Helvetas is an organization specialized in development cooperation and humanitarian response, anchored in Switzerland, and operating in over 35 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Our vision is a just world in which all people determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner
For our local economic development LED-project in Georgia we are we are seeking a motivated and empathetic professional to join our team beginning of February 2026 or Upon agreement.
Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation is implementing the Local Economic Development (LED) Project in Georgia (Phase I, 2023–2026), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project seeks to improve living conditions and expand opportunities for all citizens, while reducing regional disparities in development. This is pursued through a systemic and facilitative approach that strengthens the capacities of relevant actors, fosters dialogue among stakeholders, and stimulates private sector engagement and participatory decision-making in local economic development. The project applies both Market Systems Development (MSD) and Local Economic Development (LED) approaches to support private sector growth in selected sectors.
Phase I runs from December 2023 to November 2026. Phase II is expected from December 2026 to November 2030, followed by an Exit Phase from December 2030 to November 2034.
YOUR MAIN TASKS
As Team Leader, you will provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Local Economic Development Project in Georgia. You will ensure high-quality project implementation through effective planning, coordination, and supervision, including sound administrative and financial management and compliance with donor and organizational requirements. A key part of your role will be to guide and support the project team in applying systemic and facilitative approaches, building their capacities through continuous coaching, and fostering effective engagement with partners and key market actors.
You will oversee the development and use of the monitoring and results measurement (MRM) system in line with DCED standards, ensuring that interventions are well designed and generate evidence for learning, accountability, and adaptive management. In addition, you will strengthen knowledge management within the project and promote synergies with other SDC-supported initiatives, as well as with programmes funded by other donors in private sector and vocational skills development.
Beyond project management, you will represent the project externally, building and maintaining partnerships with government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders. You will ensure that interventions are designed and implemented in accordance with the principles of inclusion, sustainability, while fostering the Market Systems Development (MSD) and Local Economic Development (LED) focus of the programme.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum bachelor’s degree in a relevant topic (e.g. social sciences, economics, development studies) or other advanced education. Professional certification in project management and/or related areas preferred.
At least 10 years’ experience in development cooperation or humanitarian response, including 5+ years of related project management, with proven application of systemic/MSD approach and experience in local economic development in transitional contexts.
Strong knowledge of Georgia’s context and ability to navigate it.
Demonstrated skills in project cycle management (PCM) and results-based management (RBM); familiarity with SDC procedures; experience in facilitation and stakeholder capacity building.
Proven ability to manage resources effectively, ensure quality standards, and apply DCED or results-chain–based measurement systems.
Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills, with experience in gender and social inclusion and environmental mainstreaming.
Excellent command of English; knowledge of Georgian is a strong asset; Russian or other Eastern European language desirable.
Proficiency in MS Office and digital collaboration tools; strong interest in digital solutions for project management.
OUR OFFER
At Helvetas, you will be part of a purpose-driven organization where your work creates meaningful global impact. We foster a caring and collaborative culture built on trust, flexibility, and accountability. You will grow in a professional environment that values integrity, empathy, and continuous learning. → We care. We commit.
We offer you an interesting challenge in a motivated team with attractive working conditions. The position is open to international applicants, with remuneration and contractual conditions applied according to the respective international scheme.
Contract is provided until end of phase I (end of November 2026), with possibility of extension for next phase.
READY TO APPLY?
We look forward to receiving your complete application including motivation letter, CV, work certificates and diplomas by November 09, 2025. Please send your electronic application via our online recruiting portal. For additional information, please contact Anastasia Bekish (anastasia.bekish@helvetas.org), Regional Economy Portfolio Manager. For more information about the LED-project please visit: Strenghtening Local Economies in Georgia (helvetas.org)
Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation, founded 1955 as Switzerland’s first private organization for development cooperation, is registered as a denominationally and politically independent, non profit oriented, specialised development association.
Helvetas is primarily committed to working towards the elimination of the causes of poverty and marginalization in the South and the East. Its mission is to actively contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of economically, socially and politically disadvantaged people within the frame of the Human Rights, with a focus on self-initiative activities and self-help in rural areas.
Together with some 44’000 members and their local groups, Helvetas is as well actively engaged in Switzerland with respect to solidarity in development, to promoting fair trade, and raising public awareness of the cultural wealth of development and transition countries.
