SAMWEL MABULA JAMES
Magu
Summary
Strategic Programme Coordinator | Strategic Portfolio & Ecosystem Lead 10+ Years of Experience Dedicated Development and Humanitarian Professional with over a decade of experience leading large-scale, donor-funded portfolios and multi-sectoral partnerships across Tanzania. Proven track record in engaging government authorities, local ministries, civil society organizations (CSOs), and international funders to drive complex institutional reforms and practical, on-the-ground execution. Highly adept at navigating the entire investment and project lifecycle—from conducting rigorous partner diagnostics, readiness assessments, and due diligence to shaping strategic funding proposals and managing multi-year, phased milestones. Equipped with a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development (specializing in Participatory Project Planning and Management), offering deep technical expertise in building local ownership, tracking performance metrics against standard ecosystem milestones, and deploying adaptive, data-driven field management. A hands-on, proactive relationship builder skilled at influencing senior decision-makers without formal authority, managing remote multi-district teams, and coordinating diverse stakeholders to translate ambitious goals into practical, sustained impact at scale. Committed to absolute zero-tolerance safeguarding frameworks while fostering a culture of continuous learning, collaborative problem-solving, and systemic equity.
Overview
1
1
Certification
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Programs Coordinator
AICT Diocese / Compassion International Tanzania
06.2020 - 01.2024
- Led annual planning & delivery for child/youth development in line with policies & donor requirements; coordinated community mobilization for parents saving groups, entrepreneurship, and child protection awareness across centers (Itumbili, Shigala, Bulima).
- Built relationships with education officials, district stakeholders, and community structures for ownership.
- Represented AICT in government meetings. Ensured implementation plans integrated gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
- Managed engagement with Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs) and ensured timely, on-budget completion of partner work plans while coordinating with Magu and Busega district social welfare structures to align with national gender equality and social inclusion frameworks.
- Supported steering/advisory committee coordination at center/diocese levels.
- Managed and monitored program budgets; supported cost-effective resource allocation. Oversaw logistics/procurement for supplies/equipment following partnership financial procedures. Coordinated with Compassion finance to ensure compliance with financial policies.
- Ensured quality MEAL implementation, data collection/analysis, and reporting to management/committees/donor. Supported baseline setup and midline/endline evaluation contributions. Conducted risk assessments and mitigation measures. Developed/used monitoring tools/guidelines and supported documentation/stories of change and learning.
- Provided leadership, supervision, and mentorship; facilitated staff/partner trainings and community/saving-group capacity strengthening.
- Enhanced reporting frameworks and compliance with Compassion International standards.
- Sustained and strengthened strategic relationships with community-focused structures, education officials, and Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs) across multiple centers (Itumbili, Shigala, Bulima), directly improving local ownership and institutionalizing community-based program governance.
- Conducted thorough assessments of partner capabilities and compliance requirements. and regional compliance by aligning multi-center work plans with Magu and Busega district social welfare structures, ensuring all community-led interventions met national equity, inclusion, and social safeguarding frameworks.
- Streamlined partnership tracking and adaptive management by executing structural risk assessments and resolving operational bottlenecks, ensuring consistent on-time, on-budget achievement of partner deliverables.
- Mainstreamed core organizational values of gender equality, equity, human rights, and environmental sustainability into annual operational planning, reinforcing inclusive practices across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Designed and deployed localized MEAL tracking tools and frameworks, leading data collection and analysis for baseline, midline, and endline evaluations that informed strategic decision-making.
- Built an active community of practice by capturing, documenting, and packaging qualitative 'stories of change' and technical lessons learned, translating field data into actionable insights for donors, steering committees, and management.
Child and Youth Development Center Coordinator
AICT ITUMBILI with Compassion International Tanzania
10.2017 - 06.2020
- As Child and Youth Development Center Coordinator at AICT with Compassion International Tanzania, managed and implemented holistic child and youth development programs across multiple centers within Mwanza region. Collaborated with governments, donors, engaging regional educational officers’ leaders in public sectors with stakeholders to improve education quality and child protection services. Led budget planning, logistics management, and supported the development of annual work plans, advocacy strategies, monitoring tools, and impact reporting for effective programming.
- Supported child/youth participation in advocacy activities.
- Supported budgeting, expenditure monitoring, procurement oversight, and compliance with finance policies in coordination with finance teams.
- Supported community mobilization for education/child protection awareness, saving awareness and entrepreneurship participation; supported staff/partner capacity building on advocacy and implementation learning.
- Enhanced reporting frameworks and compliance with Compassion International standards.
- Sustained and strengthened strategic relationships with community-focused structures, education officials, and Strategic Implementing Partners (SIPs) across multiple centers (Itumbili, Shigala, Bulima), directly improving local ownership and institutionalizing community-based program governance.
