1. Organisation background

The Export Development Fund (EDF) is a Development Finance Institution (DFI) mandated to promote the growth and diversification of Malawi’s exports. EDF plays a central role in supporting industrialisation, facilitating trade, and accelerating economic transformation through innovative financing solutions and strategic investments.

EDF contributes directly to national development priorities, including the Malawi 2063 and the National Export Strategy (NES), by financing high impact projects across key productive sectors, promoting value addition, and enhancing export competitiveness.

This position is of strategic national importance, with direct influence on the Malawi’s economic transformation agenda and the mobilisation of resources toward sustainable development.

2. The position

EDF invites experienced applications from suitably and qualified, visionary professionals to fill the position of Managing Director (MD) tenable in Lilongwe.

The MD will provide transformational leadership to EDF and, ensuring delivery of its mandate as a modern Development Finance Institution (DFI) whilst maintaining both financial sustainability and measurable developmental impact.

3. Job purpose

The Managing Director is responsible for providing strategic direction, executive leadership, and institutional stewardship of EDF.

The role requires a leader capable of positioning EDF as a leading and credible DF! within the region mobilising domestic and international capital, driving interventions that support industrialisation, export diversification, job creation, economic resilience and structural transformation.

4. Reporting line

The Managing Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and is accountable through the Corporate Scorecard and established governance frameworks.

The MD serves as the principal interface between the Board, Shareholder and Executive Management. ensuring alignment on strategic priorities and institutional performance.

5. Key responsibilities

a. Strategic leadership and institutional development

• Provide visionary leadership aligned with EDF’s mandate and national development priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of EDF’s Strategic Plan and Corporate Scorecards.
• Position EDF as a financially sustainable, high impact, and regionally relevant DFI.
• Champion development impact measurement frameworks, linking financial performance to economic outcomes.
• Drive EDF’s participation in regional and cross border financing initiatives.

b. Organisational management and performance

• Provide overall leadership of the institution and oversight of day to day operations.
• Build and sustain a high performance culture anchored on accountability, innovation, and results.
• Lead and develop the Executive Management team.
• Ensure effective execution of organisational programmes and operational plans.

c. Financial stewardship and investment leadership

• Oversee financial performance, including profitability, liquidity, and capital adequacy.
• Ensure sound balance sheet management and resource optimisation.
• Lead the structuring and execution of complex financing solutions, including blended finance, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), syndications and guarantees, and equity investments.
• Drive portfolio sustainability. quality, diversification, and

d. Resource mobilisation and partnerships

• Lead mobilisation of funding through domestic and international capital markets, lines of credit and syndicated financing, development partners and institutional investors.
• Position EDF to attract regional and global capital flows.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government and policymakers, regulators, development finance partners, private sector stakeholders.

e. Governance, risk and compliance

• Strengthen governance frameworks and ensure adherence to best practice DFI standards.
• Promote a strong risk management culture and robust internal control environment.
• Provide timely, transparent, and high quality reporting to the Board.
• Navigate complex public sector and Policy environments with professionalism and independence.

f. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leadership

• Integrate ESG principles into ED’s strategy, operations, and investment decisions.
• Promote climate resilient and green financing initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with international standards on sustainability and development impact reporting.

g. Communication and stakeholder engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Board and Management.
• Enhance ED’s visibility, credibility, and brand positioning.
• Ensure effective internal and external communication systems.

6. Selection criteria

a. Academic and professional qualifications

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Banking and Public Policy
• A relevant Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised institution.
• Evidence of executive leadership training and continuous professional development is desirable.

b. Experience and track record

• A minimum of 10-15 years’ relevant experience, with at least 5-7 years at senior executive level.
• Experience within Development Finance Institutions (DFIS), Banking or Financial Services, Investment Institutions or large complex organisations.
• Demonstrated success in institutional transformation, growth, or turnaround initiatives.
• Proven ability in strategy formulation and execution with measurable outcomes.
• Strong experience in capital mobilisation, including international funding, financial and balance sheet management, and stakeholder engagement at senior levels.
• Exposure to cross border border operations, development partnerships, or macroeconomic policy environments will be an added advantage.

c. Strategic leadership and vision

• Ability to articulate and execute a clear and compelling strategic vision.
• Proven experience leading organisational transformation and culture change.
• Strong ability to translate strategy into measurable institutional outcomes.

d. Financial and investment expertise

• Strong knowledge of financial management and capital adequacy, lending, structured finance, blended and equity investments, blended finance and development finance instruments.
• Experience in investment analysis, risk assessment, and portfolio oversight.
• Understanding of development impact measurement frameworks.

