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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 Resilience in 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 ill) a reduction in the productivity of fisheries and rainfed agriculture.

TRANSFORM Project which is already under implementation, 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 is being 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 position that exists 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 MANAGER
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) is responsible for the overall implementation of the TRANSFORM Project. The Ministry therefore seeks the services of a Project Manager to oversee day-to-day operations and provide leadership in coordinating ongoing project activities for the remaining implementation period of 41 months.

The Project Manager will provide overall operational management for the successful execution and implementation of the Project. The Project Manager will be responsible for the supervision of activities implemented by responsible parties, accurate accounting and reporting on the use of programme funds and monitoring of the achievement of results. The Project Manager will be based at the Project Management Unit within the Environmental Affairs Department Headquarters in Lilongwe but will be required to travel extensively and regularly to the Project areas. He/she will be working in close collaboration with the Project staff, District Project Coordinators and District Council Staff and provide support on project management and implementation. He/She will report to the Director of Environmental Affairs and the Portfolio Manager for Resilience and Sustainable Growth at the UNDP Malawi Country Office.

2.1 Duties and responsibilities

Project Management, Reporting and Coordination

  • Support with the smooth operation and running of the Project through day-to-day oversight and coordination of the implementation of project activities in liaison with the desk officer at
    EAD and Programme coordinators at the district level.
  • Collaborate and liaise with National Climate Resilience Programme on linkages in the resilience programme.
  • Coordinate the project team in carrying out their duties at an optimum level by ensuring efficient and effective resource utilisation.
  • Coordinate the preparation and implementation of annual and quarterly results-based work plans in line with indicators and targets specified in the logical framework endorsed by management, as well as coordinate inputs into all project reports as required.
  • Monitor project activities, including financial matters, and organise quarterly progress reviews, preparing quarterly progress and financial reports to be approved by the IP and UNDP CO.
  • Supervise technical and train Project staff as required for the implementation of the Project according to the Project’s workplan.
  • Support the Project Coordination Structures (Coordination, Joint National Technical Committee on climate Change and DRM (NTCC) and National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC) in organizing the Project Coordination meetings, reporting to the Committees, and providing feedback on project strategies, activities, progress, and challenges.
  • Work closely with the Finance and Administrative Assistant in budgeting, expenditures, and reporting per Malawi Government, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP’s guidelines.

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Promote knowledge management in the Project, including maintaining a database on documentation exercises, generation and publication of knowledge and dissemination through the appropriate platforms.
  • Provide in-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues to be integrated into the programme.
  • Identify and promote opportunities for sharing project results, lessons and successes with other stakeholders, including development partners, government departments and CSOs.
  • Lead in integrating current research and technologies in the Project

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • In liaison with the Programme Analyst/Technical Lead at UNDP, provide and update relevant information for project management, including Project Quality Assurance, Risk Log Monitoring and M&E through UNDP’s online dashboards.
  • Lead and support results-based management and reporting
  • Initiate project reviews at periodic intervals
  • Identify and foster linkages for the Project with potential stakeholders

Management and Leadership

  • Provide ongoing supervision for project coordinators in project implementation to ensure optimum quality of results and value for money.
  • Manage any conflicts at the sub-national level in line with UNDP policies.
  • Maintain outstanding communication skills (oral and written communication skills).
  • Develop and maintain close linkages with appropriate sectoral government agencies, UNDP, NGOs, civil society, international organizations and implementing partners of the Project, and engage them during the dissemination of results and learning from Project.

Qualifications and Experience

  • A Minimum qualification of Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Natural Resources Management, Climate Change Management, Environmental Sciences
  • Possession of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management, Climate Change Management, Environmental Sciences from an accredited University is a must
  • Those with MBA and PhD in the relevant field will have an added advantage
  • A minimum of 10 years proven professional experience working in project Management
  • Experience working with donor funded projects
  • Experience in Private Sector engagement will be an added advantage
  • Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills with ability to express ideas clearly

3.0 Mode of Application
Interested applicants who satisfy the requirements in the ToRs should submit their applications, including a signed application letter with an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV); Names and Contacts of Three Traceable Referees; Copies of Certificates by 4:30 PM on 15th November, 2025, to:

The Director of Environmental Affairs,
Lingadzi House,
P/Bag 394,
LILONGWE 3.