant acquisition record and your experience with GEDSI.
- Cover Letter: Your letter should be addressed to the “Director, People & Culture” and should clearly articulate how your experience aligns with WVT’s core values.
- Deadline: Given the posting date of late January 2026, candidates should apply immediately, as NGO roles of this caliber often close as soon as a strong talent pool is identified.
⚠️ A Critical Warning on Employment Scams: As noted by the “SSB CAREERHUB” platform, World Vision will never ask for money at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to pay for an “interview fee,” “medical check,” or “equipment,” it is a scam.
7. Summary of Expectations
| Category | Key Requirement |
| Technical Focus | Livelihoods, Resilience, Economic Empowerment |
| Grant Acquisition | Proven track record in proposal writing |
| Advocacy | Local-to-National policy influence |
| Staff Management | Managing a professional technical team |
| Spiritual Life | Commitment to Christian core values and devotions |
8. Conclusion: Transforming Vulnerable Lives
The Technical Program Manager for Livelihoods and Resilience at World Vision Tanzania is a position for a visionary leader. By 2026, the challenges of climate change and economic instability require a TPM who can think outside the box, leverage technology, and build powerful partnerships.
When a community becomes resilient, children are better fed, more likely to stay in school, and protected from the risks associated with extreme poverty. For a professional with the right mix of technical skill and humanitarian passion, there is no greater joy than “transforming vulnerable children’s life stories.”