Government of Malawi
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
RECRUITMENT OF PROJECT STAFF
COUNTRY: MALAWI
NAME OF PROJECT: FOOD SYSTEMS AND RESILIENCE PROGRAM (FSRP)
GRANT NUMBER: IDA-E1840
DATE OF ISSUE: 18th APRIL, 2024
BACKGROUND
The Government of the Republic of Malawi has received financing in the amount of US$333 Million equivalent from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank toward the cost of the Food Systems and Resilience Program (FSRP) and it intends to apply part of the proceeds for recruitment of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) staff.
The objective of the Project is to increase commercialization of agriculture value chain products selected under the Project, and consists of six main components namely: (i) (Re-) Building Resilient Agricultural Production Capacity; (ii) Sustainable Development of Natural Resources for Resilient Agricultural Landscapes; (iii) Getting to Market; (iv) Promoting a Greater Focus on Food Security Resilience in National and Regional Policymaking and (v) Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) and; (vi) Project Management and Coordination.
It is, therefore, regarding the constituting of the MFSRP Project Implementation Unit that Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) as a lead implementing agency, would like to engage the services of Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Agribusiness Officers, Institutional Development Officers, Assistant Accountants, and Assistant Project Engineer as set out below:
1. Monitoring and Evaluation Officers (2 Positions): Reference No MW-MOA-376216-CS-INDV
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will be part of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Malawi Food Systems Resilience Program (MFSRP) Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The M&E Officer will be responsible for supporting monitoring and evaluation of the Project activities. Specifically, the M&E Officer shall be responsible for reporting, storing and maintaining project records. The Officer shall also be responsible for carrying out project assessments, evaluations, and other aspects of monitoring and evaluation in liaison with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist as well as other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the project.
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will be reporting directly to the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.
Tasks and responsibilities:
- Provide technical inputs on monitoring and evaluation parameters to improve planning, programming, and implementation;
- Coordinate with Technical Implementation Brokers for the project, Agribusiness Officers, and government frontline staff including the Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator and Agriculture Extension Development officers on timely field surveys and data collection and follow-up to ensure M&E reports and indicators update the results framework;
- Provide technical inputs on monitoring and evaluation parameters, to improve planning, programming and implementation
- Coordinate with the Information Communication & Technology Specialist to support online data collection and management through the Geo-Enabling Initiative for monitoring and supervision (GEMS)
- Participate in data collection, cleaning, consolidation and analysis
- Mentor and train Project team and Implementing Agencies staff to foster capacity building on M&E knowledge;
- Support monitoring and evaluation missions commissioned by the donor (World Bank);
- Monitor and ensure the consistency of methods of data collection across the portfolio
- Review the M&E system, process and procedures of the Project and forms and formats for project activities under its various components;
- Monitor project progress through annual review and planning workshops and field visits, offer feedback and keep regular communication with related field and centre-level staff.
- Document and collect information on lessons learned, including case studies and special research;
- Prepare and monitor the implementation of the Annual Work Plan Budgets and Procurement Plan for the project and district offices;
- Carry out periodical field checks and triangulate with received information to monitor the progress of the project;
- Monitor all activities of consultants and other goods and services providers contracted by the Project;
Qualifications and Experience
The candidate should meet the following minimum qualifications and attributes.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extensions, Development Economics, Data Science, and Statistics.
- At least Three (3) years’ experience in M&E for donor-funded Projects, preferably in the agriculture sector.
- Experience in online data collection platforms including Kobo toolbox or survey solutions
- Experience in managing Matching Grants and establishing Partial Credit Guarantee Funds is highly desirable.
- Should be computer literate in spreadsheet programs and data analysis software’s such as SPSS and Stata, and Microsoft Excel.
- Ability to work with staff in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment will be required.
Location of Employment
The M&E Officer will be based at MFSRP PIU in Lilongwe but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.
Duration of Employment
The assignment is for six years subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory performance.
2. Agribusiness Officer (2 positions): Reference No MW-MOA-376214-CS-INDV
The Agribusiness Officer is part of the Project Implementation Unit Team, which comprises the National Project Coordinator (NPC), specialists, assistant specialists and support staff. The Agribusiness Officer will be reporting directly to the Agribusiness Specialist.
