Mercy Corps Project Manager, Senegal Job 2026 | Clean Cooking Programme
Mercy Corps is recruiting a Project Manager, Sénégal (National Only) to lead the implementation of a major clean cooking programme in Dakar, Senegal. The position offers an opportunity for an experienced programme manager to lead a donor-funded initiative focused on clean cooking, market systems development, enterprise development, access to finance, gender inclusion and sustainable energy access.
The position is full-time, with an estimated duration of up to two years, contingent on funding. It is open specifically to Senegalese nationals and individuals with an independent right to work in Senegal.
Mercy Corps Project Manager Job 2026 – Overview
| Job Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Mercy Corps |
| Position | Project Manager, Sénégal |
| Location | Dakar, Senegal |
| Employment Type | Full-time |
| Duration | Up to 2 years, contingent on funding |
| Eligibility | Senegal nationals and residents with independent right to work in Senegal |
| Languages | French and English |
| Travel | Up to 40% |
| Education | Master’s degree |
| Experience | Minimum 8 years |
| Programme | Regional Clean Cooking Action West Africa (ReCCAWA) |
| Sector | Clean Cooking / Energy / Development |
| Application | Online |
About the Mercy Corps Programme
Mercy Corps is implementing Togg Gu Sell, the Senegal country component of the Regional Clean Cooking Action West Africa (ReCCAWA) Programme.
Funded by the Government of the Netherlands through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), ReCCAWA is being implemented from 2025 to 2028.
The programme seeks to accelerate access to clean, affordable and sustainable cooking solutions by strengthening Senegal’s clean cooking ecosystem.
Its work includes improving governance, coordination and standards, strengthening clean cooking enterprises, expanding access to finance, stimulating consumer demand, promoting women’s economic empowerment and inclusion, and strengthening market intelligence systems.
Mercy Corps is implementing the project in consortium with SEM FUND and works with government institutions, financial institutions, private-sector companies, women’s organisations, local authorities and regional partners.
What Will the Project Manager Do?
The Project Manager will provide overall strategic leadership, operational management and technical oversight for the ReCCAWA programme in Senegal.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that programme activities are delivered on time, within budget and in compliance with Mercy Corps policies and donor requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership and Planning
The Project Manager will translate programme objectives into annual work plans, implementation strategies and measurable results.
The role will also ensure coordination across the programme’s major components, including:
- Enabling environment
- Supply strengthening
- Access to finance
- Demand creation
- Gender and social inclusion
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management
A major part of the role is championing a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach to support sustainable and inclusive private-sector-led market transformation.
The Project Manager will also integrate gender equality, social inclusion, climate resilience, digitalisation and environmental sustainability across programme implementation.
Programme Implementation and Coordination
The Project Manager will oversee implementation to ensure that the programme remains on scope, on budget and on schedule.
Responsibilities include developing work plans, implementation schedules and activity trackers, coordinating field missions and stakeholder consultations, and monitoring progress against the project logframe and key performance indicators.
The position will also coordinate closely with Finance, Operations, Procurement, HR and MEAL teams.
The successful candidate will need to identify implementation challenges and ensure that corrective actions are taken promptly.
Stakeholder and Partnership Management
This is a highly collaborative position involving government, private-sector, financial and development stakeholders.
The Project Manager will serve as the primary focal point for coordination with consortium partner SEM FUND and maintain relationships with stakeholders including the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, CERER, SENACCA, financial institutions, clean cooking enterprises, women’s organisations and local authorities.
The role will also involve coordination with ReCCAWA regional partners and RVO, as well as representing Mercy Corps at national and regional forums.
Technical Responsibilities
The Project Manager will provide technical oversight across several areas of the clean cooking market.
Enabling Environment
Responsibilities include supporting the National Clean Cooking Task Force, strengthening the Senegal National Clean Cooking Association (SENACCA), and coordinating stakeholder engagement around clean cooking standards, testing and quality assurance.
The role will also facilitate public-private dialogue to strengthen policy implementation and sector coordination.
Enterprise Development
The Project Manager will oversee business development support for clean cooking enterprises.
