Job description
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT @ NATIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE COMMITTEE (NLGFC)
LOCATION: Lilongwe
POSITION: PROJECT COORDINATOR
PROJECT: Integrated Social Protection for Resilience and Opportunity (INSPIRE-O)
CREDIT / GRANT NO.: P512324
OVERVIEW
The Government of Malawi, through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), has received financing from the World Bank Group and the Malawi Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The funding is supported by the European Union, Ireland, the United Kingdom through FCDO, Germany through KIW, Iceland, and Norway.
The financing will support the implementation of the Integrated Social Protection for Resilience and Opportunity (INSPIRE-O) project.
NLGFC intends to use part of the proceeds to recruit qualified specialists and officers on three-year contracts, renewable annually based on performance and the availability of financial resources, or as mutually agreed by both parties.
NLGFC therefore invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates for the position of Project Coordinator.
JOB TYPE: Three-Year Contract, Renewable Annually
Date of Issue: Friday, 6th November 2026
Application Deadline: Friday, 13th November 2026, at 5:00 PM
Duty Station: NLGFC Offices, Lilongwe
Number of Positions: One (1)
POSITION: PROJECT COORDINATOR
JOB SUMMARY
The Project Coordinator (PC) will head the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at NLGFC and provide strategic leadership in the implementation of the INSPIRE-O project.
The successful candidate will ensure the timely, effective, and compliant delivery of project activities to achieve the project's development objectives.
The role requires a senior professional capable of managing a complex, multi-component project, coordinating diverse stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with fiduciary, environmental, and social safeguards.
The Project Coordinator will serve as the principal operational counterpart to the World Bank on implementation, fiduciary, safeguards, and results matters, working alongside the Director of Social and Economic Services (DSES).
KEY REQUIREMENTS
Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience
Applicants must possess the following:
A Master's degree in Project Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, or a related field from an accredited institution.
A minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant working experience in senior project management positions.
Strong experience in planning, budget management, and project execution within the public sector.
Experience managing large donor-funded projects.
Experience working with decentralisation and local government systems in Malawi.
Experience in the management and coordination of large-scale adaptive social protection programmes in Malawi.
TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
Proficiency in project and budget management software and tracking tools, including Microsoft Office.
In-depth knowledge of World Bank procurement and financial management procedures.
Knowledge of Government of Malawi financial and procurement regulations.
Experience with digital delivery systems, Management Information Systems (MIS), beneficiary management, and data quality assurance.
Strong project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting skills.
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES
Proven ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral teams.
Excellent problem-solving and strategic-thinking skills.
Demonstrated capacity to manage multi-stakeholder coordination and district-level implementation oversight.
Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
Excellent written and spoken English.
Ability to produce clear, concise, and high-quality technical reports.
Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills when engaging with senior government officials and development partners.
High levels of motivation, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Commitment to anti-corruption and anti-bribery ethics.
DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Planning and Coordination
Lead the development, consolidation, and monitoring of Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs), ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and financing agreements.
Lead cross-component and cross-institutional coordination to facilitate information sharing and joint implementation among government agencies, local authorities, and service providers.
Establish and maintain effective collaboration platforms with project stakeholders.
Provide strategic oversight of adaptive social protection and shock-responsive delivery mechanisms.
Ensure strategic coherence across delivery systems, including CoreMIS, digital payments and MSR oversight, beneficiary management, and data quality assurance.
2. Fiduciary Management and Compliance
Oversee project financial management in coordination with the Financial Management Specialist, including budgeting, cash-flow forecasting, and expenditure monitoring.
Coordinate with the Procurement Specialist to ensure timely preparation, execution, and updating of procurement plans at central and district levels.
Ensure compliance with the Government of Malawi's Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act and World Bank Procurement Regulations.
Lead the management of contracts for consultants and service providers, identifying and resolving potential challenges.
Ensure timely audits by the National Audit Office and submission of annual audit reports to Government and the World Bank.
3. Safeguards and Compliance Oversight
Ensure project activities comply with the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and Good International Industry Practice (GIIP).
Coordinate with Environmental, Social, and Occupational Health and Safety specialists to ensure local authorities develop and implement the required safeguards at project sites.
Ensure compliance with the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and other relevant government regulations.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
Ensure accountability for the achievement of project results and Project Development Objective (PDO) indicators.
Coordinate the preparation and submission of periodic progress reports, including Interim Financial Reports (IFRs) and results framework performance reports.
Submit reports to the NLGFC Executive Director and the World Bank Task Team.
