The project will contribute to strengthen Policy dialogue involving key government stakeholders concerned with entrepreneurship related policies and laws, is an essential intervention of this action. This project has been designed on the one hand, to address key constraints to an enabling environment for MSMEs growth, and on the other hand to support promotion of decent employment in Malawi as a whole and more specifically for the MSME sector. Labour laws and decent work conditions enforcement is another fundamental aspect of this intervention. The current Occupational Safety and Health Act has some gaps; this includes the definition of a workplace. The definition gives a list of places deemed to be workplaces, and of note is that most businesses in the informal sector are not included in this definition. Another gap is noted in the exclusion of some notable occupational diseases, such as HIV and TB. This is further compounded by policy incoherence among concerned Ministries and Government Departments. The logic behind this intervention is that a huge proportion of the labour force in the MSME sector experiences serious decent work deficits which hamper its productivity and transition from informality to formality. Additionally, players in the sector and employers in general do not appreciate the importance of enforcement of decent work conditions and the impact of the same on the growth of their businesses and the economy as a whole because they focus mostly on the cost side, ignoring the benefit side. In light of ongoing initiatives in the area of labour rights enforcement, this intervention will review several labour laws and strengthen capacities of government to enable them to improve the delivery of services in their respective areas of mandate in a manner that contributes to improved business environment of MSMEs.
• The expert should have a University Degree in Economics, or Business Administration or other relevant field, from recognised institution, or 15 years equivalent relevant professional experience.
General professional experience
• The expert will have at least 12 years’ experience in leading policy dialogue processes, including lobbying for policy changes in favour of entrepreneurship growth, decent work conditions, and supporting implementation of MSME decent work activities. Delivering capacity building initiatives in entrepreneurship and/or labour laws would be an asset.
Specific professional experience
• At least 4 years’ experience in the management and facilitation of policy dialogue platforms.
• At least 4 years’ experience in providing business advisory services for MSMEs.
• At least 4 years’ experience in developing and managing MSMEs programmes and interventions would be an asset.
• In-depth knowledge of policy and regulatory issues affecting entrepreneurship development and the informal sector would be an asset.
• Practical experience in project management of donor-funded programmes, ideally in Sub-Saharan Africa would be an asset.
To apply for this job please visit phf.tbe.taleo.net.