The main function of the Agribusiness Officer is to support the Agribusiness Specialist in all agribusiness and commercialization aspects of the programme. The Agribusiness Officer will support the building of vibrant Productive Alliances (PAs). The established PAs and SMEs/Anchor farms will access matching grant funds for investments in capital assets that will promote agricultural productivity and value addition. The Agribusiness Officer will support capacity-building efforts on the vertical and horizontal alliances so that Producer Organizations, SMEs and Anchor farms are re-oriented and grounded in commercial farming.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Specifically, the Agribusiness Officer will perform the following functions:
- Support the orientation of potential Producer Organizations, SMEs and Anchor farms on the Matching Grants funding and its requirements;
- Assist the Agribusiness Specialist in reviewing concept notes submitted to AGCOM PIU by productive alliances, SMEs and Anchor farms;
- Consolidate concept-notes evaluation scores and compile minutes, and prepare offer letters and grant agreements to recommended productive alliances, SMEs and Anchor farms;
- Participate in the identification and due diligence assessment of potential Productive Alliances, SMEs and Anchor farms;
- Assist the Agribusiness Specialist in supervising technical service providers such as; Business Plan Preparation Consultants;
- Participate in the pre-screening of business plans submitted by the Business Plan Preparation Consultants on behalf of PAs, SMEs and Anchor farms;
- Assist PAs, SMEs and Anchor farms in the identification of the last mile infrastructure;
- Assist in the promotion of agribusiness enterprise development and export competitiveness among PAs, SMEs and Anchor farms
- Participate in the development of value chain development strategies and undertake value chain analysis studies;
- Monitor the implementation of sub-projects to identify deviations from the Matching Grant Agreements and resolve related issues in collaboration with IDS
- Conduct regular field visits to AGCOM project sites, in collaboration with government agribusiness officers, to provide hands-on technical assistance and monitor progress on agribusiness and commercialization interventions;
- Contribute to the PIU M&E activities, including data collection and reporting on related agribusiness activities in coordination with the M&E Specialist;
- Participate in all relevant assignments as assigned by the Agribusiness Specialist.
Qualifications and Experience
- A Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in development economics, agribusiness, agricultural economics and Business Administration; and social science from accredited and reputable institutions
- At least three (3) years of work experience.
- At least one (1) year of experience working on similar assignment with an emphasis on building community-based organizations (e.g. cooperatives, producer associations, and marketing associations), Small and Medium Enterprises, value chain development and rural finance;
- Good facilitation, communication and writing skills.
- Good verbal and written communication skills, including ICT skills.
- Previous experience in World Bank/donor-funded agricultural/agribusiness development programs will be an added advantage;
Location of Employment
The Agribusiness Officer will be based at MFSRP/AGCOM 2 PIU in Lilongwe but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.
Duration of Employment
The assignment is for six (6) years subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory performance.
3. Institution Development Officer (2 Positions): Reference No. MW-MOA-376182-CS-INDV
Under the overall and direct supervision of the Institutional Development Specialist (IDS) for the Project, the Institutional Development Officer is responsible for carrying out beneficiary sensitization, mobilization and capacity-building functions to Productive Alliances. The incumbent of this position supports the IDS to work in close collaboration and daily contact with the implementing institutions in particular relevant departments under the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Local Government and District Councils, Technical Implementation Support (TIS) brokers, Producer Organizations, off-takers and other organizations supporting the project implementation in all tasks and activities related to the project. All tasks will have to be conducted promptly according to the approved project implementation manual and task-specific guidelines. The key objective of this position is to support IDS systematically and effectively coordinate Technical Implementation Support Services that ensures effective and efficient execution of approved PA sub-projects by strictly following the signed matching grants agreements.
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
Working closely with the IDS the incumbent shall be expected (but not limited) to do the following:
- Assist in beneficiary sensitization, mobilization, and capacity building of TIS Brokers, Producer Organizations, and off-takers in all the opportunities offered by MFSRP including, the Matching Grant Windows, Partial Credit Guarantee (PCG), Last-Mile Infrastructure, irrigation subprojects, and land registration.
- Prepare accurate and reliable initial basic information for newly approved POs and off-takers and timely submit it to IDS for allocation to TIS Brokers.
- Assist IDS in preparing technical messages and execution of field arrangements for the handover of newly approved POs and off-takers to TIS Brokers and district field teams.
- Coordinate initial business plan review meetings with POs, and PO capacity assessments and ensure participation of business plan consultants, and off-takers.
- Support and coordinate systematic and timely execution of all TIS Broker deliverables to ensure effective and transformative technical implementation support services.
- Under the guidance of IDS, execute supervision of TIS Brokers, assessment of PO monthly/annual progress reports and review of fees calculators for all zones and submit to IDS for final review and recommendation for approval by the NPC.
- Work with POs, off-takers, TIS Brokers, and zone supervisors to ensure timely preparation, verification and submission of matching grant tranche requests to ABS, in line with the approved grant agreements.
- Coordinate timely feedback and resolution of all issues arising from the grant request submissions to ensure a short time lag between the submission of requests and the actual disbursement of funds.
