Background / General description:
Assignment summary: With financial contributions from six donors (EU, Norway, DFID, Irish Aid, FICA and USAID), the World Bank has established a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to co-finance the Agricultural Sector Wide Approach - Support project (ASWAp-SP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS). The proposed ETC rural roads specialist position will be part of the World Bank team in charge of supervising the execution of the MDTF and of advising the MoAFS in implementing ASWAp-SP activities.
The Development Objective of the ASWAp-SP is to improve the effectiveness of investments aimed at food security and sustainable agricultural growth. The project has the following four components:
(1) Institutional development and capacity building in support of the ASWAp;
(2) Sustainable food security, agricultural growth and diversification;
(3) Project coordination; and
(4) Improvement and maintenance of unpaved rural roads.
The Project will support improvement works on unpaved rural roads and implementation support. Principal activities in the roads component are:
a) Improvement works on unpaved rural roads in areas with proven agricultural potential with the aim of improving networks of roads that will allow the transport of inputs and produce between farmers' fields and main roads throughout the year. The works will include spot-improvements, rehabilitation of unpaved roads and surfacing using low-volume sealed road techniques, the activities being selected to provide the requisite levels of access. It is estimated that with the funding available, at total of 780 km of road distributed through ten districts will be improved.
b) Implementation support activities include the strengthening of the capacity of the implementing bodies including Local Authorities and local contractors in ten target districts, consultancies for works design and supervision, a study to evaluate the existing use of Intermediate Means of Transport, component management and the preparation of RAPs.
c) Rural roads maintenance systems will be established by rolling out the existing '˜maintenance clubs' methodology which employs groups from the community to carry out the work, and the introduction of new systems on a pilot basis. Resettlement costs will arise when compensation needs to be paid for any land, crops or buildings that are identified for appropriation in the RAPs that will be prepared for individual roads.
The implementation of the roads component is the responsibility of MTPW, who provides policy direction, overall component coordination and liaison with MAFS related to the road component and oversight of the executing agencies. In accordance with the institutional framework for the sector, the MTPW delegates its powers for the management of the road network to the Roads Authority (RA) and MLGRD through the Local Assemblies (LAs). The RA will be responsible for coordinating the procurement activities for the road component of the project. The RFA Finance Department will be responsible for the financial management and reporting for the road component. The road works will be carried out by local contractors, wherever practicable by labor-based methods to provide employment opportunities to communities. Contracts for maintenance works to be carried out by maintenance clubs will be signed between the Local Assemblies and the clubs.
Reflecting the importance of the transport sector for the improvement of the business environment in Malawi, the Bank actively participates in policy dialogue with the Government of Malawi as a member of the Joint Transport Sector Review. In addition to its involvement in the improvement of rural road under the ASWAp-SP rural roads component outlined above, the Bank is starting preparation of Phase II of the Southern Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project (SATTFP II).
The African Development Bank and World Bank have collaborated to establish a Joint Infrastructure Unit (JIU) in Malawi to provide mutual technical support for infrastructure projects with the aim of improving donor collaboration to address Malawi's infrastructure challenges. The World Bank provides in-country implementation assistance to the AfDB's transport projects, while an official from AfDB supports the implementation of the World Bank's projects in the water sector. The African Development Bank supports four transport projects in Malawi, three of which have been approved and are under implementation.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 1 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The main objective of this assignment is to ensure the implementation of the ASWAp-SP Rural Roads component in accordance with the project documentation, and that progress is fully documented in reports, covered under items 1 to 3 below. Support will also be provided to World Bank and African Development Bank transport and infrastructure teams on an as-requested basis (item 4). Duties will include but may not be limited to:
1.Oversee Project implementation
a)Liaise with the MTPW, RA and other implementing agencies to provide support and guidance on all aspects of implementation of the project;
b)Provide technical inputs on the review of procurement processes covering procurement plans, requests for '˜no objections', procurement post reviews, requests for variations to contracts and contract implementation;
c)Review GoM's annual work plans and budgets, cash-flow forecasts, disbursement requests, reports and submissions for the project;
d)Through participation in supervisions missions and carrying out site visits, monitor the quality of execution of the works to verify compliance with specifications and good practice;
e)Proactive monitoring of project progress and financial requirements, taking agreed corrective measures when necessary, and support with project management;
f)In coordination with the team's social and environmental safeguards specialist, monitor compliance of activities with the project's safeguards requirements;
g)Contribute to the preparation of project-related documentation such as project amendments and terms of reference for consultancies.
