UNDP
Job Info
Job Description
Malawi engages in development cooperation, which plays a vital role in supporting national development priorities. This context highlights the importance of effective coordination and transparent management of development resources to ensure alignment with national priorities. Maximizing the impact of development cooperation requires strengthening frameworks and tools that promote transparency, accountability, and results-based management.
UNDP Malawi, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA), is supporting the Enhanced Management and Monitoring of Development Cooperation Effectiveness project. The project focuses on three broader areas 1) strengthening development effectiveness through policies and frameworks, 2) strengthening financing frameworks, 3) strengthening development information management. The project is currently funded by the European Union Delegation in Malawi and the UNPD core funds.
Through targeted advisory services and capacity-building efforts, the Development Effectiveness Coordinator will help ensure that development cooperation initiatives effectively contribute to Malawi’s Vision 2063 and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Coordinator will work with MoFEA to align development cooperation frameworks with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) principles and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). These frameworks emphasize country ownership, inclusive partnerships, a focus on results, and mutual accountability to drive sustainable development outcomes.
1.Strengthening Development Effectiveness
- Provide strategic advisory services to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) to enhance development cooperation and alignment with national priorities;
- Develop and oversee frameworks for tracking and evaluating development effectiveness, ensuring alignment with GPEDC principles and AAAA commitments;
- Support the preparation of Malawi’s annual Development Cooperation Reports, with a focus on results-based analysis and policy recommendations;
- Work with stakeholders to align development initiatives with Malawi’s Vision 2063, ensuring long-term sustainability and coherence.
2. Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF)
- Lead efforts to integrate the INFF into Malawi’s national planning and budgeting processes, focusing on sustainable development financing;
- Provide technical expertise on designing and operationalizing the INFF, ensuring alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms;
- Facilitate consultations with stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, and development partners, to align financing mechanisms with national priorities;
- Guide the integration of public and private financing strategies within the INFF to mobilize resources for national development.
3. Policy Advisory and Coordination
- Serve as a key advisor for policy development on effective development cooperation, digital transformation, and financing strategies tailored to Malawi’s unique context;
- Provide guidance to coordination forums, including the High Level Forum (HLF), Development Cooperation Group (DCG) and other multilateral platforms, on development policy and coordination;
- Support the development of policies to enhance aid transparency and accountability, leveraging platforms such as the Development Cooperation Information Management System (DCIMS);
- Promote evidence-based policy making by synthesizing data from development cooperation efforts and identifying key trends and gaps.
4. Oversight for DCIMS
- Oversee the implementation and operationalization of the Development Cooperation Information Management System (DCIMS) to ensure its alignment with national priorities and development effectiveness principles;
- Monitor system utilization by stakeholders and provide recommendations to enhance its effectiveness and user engagement;
- Collaborate with technical teams to ensure the DCIMS is equipped with up-to-date data collection, visualization, and reporting capabilities;
- Support the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in using the DCIMS to inform policy decisions and enhance transparency in development cooperation.
5. Research and Capacity Development
- Lead research initiatives on global best practices in development effectiveness and financing frameworks, disseminating findings to stakeholders in Malawi;
- Design and deliver capacity-building programs for government officials and development partners on effective development cooperation and INFF;
- Develop knowledge-sharing platforms to institutionalize lessons learned and promote adaptive management practices;
- Foster innovation in development programming by introducing evidence-based tools and methodologies for measuring impact and outcomes.
6. Project Management Functions
- Ensure proper planning, staffing, and resource allocation for development cooperation initiatives in Malawi;
- Monitor progress against work plans, ensuring timely achievement of milestones and deliverables;
- Oversee financial management of project resources, ensuring transparency and accountability;
- Provide regular updates to stakeholders, including progress reports and policy briefs, to ensure alignment with national and donor expectations;
- Support drafting technical terms of reference for consultants and procurement activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives;
- Facilitate regular reviews of project implementation to identify challenges and recommend corrective actions.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Coordinator will be responsible for leading and coordinating the implementation of the project under the direct supervision of the Team Lead, Development Impact Advisory Team of UNDP Malawi in close coordination with the Deputy Resident Representative and Digital Advisor. The Coordinator is expected to secure a working station within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to coordinate project implementation with the Debt and Aid Department of the Ministry.
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
Business Direction & Strategy: Business Acumen
- Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome
- Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
Business Direction & Strategy: Effective Decision Making
- Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with ones authority, area of expertise and resources
Business Management : Partnerships Management
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Partnership management: Relationship management
Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Economics, Development Aid Policy and Effectiveness, Economics or related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level working with policy advice to the Government.
Required Skills
- Strong experience in leading and coordinating consultations with a range of stakeholders, including governments, multilateral and bilateral partners, civil society, private sector, and academia;
- Strong command of digital data collection tools.
- Minimum of three (3) years working experience on programme management, at international level playing team leading role and/or programme coordination position;
- At least (3) years on development effectiveness;
- Problem solving skills/experience;
- Proven ability to gather information and produce substantive reports;
- Strong experience in leading and coordinating consultations with a range of stakeholders, including governments, multilateral and bilateral partners, civil society, private sector, and academia;
- Previous work experience with UN agencies, NGOs, European Union and/or World Bank and familiarity with processes of these agencies;
- Proven ability to gather information and produce substantive reports.
- Proficiency in English is required.