Regional Environment and Climate Change Officer

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Ministry of Local Government Unity and Culture is the lead implementing agency of a six-year programme known as Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) Programme. TRADE is a successor programme of Rural Livelihoods and Economic Enhancement Programme (RLEEP) and it is being co-funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) whose overall goal is to contribute to improved sustainable livelihoods of rural people in Malawi through Value Chain commercialisation and resilience of rural poor and smallholder’s producers”. TRADE Programme specifically seeks to: (i) increase production and productivity by smallholder farmers; (ii) functionally upgrade smallholder farmers and the rural poor to undertake new functions such as processing, storage, packaging to capture more value; (iii) improve horizontal linkages by strengthening the capacities of cooperatives to provide market access functions to smallholder farmers; and, (iv) improve vertical linkages between stakeholders at different functional levels of the commodity chain, including private sector.

TRADE supports rural entrepreneurs, focusing on youths and women to develop and sustain their agribusiness enterprise opportunities and ensuring that commodities are nutrition sensitive. The objective is achieved through targeted support to smallholder farmers and non-farm actors to benefit from commodity markets, improved access to rural financial services, market and business development services and partnerships with the private sector.

The programme directly contributes to Pillar 1 and 3 of MW 2063. and Strategic objective 2 of the Malawi Country Strategic Opportunity (COSOP 2016-2021). Under the Ministry of Local Government as lead agency, TRADE is being implemented under 3 interlinked components namely: sustainable producer-private partnerships; enabling environment for smallholder commercialization and component; and, institutional support and programme management. With a total target of 300,000 households, TRADE covers Eleven (11) Districts of Mchinji, Ntchisi, Dedza, Blantyre, Kasungu, Nkhata-Bay, Rumphi, Karonga, Lilongwe Rural, Thyolo and Chitipa, focusing on Seven (7) commodities namely Groundnuts, Soybean, Sunflower, Potato, Dairy, Beef and Honey).

The Ministry of Local Government Unity and Culture, therefore, invites experienced candidates to fill various positions existing under the TRADE Programme as follows:

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE OFFICER (CENTRAL REGION)

Number of Positions: 1
Recruitment: National
Reporting to: Environment and Climate Change Specialist

Job Purpose

The Regional Environment and Climate Change Officer will oversee climate resilience and environmental management activities in the Central Region, ensuring compliance with the Social, Environmental, and Climate Assessment Procedure (SECAP). The officer will also support policy dialogue, institutional coordination, and capacity building at the district level.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide technical support for the implementation of environmental and natural resource management activities under the TRADE Programme.
• Ensure that climate resilience and environmental management indicators are incorporated into the Programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system.
• Facilitate baseline studies that integrate environmental and climate change data at the district level.
• Support the development and execution of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs).
• Conduct technical reviews of environmental management and climate change adaptation plans for infrastructure and value chain activities.
• Organize capacity-building workshops for Programme stakeholders, including service providers, district councils, and community-based organizations.
• Provide strategic guidance on climate resilience planning, implementation, and monitoring through field visits and technical assistance.
• Contribute to the preparation of the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB).
• Ensure compliance with national and international environmental regulations relevant to TRADE activities.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Agriculture.
• At least five years of experience in climate change adaptation and environmental management.
• Strong knowledge of climate resilience strategies, natural resource governance, and environmental regulatory frameworks.
• Experience in GIS-based mapping and environmental data analysis.
• Proven ability to facilitate policy discussions and stakeholder coordination.

All applications, with attached copies of professional and academic certificates, National ID, Curriculum Vitae and evidence of membership to a relevant professional body, should be hand delivered to the following address, not later than 14th June, 2025:

The Secretary for Local Government, Unity and Culture,
Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture,
Post Office Box 30312,
LILONGWE 3.
(Room 12)