Oversee the development and maintenance of implementation dashboards, district performance reviews, mission follow-up matrices, and bottleneck tracking reports.
5. Staff Management and Leadership
Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day supervision to the Project Implementation Team (PIT).
Ensure effective staff time commitment, high performance, and professional development.
Exercise overall supervisory authority over all PIU staff.
Conduct performance appraisals for consultants under direct supervision.
Foster a collaborative and results-oriented team environment.
Manage the project office and its administrative activities.
6. Stakeholder Engagement and Governance
Liaise with the Director of PRSP on scheduling and organising governance meetings, including Project Steering Committee (PSC) and Project Technical Coordination Group (PTCG) meetings.
Support the preparation and circulation of meeting agendas, minutes, and action trackers within stipulated timelines.
Organise and coordinate World Bank implementation support missions.
Ensure timely follow-up on mission recommendations.
Represent the project at meetings convened by public and private organisations.
Provide leadership in multi-sector coordination and district-level implementation oversight.
7. Risk Management
Review and update the project's risk management framework.
Ensure systematic identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks across all project components and implementation levels.
Integrate risk management into district-level implementation, including appropriate mitigation measures and escalation protocols.
DELIVERABLES AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
The Project Coordinator's performance will be assessed against the timeliness, quality, and completeness of the following deliverables, as detailed in the approved Project Implementation Manual (PIM):
Monthly, quarterly, and annual project implementation performance reports.
Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs).
Procurement planning and performance reports.
Fiduciary, environmental, and social compliance reports.
Financial reports, including Interim Financial Reports (IFRs), monthly, quarterly and annual reports, and audited financial statements.
Updated Results Framework.
Governance meeting reports, including minutes, agendas, and action trackers.
Reports and action plans from World Bank Implementation Support Missions.
Annual Project Performance Reports and Project Implementation Completion Report (ICR).
Implementation dashboards, district performance reviews, mission follow-up matrices, and bottleneck tracking reports.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)
Performance will be assessed against the following:
Timeliness, completeness, and quality of plans and reports.
Implementation performance against approved annual work plans and budgets.
Procurement performance against approved timelines.
Compliance with fiduciary, environmental, and social requirements.
Timely organisation of governance meetings and supervision missions.
Effective management and supervision of the PIU.
Achievement of project results and PDO indicators.
Quality of implementation and delivery system strengthening.
Effectiveness of risk management, including district-level risk mitigation.
REPORTING AND SUPERVISION
The Project Coordinator will report directly to the Executive Director and work technically with the NLGFC's Director of Social and Economic Services.
The Project Coordinator must promptly disclose any matter that may materially affect project integrity, compliance, schedule, cost, performance, or achievement of the assignment objectives, and recommend practical corrective action for consideration by authorised Client representatives.
FACILITIES AND CLIENT INPUTS
NLGFC will provide reasonable facilities necessary for the performance of the services, including:
Office space, furniture, and office equipment.
Communication and internet facilities.
Access to relevant project documents, reports, systems, and designated counterpart staff, subject to applicable access controls.
Official travel outside the duty station will require prior written authorisation. NLGFC will provide or pay for authorised transport and applicable subsistence allowances (per diems) in accordance with the contract and applicable Government rates.
The contract will clarify whether each eligible cost is paid directly by NLGFC or reimbursed against supporting documentation.
OWNERSHIP, CONFIDENTIALITY AND RECORDS
All reports, registers, tools, training materials, databases, records, and other products prepared specifically under the assignment will be the property of NLGFC, subject to the terms of the contract.
The Project Coordinator must maintain confidentiality of non-public information received or generated during the assignment and use it only for the performance of the services.
At completion or termination of the assignment, the successful candidate must return or hand over all Client records, access devices, working files, and final outputs in an organised and usable form.
DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The assignment will run for three (3) years, with annual contract renewal subject to satisfactory performance and availability of project resources.
SELECTION AND REMUNERATION
Selection Method: Individual Consultant selection in accordance with the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Sixth Edition, February 2025.
Remuneration: A competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit the following documents:
An application letter.
A concise Curriculum Vitae (CV).
A copy of National ID.
Copies of relevant original academic and professional certificates.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Executive Director
National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC)
Area 14, Red Cross Building
Presidential Way
P.O. Box 31162
Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Email: recruitment@nlgfc.gov.mw
Closing Date: Friday, 13th November 2026, at 5:00 PM
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
NLGFC is an equal opportunity employer committed to gender equality and diversity in its operations. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. See less
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