- Coordinated partner diagnostics and regional compliance by aligning multi-center work plans with Magu and Busega district social welfare structures, ensuring all community-led interventions met national equity, inclusion, and social safeguarding frameworks.
- Streamlined partnership tracking and adaptive management by executing structural risk assessments, resolving operational bottlenecks, and ensuring partner deliverables were consistently achieved on-time and on-budget.
- Mainstreamed core organizational values of gender equality, equity, human rights, and environmental sustainability into annual operational planning, reinforcing inclusive practices across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Designed and deployed localized MEAL tracking tools and frameworks, actively leading data collection and analysis for baseline, midline, and endline evaluations to inform strategic decision-making.
- Built an active community of practice by capturing, documenting, and packaging qualitative 'stories of change' and technical lessons learned, translating field data into actionable insights for donors, steering committees, and management.
Program Field Officer
Modern Education and Culture Group with IMA World Health
05.2016 - 09.2017
- As Program Field Officer with MECEG and IMA World Health, led implementation of the “Mtoto Mwerevu” project in Shinyanga region aimed at reducing child stunting and maternal malnutrition. Coordinated training for community health workers, organized awareness campaigns, and engaged government officials, donors, local stakeholders. Oversaw monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy efforts to strengthen health systems and improved nutrition outcomes across targeted communities in Mwanza, Geita, Kagera, Tabora, Shinyanga and Mara region.
- Provided technical support to community health workers and village leaders; supported community health needs assessments; supported contextualization and quality assurance of training resources; coordinated monitoring and evaluation systems in line with IMA priorities and donor requirements.
- Planned meetings with saving group members, cooperative leaders and communities; supported scaling and functional strengthening of saving groups (constitutions, cash boxes, office bearers) with program learning agendas (e.g., Mwerevu-related community learning).
- Field visits for technical backstopping; trained service providers/partners on VSLA and gender inclusion; coached local trainers on capital access and financial management.
Program Manager
Support for International Change
Arusha
03.2015 - 04.2016
- Served as a Program Manager at Support for International Change (SIC), Arusha (Mar 2015 – Apr 2016), Ensured project goals are on target and ensured Programme quality and timely delivery of reports. I was responsible for building the technical capacity of the Programme team, ensured that teams are aware of, and are using key SIC documents to technical design of projects. Oversaw financial management, human resources, and logistics functions within the project, coordinated partnerships and strengthened institutional capacity for HIV/AIDS prevention. Facilitated capacity building session, Conducted mobilization, and advocacy efforts. Oversaw donor reporting, ensured gender integration, and supported monitoring processes to enhance program effectiveness and community impact.
- Liaison between SIC, Strategic Implementing Partners, local CSOs and vulnerable/community organizations across multiple wards/areas; supported partnership agreements and knowledge-sharing platforms; organized partnership dialogues and facilitated collaboration with universities and youth/volunteer groups.
- Designed and implemented capacity building for community health workers and vulnerable groups; supported advocacy and policy engagement through district lobbying; facilitated mentoring and peer-learning sessions.
- Ensured partnership activities aligned with SIC/funder requirements; contributed to monitoring feedback loops, reports, and documentation of lessons/best practices.
- Ensured gender-transformative principles; supported inclusion of women/youth voices in community/partner structures; engaged men/boys and supported women’s leadership.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Community Development (Project Planning and Management)
Community Development Training Institute
Arusha01-2015
Skills
- Program coordination & Management
- Program Implementation
- Monitoring & Evaluation
- Grant acquisition
- Budgeting & Financial Oversight
- Stakeholder Management
- Donor engagement
- Partnership evaluation
- Community Mobilization
- Gender Equality & Inclusion
- Policy advocacy
- Data analysis
- Team development
- Community communication
- Documentation skills
- Conflict Resolution
Certification
- Child Ministry Foundation Course (Compassion International, 2017)
- Leadership & Governance (CDTI Tengeru, 2014)
- SPSS (CDTI Tengeru, 2014)
- HIV/AIDS and Leadership (SIC Arusha, 2013)
- Proposal Writing & Business Planning (Business Horizons Consultants, 2013)
- Computer Applications (SAUT, 2009)
- Basic driving course (Modern Driving college-arusha 2016)
- Public Service Vehicle Driving course (VETA MWANZA – 2021)
Languages
English
Swahili
Software
Microsoft office, Outlook, Google Mail, Microsoft Windows, Google workspace.
Timeline
Programs Coordinator
AICT Diocese / Compassion International Tanzania
06.2020 - 01.2024
Child and Youth Development Center Coordinator
AICT ITUMBILI with Compassion International Tanzania
10.2017 - 06.2020
Program Field Officer
Modern Education and Culture Group with IMA World Health
05.2016 - 09.2017
Program Manager
Support for International Change
03.2015 - 04.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Community Development (Project Planning and Management)
Community Development Training Institute