In its international programme, Helvetas concentrates its actions in four working areas:
1. Infrastructure in Rural Areas including initiatives regarding water and sanitation, access and mobilization, livelihood, rehabilitation and construction of basic infrastructure,
2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, also comprising projects in the fields of climate, disaster risk mitigation and sustainable livelihood management,
3. Education and Culture, including a number of successful initiatives in Vocational Education and Training (VET), support to and lobbying for reforms in the VET System, improvement of teaching and learning environments, modernization of curriculum, assessment and development of learning materials, human resource development, development of alternative financing approaches, awareness-building and income generation through artistic forms of expression, promotion of cultural exchange and diversity of cultural expressions.
4. Civil Society and the State, which integrates projects supporting good governance, decentralisation and civil peace building/conflict sensitivity.
Helvetas’ development initiatives are guided by five approaches: striving for equality between men and women (gender), learning through dialogue between different cultures, protecting the environment, acting with economic and social responsibility and conflict prevention.
Helvetas is not only oriented towards material needs, such as procuring food and improved living conditions, but also towards aims regarding social, cultural, and spiritual aspects. These include the overcoming of paralysing dependence, reduction of inequality between the sexes, ethnicity, castes, building up of self-confidence or the strengthening of responsibility towards other human beings and the environment. Helvetas acts on the basis of human rights and makes every effort that these are also respected by its partner organizations. Also important are the promotion of democratic, decentralised structures, opportunities for participation, and joint responsibility as citizens.
For its international programmes, Helvetas’ mission is:
- to cooperate on a partnership basis with and in favour of the poor and disadvantaged population groups in the poorer regions of development and transition countries
- to share knowledge and experiences between Switzerland and partner countries as well as to further promote mutual exchange between partner countries
- to strengthen local structures and sustainable development and to promote human rights
- to develop suitable measures that prevent or mitigate violent conflicts
Wherever indicated, Helvetas applies a multi-stakeholder approach involving partners of civil society, the state and the private sector in reaching development goals. On the basis of participatory approaches, Helvetas strengthens its partner organizations. Their institutional sustainability is a key concern which is addressed through capacity building of the partner organizations. Furthermore, to leverage the best utilisation of its knowledge, to strengthen internal learning and to share experience and lessons learnt with other development actors, Helvetas (in 2000) elevated Knowledge Sharing (KS) to a strategic level. Helvetas nowadays plays a leading role in KS for Development, striving for continuous learning through an intranet and face-to-face workshops. Helvetas supports facilitation of international Communities of Practice (CoP), e.g. the “Water-for-food”-network () or the “KM4Dev” (Knowledge Management for Development) (www.km4dev.org).
Helvetas currently employs 77 staff (56 full-time posts) at the Head Office in Switzerland, and 45 expatriates (42 full-time posts) and 630 local staff in 20 developing and transition countries. In 2009, Helvetas had a turnover of around 64.3 Mio CHF; 54.2 Mio CHF for programme support abroad, 3.4 Mio CHF for information and advocacy activities in Switzerland, and 6.7 Mio CHF for administration and fundraising in Switzerland.
Helvetas’ Board of Directors (15 members) determines the overall strategy based on the bylaws and executes financial control functions. The operational implementation is with the Secretary General and the Management Board (7; Heads of Departments and Secretary General) based on department and working area strategies and financial plans. The International Programmes Department (19 full-time posts) at the head office is divided into a geographic team (steering, coordination, controlling of the country programmes) and the thematic team (technical assistance and expertise, monitoring). In the partner countries, programme offices with programme directors (15) are responsible for the implementation of projects and country strategies. The finance department (4) at the head office operates the financial control system. The Programme direction and programme country projects are audited yearly by an external, independent auditing company (KPMG, Zurich). Helvetas is ZEWO certified, avails a risk analysis system and a well elaborated monitoring and evaluation system.
Helvetas’ monitoring and evaluation system pursues three objectives: a) to provide information for strategic steering, b) to allow organisational learning and c) to assure accountability to its constituencies, donors and the ultimate beneficiaries. Helvetas conducts therefore a) periodic monitoring, b) internal and external evaluations, c) qualitative case studies and d) impact assessments in a set of selected projects. For the periodic monitoring Helvetas has developed an electronic Project Monitoring System (pms), which is linked to its Internal Control System.
Helvetas introduced a decentralized management system in 1990, delegating a high degree of autonomy to the country programme directors. A project monitoring system enables the programme directors to delegate operational responsibility to national project managers and staff. The Helvetas programme offices are responsible for coordination and strategic issues.
Helvetas has links with networks and partner organisations, e.g. being actively involved in the SDC governance network, the KOFF (Competence Centre for Peace Building) intervision group on conflict sensitivity and gender network at university of Bern. Strategic partnership agreements exist particularly with SCA, SKAT and KOFF.
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