e. Governance, risk and compliance

• Strong understanding of corporate governance frameworks.
• Experience strengthening risk management, audit, and internal control systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership and accountability.

f. Stakeholder engagement and influence

• Proven ability to engage effectively with Government and policymakers, Regulators, Development partners, and Investors and private sector stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation, diplomacy, and influencing capabilities.

g. People leadership

• Proven ability to build and lead high performing teams.
• Experience driving performance culture and organisational transformation.
• Strong talent development and succession planning capability.

h. Personal attributes

• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgement.
• Strong analytical and decision making ability.
• Resilience and ability to operate in complex environments.
• Strong commitment to national development and public value creation.

7. What will define success

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Transform EDF into a financially strong and self sustaining DFI;
• Expand EDF’s developmental impact footprint across priority sectors;
• Mobilise significant domestic and international capital;
• Maintain a high quality and well diversified investment portfolio;
• Strengthen ED’s reputation as a credible and well governed institution;
• Deliver consistently on Corporate Scorecard targets.

8. Terms of appointment

The successful candidate will be offered a performance based contract of three (3) years, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and other business needs and considerations of the Company.

An attractive remuneration package commensurate with theની seniority of the role will be offered to the successful candidate.

• Provide visionary leadership aligned with EDF’s mandate and national development priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of EDF’s Strategic Plan and Corporate Scorecards.
• Position EDF as a financially sustainable, high impact, and regionally relevant DFI.
• Champion development impact measurement frameworks, linking financial performance to economic outcomes.
• Drive EDF’s participation in regional and cross border financing initiatives.
• Provide overall leadership of the institution and oversight of day to day operations.
• Build and sustain a high performance culture anchored on accountability, innovation, and results.
• Lead and develop the Executive Management team.
• Ensure effective execution of organisational programmes and operational plans.
• Oversee financial performance, including profitability, liquidity, and capital adequacy.
• Ensure sound balance sheet management and resource optimisation.
• Lead the structuring and execution of complex financing solutions, including blended finance, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), syndications and guarantees, and equity investments.
• Drive portfolio sustainability. quality, diversification, and
• Lead mobilisation of funding through domestic and international capital markets, lines of credit and syndicated financing, development partners and institutional investors.
• Position EDF to attract regional and global capital flows.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government and policymakers, regulators, development finance partners, private sector stakeholders.
• Strengthen governance frameworks and ensure adherence to best practice DFI standards.
• Promote a strong risk management culture and robust internal control environment.
• Provide timely, transparent, and high quality reporting to the Board.
• Navigate complex public sector and Policy environments with professionalism and independence.
• Integrate ESG principles into ED’s strategy, operations, and investment decisions.
• Promote climate resilient and green financing initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with international standards on sustainability and development impact reporting.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Board and Management.
• Enhance ED’s visibility, credibility, and brand positioning.
• Ensure effective internal and external communication systems.

• Ability to articulate and execute a clear and compelling strategic vision.
• Proven experience leading organisational transformation and culture change.
• Strong ability to translate strategy into measurable institutional outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of financial management and capital adequacy, lending, structured finance, blended and equity investments, blended finance and development finance instruments.
• Experience in investment analysis, risk assessment, and portfolio oversight.
• Understanding of development impact measurement frameworks.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance frameworks.
• Experience strengthening risk management, audit, and internal control systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership and accountability.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with Government and policymakers, Regulators, Development partners, and Investors and private sector stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation, diplomacy, and influencing capabilities.
• Proven ability to build and lead high performing teams.
• Experience driving performance culture and organisational transformation.
• Strong talent development and succession planning capability.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgement.
• Strong analytical and decision making ability.
• Resilience and ability to operate in complex environments.
• Strong commitment to national development and public value creation.

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Banking and Public Policy
• A relevant Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised institution.
• Evidence of executive leadership training and continuous professional development is desirable.
• A minimum of 10-15 years’ relevant experience, with at least 5-7 years at senior executive level.
• Experience within Development Finance Institutions (DFIS), Banking or Financial Services, Investment Institutions or large complex organisations.
• Demonstrated success in institutional transformation, growth, or turnaround initiatives.
• Proven ability in strategy formulation and execution with measurable outcomes.
• Strong experience in capital mobilisation, including international funding, financial and balance sheet management, and stakeholder engagement at senior levels.
• Exposure to cross border border operations, development partnerships, or macroeconomic policy environments will be an added advantage.