Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Job Identification: 32719

Apply Before: 06/16/2026, 05:59 AM

Employment Type: Full time

Grade: NPSA-11

Contract Duration: 1 Year

1. Governance: This portfolio focuses on strengthening effective, accountable, and inclusive governance. It promotes civic engagement, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and democracy, alongside improving data generation and analysis.
2. Resilience and Sustainable Growth (RSG): This portfolio focuses on economic innovation, inclusive business, job creation, and renewable energy access. It also aims to help Malawi adapt to climate change and build resilience to disasters.

• Oversee the roll out and implementation of the UCHI Commercialization Facility:
• Facilitate development of milestones for each of the grantees (FOs/SMEs) in consultation with the project team and the grantees and align the same with disbursement amounts: 
• Facilitate development of the UCHI Commercialization Facility’s matching grant milestone verification tools; 
• Lead the review of disbursement request against milestone achievements;
• Oversee a portfolio of grants and other financial products under the UCHI – Agriculture Commercialization Project, ensuring adherence to financial agreements and monitoring progress against milestones;
• Ensure that payments are linked to milestones outlined in the contractually binding grant agreements, of which a due diligence and a monitoring plan have been established prior to disbursement;
• Track and verify expenditures, ensuring that funds are used efficiently and as intended by grantees;
• Maintain detailed records of payments, disbursements, and financial reports, ensuring transparency and accountability for all grants;
• Provide regular financial updates to the Project Manager, Project Specialist and UNDP management on grant disbursements, financial status, and compliance;
• Monitor the disbursement of funds to grantees and prepare detailed records, with all the documentary evidence of how funds are utilized based on the contractual agreements;
• Participate in due diligence exercises on the selected FO/SMEs;
• Ensure that grant selection, due‑diligence and contracting processes integrate gender‑responsive criteria, including prioritization of women‑led agribusinesses and those demonstrating strong inclusion practices;
• Develop milestone templates that incorporate gender KPIs such as proportion of women benefiting, women in leadership roles, and gender‑responsive budgeting.

• Work closely with the UCHI Project’s M&E Specialist and develop and implement a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system to track grant progress, measuring results and impacts of the UCHI Commercialization Facility relative to the project’s objectives;
• Monitor grantee progress, identifying any risks or delays and ensuring that corrective actions are taken to stay on track with project goals;
• Prepare quarterly and annual progress reports on the performance of funded projects, detailing achievements, challenges, and lessons learned;
• Work closely with the UCHI M&E Specialist and the UNDP Malawi CO M&E team to integrate grants data into the Project's overall performance tracking system;
• Monitor the progress of grantee projects against the baseline and the implementation agreement or any agreed revisions thereof, and if the project departs from the original plan or other difficulties arise, work with the grantee to address and resolve the shortcomings, seeking the advice and guidance of the Project Manager and Project Specialist as necessary;
• Continuously monitor grantee performance and alert the Project Manager at the earliest opportunity possible, of any existing or possible unsatisfactory grantee performance;
• Work with the M&E Specialist and ensure preparation of a baseline report at the start of the grant implementation and end-line impact reports for each of the contracted grantees that will complete their contractual obligations and conclude all the milestones; 
• Contribute to the presentations on progress during monthly meetings and other scheduled meetings including Project Technical and Steering Committee meetings organized with the funding partners and other stakeholders; 
• Track and report sex‑disaggregated data for all grantees, including number of women accessing finance, women in decision‑making roles, and gender impacts of business expansion;
• Conduct gender‑sensitive risk assessments and ensure corrective measures address barriers faced by women and vulnerable groups.

• Lead engagement with financial service providers to facilitate access to finance for project beneficiaries; 
• Design and implement financial solutions tailored to the needs of FOs and MSMEs, including e.g. blended finance mechanisms and risk-sharing approaches; 
• Build strategic partnerships with banks, microfinance institutions, and other funding entities to enhance financing opportunities and technical assistance for the UCHI Project; 
• Advocate for financial products that align with the commercialization needs of FOs and MSMEs;
• Research and facilitate development of other relevant financial instruments that would be relevant for the UCHI Project and advise the project team as appropriate;
• Work closely with the UCHI Value Chain Specialists to ensure that FOs and SMEs accessing grants and other financial products receive guidance on integrating climate-smart agriculture practices into their commercialization efforts, thereby maximizing impact and contributing to the achievement of project objectives.

• Develop and oversee the gender-sensitive financial literacy training program, ensuring beneficiaries gain essential financial management skills and ensuring accessibility for women (timing, language, venue, care-giving considerations);
• Integrate modules on women’s economic empowerment, financial negotiation skills, and leadership;
• Support the implementation of other relevant capacity-building initiatives to enhance financial planning, investment readiness, and business sustainability; 
• In collaboration with other actors including financial institutions, provide ongoing technical expertise to project beneficiaries on innovative financing, financial and grant management skills, and business development and management strategies; 
• Where applicable, support the Business Development Specialist in offering business advisory services to grantees, including assistance with business planning, market access, and scaling up their operations;
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing and learning among grantees;
• Strengthen financial management and record-keeping systems for grant recipients;
• Provide technical assistance to FOs and MSMEs to ensure proper budgeting and financial sustainability.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Project.

• The Access to Finance and Grants Specialist will be based at the UNDP Malawi’s UCHI – Agriculture Commercialization Project Office in Lilongwe, with frequent in-country travel to support grantees in various districts. The Specialist will report to the UCHI Project Manager, and work in close collaboration with the UCHI Project Specialist and other relevant Project staff. The role will also require regular interaction with external stakeholders, including grantees, financial institutions, other UCHI implementing partners and the donor.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

• Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome;
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

• Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

• Monitoring
• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Agribusiness, or related field from a reputable university is required. OR;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience at the national or international level managing grant portfolio, grant schemes, and project management among others is required.

• Experience with enterprise and/or Innovation Challenge Fund management services for private and international organizations;
• Experience of management of grant portfolio, matching grant schemes, impact investing, blended finance mechanisms and/or venture capital vehicles; 
• Proven experience working on financing for private sector-driven agriculture development working in Malawi or Africa context; 
• Sector knowledge in agriculture and financial innovation including an up to date understanding of market access frontiers for FOs/SMEs and how they may be shifted through small scale agricultural commercialization;
• Demonstrated ability to conduct gender‑responsive financial assessments and design interventions that address barriers for women and marginalized groups.

• Experience with Malawi is an added advantage;
• Proven experience integrating gender equality in access-to-finance initiatives, grant management, or private‑sector development; 
• Experience working with women-led MSMEs or agricultural FOs, preferably in rural contexts;
• Strong ability to assess business models, financial sustainability, and risk mitigation strategies;
• Experience in Program/Project management and good communication skills;
• Experience in working with a UN Organization would be an advantage.

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English and Chichewa is essential.

• As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 
• UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
• Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
• UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

• UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

• UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.