Technical Advisor (Business Development Support)

Project: ENGAGE

Duty Station: Lilongwe

Reporting: Team Leader

Deadline: 11 November 2026

As a federal enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objective in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries around the globe. In Malawi, GIZ has been working for more than 50 years. Malawi is a priority for German international cooperation and currently focuses on health and social protection, private sector development, good governance, and food security and nutrition.

Background

GIZ implements the Energising Development (EnDev) activities within the ENGAGE project. The objective of ENGAGE is to accelerate the Energy Transition in Africa by strengthening continental leadership in Energy, advancing regional power markets, facilitating dialogue between the AU, the EU and EU member states, and expanding national energy access in selected countries (EnDev).

Under the EnDev programme, GIZ has been implementing in Malawi since 2013 jointly with the Ministry of Energy to advance market-based energy access which has reached 2,079,670 people at household level, 521 micro, small and medium enterprises as well as 121 social institutions. In its new phase within ENGAGE, EnDev Malawi aims to focus activities in the area of Improved Cookstoves (ICS) for household and solar powered electrical appliances for productive uses of electricity PUE with funding from its core donors – Germany, Switzerland & others potentially coming on board – as well as activities in the area of particularly clean cooking solutions for household (higher tier cooking / HTC) with expected co-funding from the European Union.

Across all identified target segments, EnDev will implement a professionalisation approach aimed at stimulating market growth through technical advice, business development services, results-based finance and access to finance. To implement all commissions jointly, the Team Leader ENGAGE is recruiting one integrated, interdisciplinary team consisting of experts from different disciplines.

Responsibilities & Tasks

The promotion of renewable energy products is to a large extend a question of business development. Malawi provides very challenging conditions for business to succeed, particularly if the business is based on imported products like PV-based technologies. Under ENGAGE, EnDev is subscribing to an approach of professionalising SMEs in Malawi to become Due Dilligence ready and Carbon finance ready. This requires that management systems are brought up to international standards and are implemented systematically. In this light, the Technical Advisor (BDS) will be responsible for the following:

1. Work in an integrated, inter-disciplinary team addressing energy access across all commissions of EnDev Malawi
2. Support the team leader (based in Malawi) in general project management
3. Provide technical support to all activities on business development support including supporting company needs assessments, provision of BDS and assessment of results
4. Lead the conceptualisation of measures and activities to improve efficiencies of supported companies including digitalisation and readiness for due diligence and carbon finance
5. Conduct research on the latest market development in the supported renewable energy markets including innovations in consumer finance, distribution & marketing and digitalisation
6. Provide relevant information and coordinate with cross-cutting functions including Communication, Monitoring and Evaluation, Knowledge management and Gender
7. Work closely with technical experts on PV-PUE, Cooking and RBF to ensure a holistic professionalization approach is realised
8. Prepare relevant procurements and service contract request, managing consultants and ensuring proper documentation of all contracts
9. Collaboration in the conceptual (further) development of innovative approaches and in the creation of concepts for business development. This applies in particular to the discussions with REIAMA on overcoming the FOREX limitations through collaboration with agricultural producers and exporters as a mechanism to earn FOREX outside Malawi.
10. Collaborate with other Technical Advisors within GIZ to ensure smooth information flow, facilitate the successful translation of national-level activities to district-level implementation, and contribute to knowledge sharing and capacity strengthening in the energy sector
11. Other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor degree in energy, finance, business administration, agriculture (including agribusiness), economics or comparable qualification

Professional experience

1. Minimum of five (5) years professional experience in renewable energy, environment or development projects with demonstrated experience supporting companies in getting investment ready
2. At least three (3) years of managing a start-up, SME or established business in a CEO or CFO role with practical experience in setting up business functions and teams
3. At least 2 years of experience in working as BDS provider or training entities.
4. Experience working with SMEs in the agricultural sector (particularly marketing of crops outside Malawi) is an added advantage.
5. Experiences working in the promotion of productive use of Solar Energy is an added advantage.
6. Minimum of one (1) year professional experience in project management, including results-based planning and monitoring, coordination with partners and service providers, and support to implementation and reporting.
7. Experience working with financial institutions, VC funds or other similar entities is an added advantage

Additional Competences

1. Proven ability of successful communication with divers stakeholders in the sector (Managers of RE-companies, finance managers of companies, agrobusiness companies, smallholder farmers, Commercial farmers, REIAMA, NGOs, Government Partners).
2. Strong ability to work independently, take initiative, and apply creative problem-solving, while also demonstrating effective teamwork and collaboration.
3. Excellent communication, facilitation, and knowledge transfer skills in English and Chichewa; proficiency in German is not required but will be considered an added advantage.

Applications link

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GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals regardless of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. We embrace diversity and believe that inclusivity in the workplace is essential to our success, and we are committed to creating a work environment where all employees are valued and respected.