Financial Management Specialist

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF IRRIGATION
PROGRAMME FOR RURAL IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
RECRUITMENT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

1.0 Background

The Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Agriculture with support from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is implementing the Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE). PRIDE aims at reducing vulnerability to food insecurity, climate change effects and vagaries of the market.

The Programme development objective is to enable smallholder farmers to sustainably enhance their production levels to such a degree that they can provide for their household nutritional demands and deliver produce to viable markets. PRIDE will achieve these objectives by providing smallholder farm households a combination of (i) irrigation, soil and water conservation infrastructures; (ii) promotion of good agricultural practices; and (iii) linkage to improved value chains.

PRIDE will engage in approximately 11 cluster scheme areas. The pre-selected cluster scheme areas are located in the eight districts of Chitipa, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, Dowa, Zomba Machinga and Phalombe.

In order to address rain-fed and irrigated elements of the farming system, PRIDE will engage with the villages clustered around the irrigation schemes earmarked for the Programme.

The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Department of Irrigation, as the implementing agency would like to engage the services of the Financial Management Specialist as an individual consultant..

2.0 Tasks and Responsibilities

The Financial Management Specialist will be responsible for overseeing financial management activities of the PRIDE project within the Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture as well as for financial management related capacity assessment and capacity building activities in implementing agencies for project based interventions. She or he will be responsible for all accounting, internal controls and other financial management within the Project Implementation

Team as well as supervision of the finance unit staff therein and at the Implementing Partners level. She or he will work as a team with the implementing agency accounting staff, under the supervision of the Project Coordinator. It is expected that the FMS will work closely with his or her government counterpart staff and ensuring that the counter part is exposed to international financial management practices, that the FMS transfers her of his skills, and ultimately ensures that the counterpart is fully capacitated to perform the financial management function. Progress in this area will be the main criteria against which the performance of the FMS will be assessed. The financial management specialist will focus on capacity building at both central and decentralized level.

The specific duties will include but not limited to:

• Liaise with appropriate Government offices and IFAD in overseeing and managing the special and project bank accounts established for the implementation of activities under the project.

• Establish and maintain the financial management system, including a grant/ loan accounting system, for the project to ensure the smooth flow and constant availability of financial resources to the Project.
• Prepare the project financial procedures manual, including the manuals for the provincial project implementation unit and the matching grant program
• Ensure compliance with accounting policies and practices as stipulated in the accounting regulations and procedures agreed for the Project.
• Periodically review the performance of control functions to ensure that internal controls are sufficient and functioning correctly.
• Supervise and conduct in-house financial management and accounting training for Project Staff
• Provide necessary support for the Implementing Agencies and District Councils in carrying out their responsibilities, and devise routine checks and controls to ensure timely accountability from recipients of funds (line ministries, provinces, etc) and compliance with project accounting requirements and procedures.
• Establish the Project Coordination Office central accounting filing system, and ensure all project documents are properly retained in accordance with GOM and IFAD requirements.
• Prepare, analyse and consolidate reports in accordance with the agreed reporting schedules ensuring correlation between implementation progress and financial performance.
• Prepare project financial reports, including IFRs and withdrawal applications for the replenishment of the Designated Accounts for submission to the Treasury and IFAD.
• Review the bank reconciliation statements and other controls necessary to monitor financial and non-financial assets of the project.
• Participate in annual work planning and budgeting exercises.
• Manage the Project cash flow requirements.
• Supervise the activities of the Project Coordination Office (PCO) finance unit.
• Coordinate as necessary with Internal and External Auditors, GOM and IFAD Supervision Missions, including attending and following up on findings and recommendations.
• Advise the Project Coordinator and Implementing Agencies on all financial and control considerations of the project.
• Review and enhance the TOMPRO accounting system to include other functionalities and linkages to the Government accounting system.
• Devolve the TOMPRO accounting system to District Councils and Implementing Agencies to ensure a coordinated financial reporting system.
• Carry out internal audit reviews in all Implementing Agencies to ensure adherence to the Financial Management procedures of the project and follow up on implementation of recommendations from the external auditors.

3.0 Key Qualifications and Experience
The applicant should have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance obtained from a recognized University and a professional qualified Accountant (ACCA, ICAM or CIMA) or its equivalent. Having Masters Degree will be an added advantage. He/she should have at least 10 years of proven track record working experience in executing financial management functions for donor funded projects / programmes of which at least 5 years must be in an International Financing Agency or related donor funded projects.

4.0 Location of Employment
The stated individual consultants will be based at Project Coordination Offices within Department of Irrigation Headquarters Lilongwe, but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project areas and work closely with the divisional/ regional/ district staff and communities to ensure that progress follows project plans and that appropriate support is provided for effective project implementation.

5.0 Duration of Employment
The assignment is for 24 months (2 years) with an initial contract period of 12 months. The appointment will be extended subject to annual satisfactory performance.

6.0 Method of application
Suitably qualified and experienced candidates should send their application letters enclosing detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), plus names of three (3) traceable referees not later than 30th December, 2024 to the address in the Paragraph below (hand delivery or email).

7.0 Address of submission

The Director of Irrigation Services
Department of Irrigation Headquarters
Off Paul Kagame Road – Opposite NACIT
P. O. Box 30797,
Capital City,
LILONGWE 3.
(Attention: Principal Human Resources Management Officer)

Or through email to: ifadpridemanager@gmail.com; doiprideproject@gmail.com