This includes enterprise diagnostics, business improvement plans, coaching, mentoring and technical assistance.
The position will also support enterprises to expand market access, improve competitiveness and strengthen investment readiness.
Access to Finance
The role will involve building relationships with commercial banks, microfinance institutions, investors and other financial actors.
The Project Manager will support clean cooking enterprises to become investment-ready and promote access to carbon finance and innovative financing mechanisms.
Demand Creation and Women’s Economic Empowerment
The Project Manager will oversee gender-responsive behaviour change and consumer awareness campaigns.
The role will also support women-led distribution networks and promote women’s participation as entrepreneurs, sales agents and community champions.
Digital communication and marketing tools will be used to strengthen consumer engagement and behaviour change.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
The Project Manager will oversee the programme’s MEAL framework, ensuring that data is collected, analysed and used effectively.
The role includes monitoring performance against the project logframe, work plan and KPIs, maintaining data quality, supporting programme learning and ensuring beneficiary accountability and feedback mechanisms.
Evidence and learning will be important for adaptive programme management.
Financial and Risk Management
The Project Manager will monitor project budgets, expenditure, forecasts and burn rates on a monthly basis.
They will also identify and mitigate programme, financial, operational and partnership risks while ensuring compliance with internal controls and donor requirements.
The position requires maintaining and updating the project risk register and issue log throughout the project lifecycle.
Team Leadership
The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary project team and provide coaching, mentoring and performance management.
The Project Manager will directly supervise:
- Clean Cooking Market Systems Lead
- Gender, Social Inclusion and Behaviour Change Lead
- MEAL Manager
- Technical consultants
The position therefore requires strong people-management and leadership skills.
Mercy Corps Project Manager Job Requirements
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Energy, Environmental Sciences, Economics, International Development, Business Administration, Project Management or a related field.
Candidates should also have at least eight years of progressively responsible experience managing complex, donor-funded development programmes.
Experience in areas such as the following is particularly relevant:
- Clean cooking
- Renewable energy
- Climate resilience
- Energy access
- Market Systems Development
- Enterprise development
- Value-chain strengthening
- Access to finance
Candidates should also demonstrate experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships involving government, private-sector organisations, financial institutions, development partners and civil society.
Experience managing consortium projects, multidisciplinary teams, consultants and implementing partners is required.
Strong programme and financial management skills are also important, including budgeting, donor compliance, risk management and results-based management.
Applicants should have excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation, communication and representation skills.
Language Requirements
Fluency in French and proficiency in English are required.
Knowledge of local languages is considered an asset.
Who Can Apply?
This vacancy is specifically marked National Only.
Mercy Corps states that the position is open to:
- Nationals of Senegal; and
- Residents with an independent right to work in Senegal.
Applicants should therefore confirm their eligibility to work independently in Senegal before applying.
Location and Travel
The position is based in Dakar, Senegal.
The role requires up to 40% travel to support field-level programme implementation. Some travel may involve insecure locations or areas where amenities and freedom of movement are limited.
How to Apply for the Mercy Corps Project Manager Job
Interested and eligible applicants should submit their application through the official Mercy Corps recruitment system.
Position: Project Manager, Sénégal (National Only)
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Employment: Full-time
Duration: Up to two years, contingent on funding
Application: Apply through the official recruitment link below.
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Applicants should carefully review the vacancy requirements and ensure that their CV demonstrates relevant programme management, stakeholder engagement, financial management and clean-energy or market-systems experience.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The Mercy Corps Project Manager role offers an opportunity to contribute to a programme addressing one of West Africa’s important development challenges: expanding access to clean, affordable and sustainable cooking solutions.
Beyond programme management, the position combines energy access, private-sector development, finance, gender inclusion, market systems development and public-private collaboration.
For an experienced development professional with the required French and English language skills and the right to work in Senegal, this could be a significant leadership opportunity in the clean cooking and sustainable development sector.
Important Note for Applicants
This is a national-only position, and the vacancy requires applicants to have the right to work independently in Senegal. Candidates should also note the requirement for French and English, a Master’s degree and at least eight years of relevant programme management experience.
