Mr. Mtchera Chirwa is Coordinator of the African Development Bank hosted African Water Facility (AWF) – https://www.africanwaterfacility.org/ which provides grants and technical assistance to support the preparation and implementation of water infrastructure projects throughout Africa.
He has over 25 years’ work experience in infrastructure development with project experience from nearly 20 African countries covering development of policies, strategies, programmes, and projects, leading reforms, technical and financial preparation, implementation, management, and operation of projects in the water sector through both public sector and PPP modes.
Mr. Chirwa joined the African Development Bank in 2008 where he previously served in the positions of Principal PPP Infrastructure Specialist and Chief Infrastructure Specialist, in the Bank’s Infrastructure and Urban Development, and Regional Integration Departments where for over 15 years he led the development of the African Development Bank’s first PPP Strategic Framework, coordinating the Bank’s role in the development of the first phase (2013-2020) and second phase (Priority Action Plan PAP 2, 2021-2030) of the continental PIDA programme with an investment portfolio of US$ 161 billion, in collaboration with other continental institutions, led infrastructure project preparation under the NEPAD-Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (IPPF) Special Fund, its transboundary water development cluster, and coordinating the Bank’s activities for the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), leading internal and external engagement with infrastructure partners and stakeholders and leading the development and preparation of multiple regional infrastructure development projects in the transboundary water and transport sectors in southern and eastern Africa.
In addition, over the years leading up to 2022, Mr. Chirwa managed the development and preparation of more than 30 infrastructure projects at a budget exceeding $70 million, leading to a downstream investment pipeline of over $20 billion – including those for the development of several trans-boundary water resources projects on the Nile Basin, Orange Senqu, SioMalaba-Malakisi, Songwe, Shire-Zambezi, and other locations.
His experience spans water resources management, design, supervision and management of rural and urban water supply infrastructure, development, and management of partnerships. Mr. Chirwa is a holder of a Master’s degree in Construction Project Management from the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Malawi. In addition, Mr. Chirwa is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Certified Public Private Partnership Professional.