Background: The Government of the Republic of Malawi (GoM) through the Ministry of Industry and Trade will from July 2007 implement a five year Business Environment Strengthening Technical Assistance Project (BESTAP) with the technical and financial assistance (in the form of a grant) of International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. The project will assist GoM in reducing the regulatory burden and costs of doing business in Malawi, improving service delivery to the private sector, improving access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and strengthening support for technical and business management skills thereby improving productivity and competitiveness at the firm level.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade intends to use part of the proceeds of the grant to support the implementation of a Business Growth Scheme (BUGS). The scheme is in direct support of the project objective of supporting SMEs and private sector led economic growth.
Applications from suitably qualified candidates are now invited for the following posts tenable within the BUGS Unit in Blantyre.
Job title: Bugs Scheme Manager
Task and Responsibilities: The BUGS Scheme Manager will work closely with the World Bank and shall report to the Private Sector Development Steering Committee (PSC) through the Project Implementation Unit, which acts as the secretariat to the Steering Committee.
The essential responsibilities of the BUGS Scheme Manager will be to:
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the BUGS Scheme, and of the BUGS Unit, in order to achieve the agreed objective of the scheme, namely the maximum possible growth in the firms assisted. - Ensure that the scheme is operated in strict accordance with the BUGS Operations Manual.
The manual indicates the following specific responsibilities to be undertaken by the unit, under the management of the BUGS Scheme Manager:
- Pro-active promotion of the BUGS Program to the Malawi private sector, covering all major business centers of the country - Providing direct assistance to individual firms, with the unit itself providing the direct mentoring assistance - Administering the provision of BUGS cost-sharing grants to firms, for the use of specialized services - Cost-sharing grant assistance to firms, to promote on-site HIV/AIDS testing - Preparing and submitting to the PIU, for consideration by the PSC, regular Annual Activity Plans - Similarly preparing and submitting Quarterly Progress Reports
Key Qualifications:
The prospective candidates should be able to offer the following: - A degree, at least at bachelor level, preferably in Economics, Engineering or Business Studies - At least five years of post-degree work experience, preferably mainly in the private sector - Preferably some training in business administration - Preferably some work experience in either South Africa, Western Europe or North America - Proven ability to understand, analyze and evaluate the operation of individual businesses, preferably in a wide range of industries and service activities - Proven ability to operate independently for extended periods, without close supervision - Proven ability to work one-to-one with business owners and CEO’s, and gain their trust - Preferably some experience in advising individual businesses on how to improve and grow their businesses - Full computer literacy, including use of Word and Excel, plus the use of computer-based accounting and/or project management systems - Preferably some experience of managing others
A candidate with direct experience in providing management consulting services to private firms and operating or managing a similar scheme of support to private firms, particularly one involving cost-sharing grants, will have added advantage.
Duration of the Contract: The BUGS Scheme Manager will be contracted for five years but the contract will be renewed annually depending on performance.
Job title: Bugs Business Advisors (2)
Task and Responsibilities: The BUGS Business Advisors will report to the BUGS Scheme Manager and will assist the BUGS Scheme Manager in the performance of the responsibilities to be undertaken by the unit as outlined in the BUGS Operations Manual.
The manual indicates the following specific responsibilities: - Pro-active promotion of the BUGS Program to the Malawi private sector, covering all major business centres of the country - Providing direct assistance to individual firms, with the unit itself providing the direct mentoring assistance - Administering the provision of BUGS cost-sharing grants to firms, for the use of specialized services - Cost-sharing grant assistance to firms, to promote on-site HIV/AIDS testing - Preparing and submitting to the PIU, for consideration by the PSC, regular Annual Activity Plans - Similarly preparing and submitting Quarterly Progress Reports - Working closely and co-operating fully with the World Bank regular project supervision missions.
Key Qualifications: Candidates should be posses and able to offer the following:
- A degree, at least at bachelor level, preferably in Economics, Engineering or Business Studies - At least three years of post-degree work experience, preferably mainly in the private sector - Personal knowledge of Malawi, and of its private sector - Fluency in speaking Chichewa; fluency in writing and speaking English - Understanding of the culture and prevailing attitudes of the people of Malawi - Preferably some training in business administration - Preferably some work experience in either South Africa, Western Europe or North America - Proven ability to understand, analyze and evaluate the operation of individual businesses, preferably in a wide range of industries and service activities - Proven ability to operate independently for extended periods, without close supervision - Preferably, a proven ability to work one-to-one with business owners and CEO’s, and gain their trust - Preferably some experience in advising individual businesses on how to improve and grow their businesses - Full computer literacy, including use of Word and Excel, plus the use of computer-based accounting and/or project management systems.
Candidates with direct experience in providing management consulting services to private firms would be preferred.
Duration of the Contract: The two BUGS Business Advisors will be recruited on individual contracts of five years but the contracts will be renewed annually depending on performance.
Method of application: Interested eligible candidates must submit a written application together with a detailed Curriculum Vitae and copies of supporting qualification documents including names of three traceable referees to reach the under mentioned not later than 19 June 2007 by 1600 hours.
Contact: Ministry of Industry and Trade (Business Environment Strengthening Technical Assistance Pproject-BESTAP) PO Box 30366 Lilongwe 3, Malawi Tel: (265-1) 770 244, 776-077, 776-080 Fax: (265-1) 770-680 E-mail:
