Private Sector Development Adviser

British High Commission

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)

Main purpose of job:

BHC Malawi is looking to recruit a dynamic, well qualified and experienced candidate who can support the development of this agenda. Malawi offers a rewarding work environment, which delivers programme results, and provides policy and technical input into the FCDO at the BHC Malawi, regional and central levels.

Overall, in this role you will be responsible for leading BHC’s programme and policy work on private sector development, leading engagement with key stakeholders that can leverage private sector instruments and opportunities for UK and Malawi mutual priorities on growth, climate and nature and poverty reduction. This includes but is not limited to key departments and agencies in the UK and Malawi government, leading UK, Malawian and third country investors and businesses in the real economy, financial sector, international finance institutions and development partners.

Roles and responsibilities:

Key responsibilities include:

Provide technical oversight and lead technical advice on design, delivery, monitoring, learning as Senior Responsible Owner of the £39m Malawi Trade and Investment Programme, that seeks to support macro-economic stability, boost exports through developing key value chains and bringing down the cost of trade through trade facilitation. This includes:

  • Direct oversight of the Malawi Value Chains project that uses a market systems approach to support growth and poverty reduction through the macadamia, mangoes and mining value chains; supports trade facilitation through Trade Mark Africa; and complemented by a vehicle that delivers higher-value investments in critical infrastructure, which you will be responsible for designing.
  • Work with the BHC Economist to oversee support that provides technical advice to achieve macro-economic stability, improved public financial management, alongside other technical advice underpinning economic growth.

Ensure strong coordination and cross-mission private sector support:

  • Providing adaptive cross-office advisory support to the PSD agenda in relevant areas e.g. working with climate finance stakeholders (e.g. in the energy, climate adaption spaces), close engagement with UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on UK trade and investment priorities and exploring avenues to harness the British Investment Partnerships toolkit in Malawi and support FCDO’s priorities in supporting mutual beneficial growth, tackle climate and nature crises, using both ODA and non-ODA levers.
  • Lead in shaping and briefing on relevant business environment reforms that affect growth of the private sector through direct engagement, commissioning impactful work, and building consensus and driving concerted efforts among relevant stakeholders, feeding into and supporting relevant FCDO regional and centre-led agriculture, business environment and financial service programmes, and supporting the design of a new Climate Change business case on PSD aspects.
  • Supporting the BHC’s senior leaders in delivering the UK’s policy engagement and influencing agenda on growth, trade and private sector development.
  • Developing networks and utilising high-level relationships in the private sector, central government, IFIs and other development partners to deliver MTIP and PSD objectives.
  • Maintain cutting edge understanding of and application of evidence and work to build the capability of others, including potential line reports.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Financial oversight as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the Malawi Trade an Investment Programme (£39m)
  • Management of two members of staff (1 Trade and Investment Specialist; 1 Deputy Programme Manager)

See PSD competency framework Private Sector Development: Technical Competency Framework – GOV.UK

PSD advisers are expected to provide:

  • Expertise in international policy and investment, applicable across a range of themes and geographies, and with a focus on development impact
  • Mobilising private finance using blended structures to attract private investment in emerging markets and developing economies
  • Use of evidence to inform policy and programming including the use of political economy analysis
  • Policy and programme delivery, from design through to implementation and appraisal
  • International influence and diplomacy, thinking and working politically and cooperatively, and through appropriate challenge, to shape norms and approaches
  • Brokering partnerships with governments, civil society, the private sector, multilaterals, research organisations and professional bodies in the UK and globally
  • Delivering value for money by applying key economic and commercial concepts
  • Safeguarding to ensure the UK does-no-harm and by integrating gender equality, child protection, disability inclusion, preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment
  • Tackling climate change and restoring nature, ensuring that programmes are aligned with the Paris agreement on climate change and UK commitments on nature
  • Embodying Civil Service behaviours in applying, communicating, influencing, and leading technical and evidence-informed processes and engagement
  • Knowledge of data relevant to the operating sector and context and applying professional expertise in the interpretation and analysis of this in support of intended outcomes
  • Systems thinking, recognising inter-linkages, real-world dynamics, and complexity to help design effective policies and interventions
  • Innovation and digital development, proactive in exploring and validating innovative approaches, technology solutions and creative ways to address the world’s challenges

10%:

  • All Private Sector Development advisers are required to provide up to 10% of their time (equivalent to 22 days per year) to support FCDO’s wider private sector development objectives. This might entail support to another country programme such as contributing to an annual review, developing an evidence product or the design and delivery of training for other cadre members or HMG officials

Assessment and analysis:

  • Maintain situational awareness through regular assessment and analysis of needs and corresponding response.
  • Communicate this well to colleagues, senior officials and Ministers within FCDO and HMG in order to effectively influence the necessary evolution or changes of policy and programme priorities

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture

24 January 2025

To apply for this job please visit fco.tal.net.