- Track and maintain a real-time electronic and paper-based database of all the deliverable-based technical implementation support services provided to each productive alliance approved by the project.
- Manage the Online Technical Implementation Support System (OLTISMIS) and ensure timely loading of documents and updates by TIS Brokers and all system users. Ensure that all the technical glitches of the system are timely reported and resolved with support from the IT Specialist.
- Prepare and submit system-generated summary reports on specific and/or overall performance of the TIS Services.
- Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned directly linked to project country goals and activities.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, General Agriculture, Development Economics, Agribusiness, Development Studies, Public Administration from an accredited institution.
- At least three (3) years’ working experience, preferably in the agriculture sector.
- At least One (1) year work experience in facilitating institutional development for farmer organizations supported by donor-funded Projects,
- Experience in management and supervision of a large team of field-based frontline extension staff.
- Experience in quality control, coordination and management of performance-based extension and advisory services.
- Experience in working with staff from district assemblies and local government structures.
- Knowledge and skills in project management databases and software will be an added advantage.
- Experience in coordinating Training of Trainers (ToT) capacity building of frontline extension staff (TIS-Brokers) and other project stakeholders involved in supporting Producer Farmer Organisations.
- Good facilitation, communication and writing skills.
- Good verbal and written communication skills, including ICT skills.
Location of Employment
The Institutional Development Officer will be based at MFSRP/AGCOM 2 PIU in Lilongwe but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.
Duration of Employment
The assignment is for six years subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory performance.
4. Assistant Accountant (2 Positions): Reference No. MW-MOA-375537-CS-INDV
The Assistant Accountant will assist in maintaining appropriate financial and accounting systems and internal control procedures for documentation, recording and reporting of the project financial transactions in line with the requirements of the Government of Malawi financial rules and regulations as well as in line with the financial management requirements for World Bank-financed projects. The Assistant Accountant will also assist in maintaining the computerized accounting system and ensuring timely posting of financial transactions.
The Assistant Accountant will work with the Accountant, Assistant Financial Management Specialist and Financial Management Specialist in handling all payments, cash management procedures and maintenance of various financial records, ensuring appropriate filing and security of all accounting documents
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
- Checking completeness of payment vouchers including reviewing/checking of payment supporting documents for accuracy of any computations and calculations and correct coding. Strictly ensuring all payments have relevant supporting documents: approved request for payment by National Project Coordinator, requisition, quotation, LPO, Delivery Note, original invoice, participants list, acceptance of goods/service, VAT and WHT certificates etc. before a Cheque is processed;
- Act as a cashier in making payments for field teams during field activities and subsequent preparation of Liquidation Reconciliation Analysis Reports within 10 days following the field activities;
- Ensuring that filed Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSAs) and fuel vouchers have the following attached/attachments; DSA signing sheets and Fuel Signing Sheets, their respective Attendance Registers for meetings/workshops and back-to-office reports;
- Maintenance, update and retrieval of the financial information from the computerized accounting system;
- Filing all finance documents including completed payment vouchers and their supporting documents daily.
- Maintain and updated financial records including cashbooks, Cheque dispatch register, inventory, advances register, account receivable/payable registers, fixed assets register, petty cash register, General Ledger etc. and ensuring filing of payment vouchers and other financial records are done daily, accurately and in an organized manner;
- Provision of inputs required for the Preparation of monthly bank reconciliation statements for operating and holding bank accounts by the 10th day of each month.
- Provision of inputs required for the preparation of annual work plans and budgets;
- Provision of inputs required for the preparation of the Project’s monthly management accounts and quarterly IFRs;
- Preparation of withholding tax certificates and monthly withholding tax summary, consolidating VAT tax refund claims and ensuring that W/Tax certificates are attached to their respective payment vouchers;
- Undertaking the preparatory work for the interim and annual audit of the accounts and assisting in the implementation of audit recommendations;
- Undertaking any ad hoc financial duties assigned by the Accountant, AFMS and FMS which are consistent with the Project requirements.
Qualifications and Experience
- Must possess a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, accounting or Finance from a reputable University recognized by NCHE or completion of ACCA level two/completion of ICAM professional level.
- Experience in donor-funded programs will be an added advantage
- Practical experience and skills in Government of Malawi financial regulations
- Computer literate, good knowledge of Microsoft Office application, project computerized accounting and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
- Excellent communication and analytical skills
- High attention to detail
- Demonstrable ability to work under minimal supervision and meet strict reporting timelines
- Demonstrable high level of integrity, honesty and trustworthiness and proven good track record in accounting
- Ability to work on repetitive tasks with speed and accuracy
- Flexible, positive attitude, ability to work as a team
Location of Employment
The Assistant Accountants will be based at MFSRP/AGCOM 2 PIU in Lilongwe but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.