2.Project reporting obligations
a)Work with the RA, MTPW, MLGRD and MoAFS to ensure that government's progress reports comprehensively reflect the physical and financial progress of works on the road component and identify issues that require attention by project stakeholders;
b)Prepare inputs on the road component for the Bank's six-monthly reports to donors on MTDF activities;
c)Provide supporting information for the Trust Fund Management Committee on the ASWAp roads component;
d)Contribute to the preparation of project briefings and other relevant monitoring information to inform clients, Bank management and donors in a coordinated manner and in compliance with the Bank's quality guidelines.
3.Contribute to in-country dialogue with key stakeholders on the sustainable management of rural roads
a)Participate in dialogue on institutional arrangements for the sustainable management and financing of the classified and unclassified rural road networks;
b)Support RA and MLGRD in the establishment of maintenance systems, drawing on expertise and best practice from the Bank and elsewhere in the region;
c)Support the transfer of responsibilities from the RA to Local Authority as regard maintenance of rural roads and small contract management, as well as planning;
d)Coordinate WB rural roads support activities with those of other development partners, working with government to create a programmatic approach for the sector.
4.Support to other World Bank and African Development Bank teams
a)Participate in transport sector meetings and inform the WB team and country office on developing issues in the sector, providing reviews and inputs to documentation as requested;
b)Support the WB and AfDB transport teams in discussions with government and sector agencies on new and ongoing projects, following up and resolving issues as required;
c)Liaison with other development partners active in the transport sector in Malawi and the region;
d)Provide support to country project teams on infrastructure elements of their projects.
Outputs: The expected outputs will include but may not be limited to:
Project activities progressing in accordance with agreed programme;
Inputs to Implementation Support Mission Aide Memoires and Implementation Status and Results Reports;
Progress reports and briefings;
Contributions to rural roads project documents;
Contributions on rural roads and transport issues to Country Assistance Strategy, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Policy Notes;
TORs for consultants, workshops and missions;
Minutes of meetings and workshops;
Comments on reports and proposals.
Accountabilities: The rural roads specialist will be part of the World Bank supervision team based in the Malawi Country Office. He / she will directly report to the World Bank Task Team Leader for ASWAp-SP. For work on other transport and infrastructure activities, he/ she will report to the responsible WB or AfDB task managers. He / she will also liaise with colleagues in the Bank's transport sector for additional technical support as necessary. A programme to define time allocation between activities will be prepared and agreed on a six-monthly basis.
Selection Criteria:
The position requires sound technical knowledge of the construction and management of rural access roads, the ability to quickly diagnose and resolve problems in project implementation, the skill to introduce new ideas to clients, to build partnerships and to mobilize regional and global knowledge to meet the needs of Malawi. Specific criteria are:
- Advanced degree in civil engineering,
- At least five years of relevant experience in the areas of rural road design, construction and maintenance. Relevant field experience in Malawi or a similar environment in the region is essential,
- Knowledge of techniques for the spot improvement and rehabilitation of unpaved roads and surfacing techniques for low-volume sealed roads,
- Experience of managing or supporting implementation of development assistance projects, with preference for experience with World Bank or African Development Bank projects,
- Experience of the implementation of large engineering projects and knowledge of the challenges facing the transport sector in Malawi and the region would be added advantages,
- Fluency in English, the ability to write concisely and clearly in English, good communication, mentoring and advocacy skills,
- Proven ability to maintain professional relations with Government officials, development partners and implementing agencies,
- Ability to work in a fast track environment, with efficiency, competence and integrity with people of different cultural backgrounds.
Competencies:
- Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.
- Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
- Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
- Rural Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Has a foundational familiarity with rural policies, strategies, and institutions relevant to the project or analytical work.
- Rural Development - Direct experience with depth in at least one area: community-driven development, local government and civil society organizations, trade and access to rural markets, rural finance, etc.
- Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
- Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.
- Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.
- Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.
- Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.
