Johanes Mandowa

Currently working for GOPA Worldwide Consultancy as an Occupational Safety and Health Expert providing technical assistance to the Government of Malawi’s Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Trade and Industry under the European Union (EU) funded Zantchito skills for jobs project for entrepreneurial development. • ZANTCHITO skills for jobs programme is designed to support the Implementation of Enabling Environment Re-forms for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Related Labour Laws. • Project Objective 1: To create an enabling business environment for MSMEs in Malawi by addressing policy related issues affecting MSME operations, and strengthening of labour laws for their effective application in MSMEs in Malawi. • Project Objective 2: To improve the regulatory environment and promote observance of labour laws for attainment of decent jobs to ensure sustainable economic development in Malawi • I am the key Expert on Occupational safety and health who is spearheading the strengthening of labour laws and policies for the attainment of decent jobs and sustainable economic development in various sectors of the Malawian economy, particularly the Micro Small to Medium Enterprises ( MSMEs) • In this project I am also responsible for raising awareness of the different interventions and policy reforms in the MSME sector, including labour and decent work and promoting the visibility of EU's support for the Malawian MSME sector through this action • I am responsible for providing technical assistance to the Government of Malawi in promoting decent work provision in Malawi workplaces through implementation of the following deliverables; i. Output 1: Reviewing of existing labour laws that include the Occupational Safety, health and welfare act, Employment act, labour relations act, Workers compensation act. This assignment include conducting situational analysis , developing an Inception report, writing gap analysis report, conducting stakeholder consultative meetings with Govern-ment and its social partners and other interested stakeholders such as Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary portfolio committee on labour , conducting validation meetings and generating associated reports ,Raising awareness on the reviewed Labour Laws by identify-ing all communication channels to raise awareness on reviewed labour laws and conduct-ing awareness campaigns during OSH an Labour inspections ii. Output 2: Development of a National OSH policy and development of related regula-tions;- provide technical support in the development and operationalization of the Ma-lawi National OSH Policy, Organize launch events of the National OSH Policy to raise na-tional awareness, conduct awareness campaigns on the policy targeting employers and employees during OSH and Labour inspections, develop a communication strategy for the National Malawi OSH policy, Developing OSH regulations ( safety and health in agriculture and ergonomics regulations, conducting stakeholder consultative meetings , conducting stakeholders validation meetings, writing final report of developed regulations with related attachments, iii. Output 3: Review of the national OSH programme- Desktop review of the National OSH program in line with National OSH Policy, laws , ILO OSH conventions and recom-mendations, Gap analysis report on National OSH program, Conducting stakeholder con-sultative meetings report, Presenting National OSH program at Tripartite Advisory Labour Council, iv. Output 4: Facilitate capacity building of labour inspectors and OSH inspectors and workers compensation board of trustees; Conduct continuously training needs identifica-tion for OSH and Labour inspectors, Develop training manuals , Conduct training pro-grammes (Train the trainer programme for OSH inspectors and MSMEs, Capacity building of OSH inspectors on environmental monitoring (occupational hygiene) ( theory and field activities), facilitate the conducting of National Safety and Health at Work (NSHAW) Con-ference, Conduct intensive capacity building training for labour inspectors to promote the concept of integrated labour inspections, Capacity building of labour inspectors on la-bour laws, Conduct workshop on development of Workers compensation Fund implemen-tation strategy, Conduct workshop to build capacity on Workers Compensation Board to operationalise WC fund v. Output 5: Conducting periodic Labour and OSH inspections targeting MSMEs as well as big enterprises: Provide technical field expert support to OSH and labour inspectors in the execution of labour and OSH inspections in MSMEs, Conduct targeted SMEs OSH and Labour Inspections, Conduct targeted SMEs OSH and Labour follow up inspections, Re-view OSH and Labour inspection checklists to address all facets of decent work provision, Develop OSH and Labour inspections checklists for the MSMEs, Raising awareness on SME targeted OSH and Labour inspections, vi. Output 5: : Enhanced awareness of MSME and labour laws policy interventions & EU support - Sensitizing and raising awareness on Labour laws and OSH through training of MSMEs, Conducting TV talk show on decent work, Developing Labour/OSH laws booklets , Develop flyers on labour/OSH targeting the SME , Developing budgeted communication and visibility plan, Spearhead Continuous communications of Zantchito events and ac-tions on various media platforms, Procurement of events visibility materials vii. Project Monitoring and Evaluation- Start of project implementation (Inception phase), Equipment tender preparation, Developing and Implementing Monitoring & Evaluation system, Preparing Annual project work plan, writing 6-monthly progress reports, Support-ing project management and steering committee meetings (PSC) and Technical working groups (TWG) meetings, Conducting project monitoring events & workshops, Conclusion of activities (closure phase)