Duration of Employment
The assignment is for six years subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory performance.
5. Assistant Project Engineer - Irrigation (1 Position): Reference No.MW-MOA-376184-CS-INDV
The Assistant Project Engineer (APE) will be part of a larger Project Implementation Unit (PIU), which comprises the National Project Coordinator and other specialists. The Assistant Project Engineer will be responsible for ensuring deliverables of Irrigation Services are done according to schedule and specified standards. Specifically, the APE shall be involved in day to day implementation of Works and Services contracts/activities under the project.
The APE will technically be supported by Project Engineer and PIU Team members. In addition, the APE will assist in coordinating the tasks of a team of consultants comprising design and supervision engineers, surveyors, etc. and report to the Project Engineer.
3.0 Tasks and Responsibilities
The tasks and responsibilities of the APE shall include, but not be limited to assisting the Project Engineer and implementing agencies in the following aspects:
- Data and Information Sharing and Communication:
- Ensure timely engineering information sharing among the service providers (consultants and contractors) and other engineers within PCU;
- Ensure that the implementation of engineering activities is done according to schedule and that the Gantt chart is updated regularly;
2. Planning and Coordination:
- Oversee all planning, design, technical implementation, operation and maintenance aspects of the irrigation service provision component of the project;
- Planning and coordinating the execution of all engineering activities required to achieve their respective outputs;
- Attend all project, site, and management technical review meetings;
- Monitoring of activities:
- Ensure that quality control of the programme activities on all engineering aspects is adhered to;
- Be responsible for general contracts management, and inform the consultants, contractors and the NPC on contractual issues;
- Monitoring the progress of implementation of project activities under component one and comparing it with the planned schedule, and notifying the Consultants/contractors of any deviations from the planned programme;
- Provide quality assurance of the activity reports, data and information being generated and ensure that any inconsistencies in the outcomes of the deliverables are resolved at an early stage;
- Conduct supervisory visits to project areas;
- Oversee any constraints, issues or problem areas on engineering aspects and advise on appropriate action;
- Support all Consultants/contractors in the fulfilment of their assignments and assist them in overcoming any technical constraints that they may face in the implementation of their tasks;
- Prepare Quarterly Progress Reports (QPR) as well as monthly progress reports; for submission to the NPC on time;
- Provide input to the preparation of the Project Completion Report (PCR);
- Carry out regular inspections of construction works and provide necessary advice to the supervision consultant;
- Oversee preparation of bidding documents for both contractors and consultants and in the evaluation of the same;
- Check and review all technical aspects of the irrigation systems, structures designs and relevant data to ensure that the designs are adequate, complete and in compliance with recognized standards;
- Coordinate the preparation of feasibility studies and detailed designs, bills of quantities, tender documents and all associated drawings by consultants;
- Ensure that comprehensive Engineer reports and supporting documentation are prepared on time;
- In coordination with the Environmental Safeguards Specialist ensure that proposed environmental mitigation measures identified in ESIA & ESMP reports are implemented;
- Build capacity for counterpart staff and provide technical support through active involvement and engagement in activities;
- Analyse and vet all progress reports from the contractor(s) and engineering consultants, before submission to the National Project Coordinator;
- Vet and authenticate all payment certificates, invoices and claims originated by the contractor (s) and consultants, before submission to the National Project Coordinator;
- Ensure that as-built drawings are prepared by the contractors;
Qualifications and Experience
- A minimum of Master’s Degree qualification in Irrigation/Civil or related Engineering with at least 5 years of work experience as an irrigation and drainage design engineer
- At least 10 years of solid work experience as an irrigation and drainage design/construction engineer in large irrigation and water projects. Experience in construction supervision of large-scale civil works water/irrigation-related projects is a must.
- 5 years’ experience in implementing donor-funded projects. must have a proven track record of implementation of irrigation and water projects.
- Experience and/or familiarity with Government and World Bank procedures would be an added advantage.
- Good computer skills in using office applications and relevant engineering packages
- Must possess excellent communication skills and be able to write clear, concise technical reports in English.
Location of Employment
The Assistant Project Engineer will be based at MFSRP/AGCOM 2 PIU in Lilongwe but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.
Duration of Employment
The assignment is for six years subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory performance.
Submission of Applications
Interested Candidates should submit applications including detailed CVs in English with a minimum of three traceable referees NOT later than 3rd May, 2024.
Address for submission of applications by email is info@agcom.gov.mw and be addressed to the following:
The Chairperson
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee
Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM) Project,
Off Paul Kagame Road – Opposite MRA Domestic Taxes Offices,
P.O. Box 727,
Lilongwe