REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
SHIRE VALLEY TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME (SVTP)-2
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR YOUNG OFFICERS
Country: MALAWI
Name of Project: SHIRE VALLEY TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME-2
Credit No: 71350-MW

1.0 Introduction
The Programme development objective for the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) is to increase agricultural productivity and commercialization for targeted households in the Shire Valley; and to improve the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources. The project development objective of SVTP is to provide access to reliable gravity fed irrigation and drainage services, secure land tenure for smallholder farmers, and strengthen management of wetlands and protected areas in the Shire Valley.

The SVTP is a 14-year programme (2017-2031) structured around three coordinated pillars: (i) Providing reliable, professionally managed and sustainably financed irrigation service to a large number of irrigators in a phased construction of the Shire Valley Irrigation Project scheme and providing multiple services including water supply (ii) Support farmer organization within a comprehensive land use plan; supporting land tenure strengthening and consolidation; as well as natural resources management; and iii) establishment of smallholder owned commercial farm enterprises transitioning into commercial agriculture from subsistence farming and integrating them into commercial value chains. These pillars all contribute to the overarching goals of the programme and build on each other in a phased approach. There are three Phases to the SVTP:

• Phase I (SVTP-I) initiated the process on all pillars, with a major focus on irrigation service provision to the SVIP-I area, land tenure, farmer organization and natural resource management;
• SVTP-II shifts investment focus to agricultural investment, private sector and value chain support, as well as investments in bulk infrastructure for the SVIP-II area;
• SVTP-III is the scale-up phase of investments to the SVIP-II area.

The SVTP is managed by a Project Management Team (PMT) consisting of various technical specialists headed by a Project Coordinator. The Ministry of Agriculture intends to recruit young officers to join the PMT for a period of one year with possibility of contract renewal.

The recruitment will be on an individual consultancy basis. Facilities to be provided by the client shall include office space, furniture, and office equipment, communication, and internet facilities. For all field related assignments, the Project shall provide transport and costs and other expenses (per Diems etc.) related to the field work. All officers will be based at the PMT Office in Blantyre.

The Ministry now invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the positions of young officers to be recruited as individual consultants.

ASSISTANT SAFEGUARDS OFFICER (OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY)

i. The Objective of this Assignment:

The Shire Valley Transformation Programme is seeking the services of an Assistant Safeguards Officer to assist the Occupational Health and Safety Specialist to manage Occupational Health and Safety risks and plans, carrying safety checks, guiding and monitoring working areas, services, and goods etc. This includes providing support contractors to operationalize OHS Plans and to liaise with regulatory agencies to ensure that works are conducted in compliance with applicable national safety regulations, and the requirements of the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and SVTP commitments outlined under the Environmental Social Commitment Plan.

ii. The Position

The Assistant Safeguards Officer is part of SVTP Project Management and Coordination Team, which comprises the Project Coordinator, other specialists and support staff. The Assistant Safeguards Officer will be a competitively recruited individual consultant. He/she shall work in liaison with other Specialists and stakeholders in the implementation Occupational Health and Safety (OHS measures as described in the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

iii. Scope of the Assignment

Specifically, the scope of services of the Assistant Safeguards Officer shall comprise, but not limited to, the following functions:

1. Assist in ensuring that OHS requirements in accordance with Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)/ Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), WBG General Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines, ESS2 on Labor and Working Conditions and included in the Labor Management Procedures as applicable for SVTP, ILO Guidelines and other internationally accepted OHS requirements are incorporated in the Bidding Document and contractor’s requirements for preparing and implementing OHS plans.
2. Assist in the assessment and inspections on site to determine hazardous situations/accident prone sites or activities and create, implement and enforce safety instructions that reduce the risk of accidents.
3. Provide support to build the capacity of the Contractors in assessing and managing environmental and social risks and impacts (particularly health and safety related), including the development and delivery of OHS capacity building activities and trainings. Also includes identifying training and capacity building needs of contractors on OHS- related issues, prepare capacity building strategy and implementation plan, within resources available under the project.
4. Assist in ensuring that the Contractors abide by the OHS provisions in contracts, ESMF, ESIA/ ESMP during the execution of construction works.
5. Assist in ensuring that fair working conditions are provided to workers through implementing following activities:
6. Provision of awareness-raising programs workers at construction sites informing them about their opportunities, rights and duties.
7. Ensure that workers are fully aware of the insurance facilities provided under the contract and facilitate claims arising out of injuries, disabilities and death.
8. Provision of equal pay for both the men and women for equal volume of works performed.
9. Provide training on OHS, community health and safety, environmental impacts and mitigation measures to the contractors’ workers.
10. Provide support in investigating and resolving worker-related complaints and grievances.
11. Prepare and update periodically the project plan on occupational health safety.
12. Assist in train and supporting Site engineers on the application of OHS related standards.
13. Assist in collection of OHS information to update the Construction Site Monitoring
14. Undertake frequent visits to project sites / accompanying other team members and officials and help to identify and recommend remedial measures for enhancing health and safety performance of the project.
15. Provide guidance and support to contractors in complying with activities as stated in the OHS requirements and Guidelines to be implemented as part of ESMPs: draft OHS policies, prepare site safety work plan and costs estimates, provide guidance/ support for preparing and or forming an incident/accident reporting line, project site inspection checklist and create awareness materials.
16. Work with environmental and social specialists to carry out community engagement and consultation, and specifically create awareness about the health and safety concerns related to works and labour influx.
17. Assist in the development of necessary OHS and awareness materials to be distributed.
18. Assist in documenting good practices, report preparation, videos and other relevant materials from the projects and districts as knowledge sharing materials.
19. Monitor OHS practices in contractor’s labour camps and construction site in project districts.
20. Recommend and identify gaps in improving implementation of OHS Guidelines by contractors to PMT
21. Perform other OHS related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

iv. Performance Criteria
The following performance criteria will be used to assess the performance of the Assistant Safeguards Officer annually and based upon these assessments the contract with the Project may be continued or terminated:

1. Quality and timeliness of monitoring reports
2. Number of trainings conducted in proportion to work plan
3. Number of monitoring exercise performed in proportion to agreed frequency on work plan
4. Reduced incidents of accidents on the sites
5. Satisfactory performance of Contractors in OHS leading to reduced or zero incidents on site and other working places
6. The prevalence of acceptable working conditions in all work places

v. Reporting Requirements

The Assistant Safeguards Officer will be directly reporting to the Occupational Safety and Health Specialist in managing OHS activities under the project to ensure adherence with the World Bank, African Development Bank and Malawi Government Safeguards procedures.

vi. Qualifications and Experience
The Assistant Safeguards Officer should meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. A minimum of a first degree or advanced diploma in Environmental Sciences or Public Health obtained between 2020 and 2024
2. A minimum of two (2) years of work experience in Occupational Health and Safety.
3. Experience and knowledge of World Bank Safeguard Policies
4. Good computer skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint, etc.);
5. Experience/ skills working in teams and in a multi-cultural/sectoral environment;
6. Highly motivated with excellent planning, analytical, communications and interpersonal skills as well as a high level of diplomacy; and
7. Upholding of anti-corruption and anti-bribery ethics.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section Ill, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 7:30hrs to 12:00hrs and from 13:00hrs to 17:00hrs except on Weekends and Public Holidays.

Expressions of interest including detailed updated Curriculum Vitae and copies of professional and academic qualifications must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 14th March, 2025.

The Director of Irrigation Services,
Department of Irrigation,
Off Paul Kagame Road,
P.O. Box 30797,
Lilongwe
Malawi

(Attention: The Principal Human Resources Management Officer)

Alternatively, applications may be emailed to: enakoma@yahoo.com; cc: mmaoni.doi@svtp.gov.mw; mtewete.doi@svtp.gov.mw; mwalabu2005@yahoo.co.uk;