Ministry Of Natural Resources And Climate Change
MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ASSIGNMENTS UNDER TRANSFORMATIONAL ADAPTATION FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN THE LAKE CHILWA BASIN OF MALAWI PROJECT (TRANSFORM)
1.0 BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
The Malawi Government has received financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the
Transformational Adaptation for Climate Resiliencein the Lake Chilwa Basin of Malawi (TRANSFORM). In the Lake Chilwa basin in southern Malawi, local communities are increasingly affected by the impacts of climate change. Since the 1960s, Malawi has experienced an increase in annual temperatures, prolonged dry seasons, increasingly variable rainfall patterns and more frequent heavy rainfall events. These climatic changes have been particularly acute in the Lake Chilwa basin where they have contributed to a rise in the intensity and frequency of climate hazards such as droughts and floods associated with: i) a decline in the capacity of ecosystems in the basin to regulate the hydrological cycle; ii) a decrease in Lake Chilwa’s water levels; and iii) a reduction in the productivity of fisheries and rainfed agriculture.
TRANSFORM Project aims to reduce the vulnerability of communities surrounding the lake to the adverse effects of climate change by strengthening the resilience of livelihoods through
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and financing of sustainable, climate-resilient enterprises. Specific interventions implemented under TRANSFORM will include: i) enhancing the capacity of communities and institutions to plan, implement and monitor EbA interventions that build the adaptive capacity of the basin; ii) improving small-scale producers’ access to lucrative markets for climate-resilient products and value chains through diversification of product/service offerings and alternative livelihoods, as well as by enhancing access to microfinance, social protection and insurance; and iii) facilitating the adoption of alternative and climate-resilient livelihoods.
These interventions will see more robust and coordinated relationships between the private sector and small-scale producers, facilitated by concessional financing, improved
infrastructure and technologies, thereby enabling a long-term resilience building and vulnerability reduction in the Lake Chilwa basin and across the rest of Malawi.
The project will be implemented in Machinga, Zomba and Phalombe Districts. It is against this background that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change would like to
recruit personnel to spearhead the management and implementation of the TRANSFORM project.
The Ministry therefore, would like to invite applications from suitable candidates to fill the vacant positions that exist within the Project Management Unit (PMU) at the Environmental
Affairs Department.
1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The objective of the project is to reduce the vulnerability of communities surrounding Lake Chilwa to the adverse effects of climate change by strengthening the resilience of livelihoods
through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and financing of climate-resilient enterprises in Lake Chilwa, and scaled up to other regions of Malawi: This will be addressed through 3
components:
(i) Component 1: Enhancing financing and investment in adaptation options and climate-resilient enterprises in the Lake Chilwa basin, with potential for upscaling to other regions
of Malawi. this will contribute to the outcome of enhanced public and private sector investment in and strengthened market linkages for upscaling sustainable, climate-resilient
enterprises to provide communities with alternative sources of income.
(ii) Component 2: Implementation of EbA and Sustainable climate-resilient livelihoods. This will contribute to the attainment of outcome 1 which is Reduced vulnerability of communities in target districts to climate change through the implementation of EbA interventions and the introduction of innovative sustainable climate-resilient livelihoods in preparation for scaling up through Outcomes 1 and 3.
(iii) Component 3: Strengthening the enabling environment for upscaling of initiatives aimed at climate-resilient development across Malawi. This will contribute to the outcome of
Strengthened enabling environment for district and community-level institutions to plan, implement and monitor Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), in readiness for receiving
funding under the SCFF.
2.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) is implementing a Transformation adaptation for Climate Resilience in the Lake Chilwa Basin in Malawi project (TRANSFORM). It is against this background that the Ministry would therefore like to seek the services of a (i)Project Manager, (ii) Monitoring and
Evaluation Officer, (iii) Safeguards Officer, (iv) Gender and Social Inclusion Officer, (v) Project Coordinators, (vi) Project Procurement Officer, (vii) Finance and Administrative Officer, (viii) Finance and Administrative Assistants to manage day to day operations of the project for a period of 60 months.
