District Project Coordinator (3 Positions)

Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Environmental Affairs Department
ASSIGNMENTS UNDER CHAMPIONING LOCAL ADAPTATION FOR PRODUCTIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND ENHANCED RESILIENCE (CLAP FOR RESILIENCE) PROJECT

1.0 BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
The Malawi Government has received financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the Championing Local Adaptation for Productive Ecosystems and Enhanced Resilience (CLAP for Resilience) Project in the three districts of Kasungu, Nkhotakota and Mchinji for 72 months ( 6 years). Communities in the Bua River basin in Central Region of Malawi are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, increasingly unpredictable and erratic rainfall, and more frequent and intense climate hazards such as droughts and floods are exacerbating the existing effects of deforestation and land degradation. These factors weaken the delivery of ecosystem services (including erosion control, soil water infiltration, flood attenuation, and pest and disease control), thereby causing a decline in agricultural yields and leaving rain-fed subsistence farmers trapped in a cycle of intensifying food insecurity and deepening poverty – particularly for marginalised groups such as women and unemployed youth.

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The objective of the CLAP for Resilience project is to increase adaptive capacities and reduce the vulnerabilities of communities to climate change impacts through integrated catchment-based approaches that enable local communities to partner with the private sector to rejuvenate agriculture and enhance investments in climate-resilient livelihoods. This integrated approach will address several remaining barriers to adaptation and resilience, ensuring that the communities living in the target districts are resilient and develop in a sustainable way under current and future climate conditions. Four project components will support the project objective, namely:

  1. Component 1: Strengthening capacities to support gender responsive grassroots interventions for climate change adaptation and governance of resources for long term resilience;
  2. Component 2: Supporting adoption of climate smart and nature-based solutions for climate-resilient agriculture and ecosystems;
  3. Component 3: Strengthening private sector engagement for investments in economic value chains and climate-resilient livelihoods;
  4. Component 4: Participatory planning and knowledge management for sustainability.

2.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM

To effectively implement the Project for 6 years, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) is therefore inviting applications for the following positions; (i)Project Manager(1), (ii) Monitoring and Evaluation Officer(1), (iii) Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer (Part time Consultant) (1), (iv) Finance and Administrative Officer (1), (v) District Project Coordinators (3), (vi) Finance and Administrative Assistants (3), to manage the day to day operations of the project.

The Project Manager, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, the Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer, the Finance and Administration Officer will operate from the Project Management Unit (PMU) based at the Environmental Affairs Department offices in Lilongwe and will be reporting to the Director of Environmental Affairs. The District Project Coordinators and Finance and Administration Assistants will operate from Mchinji, Nkhotakota and Kasungu District Councils and will report to the Director of Environmental Affairs through the Project Manager based at Environmental Affairs Department in Lilongwe.

DISTRICT PROJECT COORDINATORS (3)

District Project Coordinator

Tenable in District Councils

Time Input: 72 months/ over 6 years

Overall Description of the duties

The District Project Coordinator will be responsible for day-to-day management and implementation and monitoring and reporting of project interventions in the district in collaboration with the project implementing sectors. The District Project Coordinators will be based in Nkhotakota, Mchinji and Nkhotakota District Councils on full time basis for a period of 72 months. The District Project Coordinator will be reporting to the Director of Environment Affairs Department through the District Commissioner through the Project Manager in close collaboration with the Environmental District Officer (EDO).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager and the District Commissioner, the District Project Coordinator will carry out the following tasks:

  • Assist the Project Manager and District Councils in day-to-day management, implementation and oversight of project activities in relation to the agreed work plan;
  • Promote coordination of CLAP for Resilience project activities with district implementing sectors and other stakeholders under the guidance of the EDO, Project Manager and EAD.
  • Promote increased awareness of relevant government sectors to mainstream Climate Change Adaptation into their plans, programmes, and projects.
  • Liaise with the project support team at the local and district level and provide managerial and technical support.
  • Provide appropriate support to district staff, including budgeting assistance and basic translation of the project objectives into activities for implementation.
  • Support in preparing draft work plans for the Project in conjunction with other project team members at the central and district level.
  • Assist district project team in drafting and finalising work plans and budgets (revision) for submission to the Project Manager.
  • Support in conducting assessments, monitoring, and evaluating project activities for reporting progress.
  • Assist the M&E officer in matters related to M&E and knowledge resources management;
  • Preparation of progress reports;
  • In liaison with the district project implementing team, ensure that quarterly, annual reports and other reports are prepared and submitted on time;
  • Ensure all project documentation (progress reports, consulting and other technical reports, minutes of meetings, etc.) are adequately maintained in hard and electronic copies in an efficient and readily accessible filing system, for when required by Project Coordination Committee, National Technical Committee on Climate Change and the National Steering Committee, on Climate Change, UNDP, project consultants and other PMU staff; and Provide PMU-related administrative and logistical assistance;
  • Performing any other duties as required

Minimum Education requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in degree with specialization in Environmental Sciences, Climate Change Management, Environment and Natural Resources Management, and Agriculture from an accredited University is a must.

Minimum years of relevant work experience

  • Minimum of 3 years’ working experience in the area of Climate Change Management, Natural Resources Management and Climate Smart Agriculture.

Required skills and competencies

  • Proven experience in project planning and management.
  • Proven experience in national or sectoral development planning processes
  • Knowledge and working experience in Malawi related to environment, climate change, resilience and development issues and processes;
  • Knowledgeable of government procedures would be an added advantage
  • Strong financial oversight management skills
  • Strong team working skills and willingness to travel and work with rural communities
  • Self-motivated, well oreanized, and ability to lead: ability to work with minimum supervision while ensuring work as part of a larger team
  • Excellent communication skills with ability to express ideas clearly.
  • Familiarity with institutional, planning and regulatory structures, and rural livelihoods in Malawi
  • Computer knowledge and office software packages (MS Word, Excel,)

Required Languages)

  • English and Chichewa

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants that satisfy the requirements in the ToRs should submit their applications including a signed application letter indicating the position they are applying for with an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV); Names and Contacts of Three Traceable Referees; Copies of Certificates by 16:30PM on 17h September, 2025 to:

The Director of Environmental Affairs,
Lingadzi House,
P/Bag 394,
LILONGWE 3.

For the detailed job descriptions, please follow the link; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nxMUtkdfalGehzfZtRm75fXLvbKOUySn/view?usp=sharing