Financial Management Specialist

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

SHIRE VALLEY TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME (SVTP) -2

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Country: MALAWI’
Name of Project: SHIRE VALLEY TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME-2
Credit No: 71350-MW
Assignment Title: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Reference No. : MW-MOAIWD-437147-CS-INDV

1.0 Introduction
The programme development objective for the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) is to increase agricultural productivity and commercialization for targeted households in the Shire Valley, and to improve the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources. The project development objective of SVTP is to provide access to reliable gravity fed irrigation and drainage services, secure land tenure for smallholder farmers, and strengthen management of wetlands and protected areas in the Shire Valley.

The SVIP is a 14-year programme (2017-2031) structured around three coordinated pillars: i) Providing reliable, professionally managed and sustainably financed irrigation service to a large number of irrigators in a phased construction of the Shire Valley Irrigation Project scheme and providing multiple services including water supply (ii) Support farmer organization within a comprehensive land use plan; supporting land tenure strengthening and consolidation; as well as natural resources management; and (iii) establishment of smallholder owned commercial farm enterprises transitioning into commercial agriculture from subsistence farming and integrating them into commercial value chains. These pillars all contribute to the overarching goals of the programme and build on each other in a phased approach. There are three Phases to the SVIP:

• Phase I (SVP-I) initiated the process on all pillars, with a major focus on irrigation service provision to the SVIP-I area, land tenure, farmer organization and natural resource management;
• SVP-Il shifts investment focus to agricultural investment, private sector and value chain support, as well as investments in bulk infrastructure for the SVIP-ll area;
• SVP-Ill is the scale-up phase of investments to the SVIP-ll area.
• The SVIP is managed by a Project Management Team (PMT) consisting of various technical specialists headed by a Project Coordinator. One of the specialists is the Financial Management Specialist (FMS).The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development therefore invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of FMS, recruited as individual consultant.

2.0 The Position

The Financial Management Specialist is part of a larger Project Management and Coordination Team, which comprises the Task Force, the Coordinator and other Specialists.

The Financial Management Specialist will be responsible for all accounting, internal control and other financial management within the Project Management Team, as well as supervision of the finance unit staff therein and at other centres where applicable.

The Main Tasks will be as follows:

• Liaise with appropriate Government offices, IDA and other Development Partners in overseeing and managing the special and project bank accounts established for the implementation of activities under the Project;
• Establish, operate and maintain the financial management system, including a grant 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;
• 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 line ministry in carrying out its responsibilities, and devise routines and controls to ensure timely accountability from recipients of funds (line ministries, provinces, etc.) and compliance with project accounting requirements and procedures;
• Establish central accounting filing system, and ensure all project documents are properly retained in accordance with GOM and Bank requirements;
• Prepare, analyze and consolidate reports in accordance with the agreed reporting schedules ensuring correlation between implementation progress and financial performance;
• Prepare project financial reports, induding IF s and withdrawal applications for the replenishment of the Designated Account, for submission to the Project Technical Team Coordinator and the WB;
• Review the bank reconciliation statements and other controls necessary to monitor financial and non-financial assets of the project;
• Manage the Project’s cash flow requirements;
• Participate in the preparation of Annual Work Plans and Budgets for the participating districts and the project;
• Verify the contractual and financial details of each invoice, payment requests and interim or final itemised statement of account before making any payment;
• Timely prepare disbursement requests and financial justifications for the project and submit to Treasury and financiers;
• Supervise the correlation of expenditure to physical outputs in all the project districts;
• Prepare annual financial statements and ensure that all project accounts are audited timely at least once a year by a reputable auditing firm and submit an annual audit report to GoM and financiers;
• Maintain accurate and traceable schedules for VAT and timely remittance of tax deductions to the Malawi Revenue Authority;
• Regular monitoring of budgets against expenditure;
• Supervise the financial activities of the unit;
• Coordinate as necessary with Internal and External Audit, GOM and Bank supervision missions, including attending to follow up on findings and recommendations;
• Advise the Project Coordinator on all financial and control considerations of the project;
• Ensure that project goods and services to be financed by the World Bank or ADF will be procured according to the World Bank or ADB Rules and Procedure for Procurement of Goods and Works and technical assistance and consultants are recruited according to the Rules and Procedure for the Use of Consultant.
• Undertake all other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the role and level of this position as may be requested by the Project Coordinator

3.0 Reporting

The Financial Management Specialist will report to the Project Coordinator for his/her everyday responsibilities.

The Financial Management Specialist will be a competitively recruited individual consultant and will be part of the overall project execution process.

4.0 Qualifications and Experience

The Financial Management Specialist should meet the following minimum qualifications:

• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree in accounting and Finance or business management or related field. Those with masters’ degree will be an added advantage.
• An internationally recognized accounting professional qualification (e.g., ACCA/ CIMA).
• At least 10 years of post-qualification experience of work in a complex, multi-sectoral environment, including: Approx. 5 years’ experience of donor accounting and 5 years managing an accounting department of at least 10 staff.
• Audit experience would be an added advantage.
• Highly numerate with ability to identify trends, errors and non compliant accounting practices;
• Ability to scrutinize service, supplies and works contracts and reconcile transactions with them;
• Proven track record and competence in the use of computerized accounting systems is required.
• Strong command of written and spoken English

5.0 Location of Employment

The Financial Management Specialist will be based in Blantyre, but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project area (Chikhwawa & Nsanje) and work closely with an inter-ministerial Task Force in Lilongwe to ensure that progress follows project plans and that appropriate support is provided for project activities.

6.0 Facilities to be provided by the client

The following shall be provided by the client: office space, furniture, and office equipment, communication, and internet facilities. For all field related assignments, the Project shall provide transport and costs and other expenses (per Diems etc.) related to the field work.

7.0 Duration of Employment

The assignment is for an initial period of 12 months and the appointment will be on a contract basis.

8.0 The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section Ill, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

9.0 Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 7:30hrs to 12:00hrs and from 13:00hrs to 17:00hrs except on Weekends and Public Holidays.

10.0 Expressions of interest including detailed updated curriculum vitae and copies of professional and academic qualifications must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 22nd November, 2024.

The Director of Irrigation Services,
Department of Irrigation,
Off Paul Kagame Road,
P.O. Box 30797,
Lilongwe, Malawi
(Attention: The Principal Human Resources Management Officer)
Alternatively, applications may be emailed to:
bandayvonne3@gmail.com; cc: mtewete.doi@svtp.gov.mw;
mwalabu2005@yahoo.co.uk; mmaoni.doi@svtp.gov.mw