The Project Manager, the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the Project Safeguards Officer, the Project Gender and Social Inclusion Officer, the Finance and Administration Officer and the project Procurement Officer will operate from the Project Management Unit (PMU) based at the Environmental Affairs Department offices in Lilongwe and will be reporting to the Director of Environmental Affairs. The District Project Coordinators and Finance and Administration Assistants will operate from Machinga, Zomba and Phalombe Districts and will report to the Project Manager based at Environmental Affairs Department in Lilongwe.
2.4. PROJECT FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS (FAA)
2.4.1 Overall Description of the duties
The Project Finance and Administrative Assistants (FAA) will work under the technical direction of the Director of Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) in collaboration with the Project Manager and the District Commissioner. The FAA will be responsible for receiving, administration and management of funds received from the Environmental Affairs Department. He/she will also be responsible for preparation of payment requests, quarterly advances, and monthly and annual financial reporting for project implementation in collaboration with the Project Manager. She/He will be employed on full time basis for a
period of 60 months and will be based at Machinga, Zomba and Phalombe District Councils. He/she will be reporting to the Project Manager and the Director of Environmental Affairs Department
Project Finance and Administrative Assistants stationed at Machinga, Zomba and Phalombe
District Councils
60 months / 5 years
The Finance and Administrative Assistant will work under the technical direction of the Director of Finance at District level and direct supervision of the District Project Coordinator.
They will be based within the respective district councils. S/he will the Director of Environmental Affairs Department
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the Director of Finance and the direct supervision of the District Project Coordinator, the Project Finance and Administrative Assistant shall undertake the following tasks:
- Receive, administer and manage the funds received from UNDP through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD).
- Prepare payment requests/quarterly advances/monthly financial reports for project implementation in collaboration with the District Project Coordinator and Project Manager.
- Provide technical, financial management and reporting support to partners and responsible parties in the district within the Framework of Government, GEF and UNDP guidelines.
- Support the recruitment, management, and timely disbursement of funds to subcontractors in accordance with decisions of the Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee (IPDC).
- Compile the consolidated annual report of financial operations.
- Support the recruitment processes, payment and reporting from service providers working under the Project.
- Prepare and maintain accounts according to set procedures (UNDP, etc.), including preparing audited accounts, monitoring actual expenditure, and forecasting project completion costs to advise project management accordingly.
- Ensure timely and correct management and reporting of funds to EAD.
- Support budget planning and revisions.
- Spearhead the logistic organising of workshops, trainings, seminars etc.
- Support procurement of office supplies, stationery, and field assets.
- Maintain an inventory of all assets procured by the Project in accordance with UNDP requirements.
- Set up a filing system for the Project and ensure accurate records of project activities and inventory of project support equipment.
- Actively facilitate communication to and with partners.
- Take part in the overall management of the project and track activity implementation, and support the timely delivery of prioritized activities
Academic Qualifications:
The minimum qualifying criteria are:
- Advanced Diploma in Accounting or Business Management majoring in accounting
- Those with a degree in Finance/Accounting can also apply.
- Excellent communication skills with ability to express ideas clearly.
- A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in finance and administration
- Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment
The person must have the following attributes:
- Result Focus
- Teamwork
- Effective Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
Technical Skills
- Ability to work under pressure with minimum or no supervision
- A team player who demonstrates patience, flexibility and honesty
- Ability to work and relate well with stakeholders
- Excellent analytical and numerical skills.
- Willing to travel and work in field conditions when required
- Good time management skills, able to plan work and meet strict deadlines.
- Up-to-date knowledge of accounting packages. Experience in handling of web-based management systems.
- Experience in budget administration and financial reporting.
- Experience in management of substantial donor budgets.
- Proficiency in using computers and standard office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and
- Advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Method Of Application
Interested applicants that satisfy the requirements in the ToRs should submit their applications including signed application letter indicating the position they are applying for with an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV); Names and Contacts of Three Traceable Referees; Copies of Certificates by 04:30 PM on 24th November, 2023 to: The Director Environmental Affairs, Lingadzi House, P/Bag 394, LILONGWE 3.