Job Description

Background
Since 1964, UNDP has been active in Malawi, aiding the government in its development agenda by supporting policies, establishing partnerships, and enhancing institutional capacities to achieve national development goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP Malawi’s Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2024-2028 aligns with the Malawi Vision 2063 and its first 10-Year Implementation Plan, aiming to support Malawi in meeting the SDGs by 2030. This comprehensive program addresses the interconnected challenges of poverty, inequality, and vulnerability to shocks, organized within two principal portfolios.

Governance: This portfolio focuses on strengthening effective, accountable, and inclusive governance. It promotes civic engagement, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and democracy, alongside improving data generation and analysis.
Resilience and Sustainable Growth (RSG): This portfolio focuses on economic innovation, inclusive business, job creation, and renewable energy access. It also aims to help Malawi adapt to climate change and build resilience to disasters.

Resilience and Sustainable Growth (RSG) Portfolio
The RSG Portfolio adopts a multifaceted approach combining inclusive growth, sustainability, climate adaptation, resilience to shocks, and agricultural development. It integrates natural resource management, poverty-environment linkages, disaster risk management, and agricultural value chain commercialization. The portfolio engages a broad range of stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, and multilateral agencies. UNDP’s resilience programming within the RSG Portfolio specifically targets the mitigation of threats, risks, and impacts of climate change and related economic and social shocks. The RSG Portfolio also includes a dynamic private sector development program that employs various de-risking financial instruments to support private sector investments in the country. This program is designed to assist entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, from business incubation to acceleration and growth across different economic sectors.

The resilience programming takes a holistic approach, addressing interconnected issues such as governance, public services, inclusive economic opportunities, natural resource management, and agricultural development. The primary outcomes target enhancing socio-economic resilience, equitable access to economic opportunities, sustainable natural resource management, and increased agricultural productivity and income for smallholder farmers. This is achieved through collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including government, UN partners, civil society, the private sector, and academia.

Agriculture and Commercialization

Agriculture is the backbone of Malawi’s economy, employing over 70% of the population and significantly contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 24.7%. Women contribute over 70% of the agricultural labour force, yet they face persistent gender barriers, including limited land ownership and reduced access to extension and climate-smart technologies, and significantly lower access to finance. Fewer than 10% of women-owned MSMEs access formal credit, largely due to collateral limitations, gender norms, and inequitable financial products. These disparities undermine commercialization potential for women-led agribusinesses and limit inclusive growth. This transition from traditional, subsistence-oriented farming to market-oriented, profit-driven activities aligns with the government’s Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining (ATM) growth strategy.

UNDP is seeking to recruit an Access to Finance and Grants Specialist to design, roll-out and oversee the management and implementation of the UCHI Commercialization Facility and to lead on the financial access and investment stream of work under the UCHI Strengthening Agricultural Commercialization Project.

Scope of Work

Oversee the roll-out and implementation of the UCHI Commercialization Facility.
Ensure payments are linked to milestones outlined in grant agreements.
Monitor the disbursement of funds to grantees.
Develop and implement a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system.
Lead engagement with financial service providers to facilitate access to finance.
Design and implement tailored financial solutions for FOs and MSMEs.

Required Skills And Experience

Advanced university degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Agribusiness, or related field required.
Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience.
Experience working on financing for private sector-driven agriculture development.

Language Requirements
Proficiency in both written and spoken English and Chichewa is essential.