BENNY MATENGENI TONHO
NKHOTAKOTA
Summary
Experienced public administration professional prepared for leadership in regulatory and community-focused roles. Skilled in policy development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving impactful results. Reliable, adaptable, and possess excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
District Commissioner
Nkhotakota District Council
02.2021 - Current
- Direct and supervise heads of Directorates at the Council
- Perform the day today executive and administrative functions of the Council
- Ensure that the resolutions of the Council are implemented
- Initiate internal audit programs and acting on recommendations
- Chair Executive meetings of Councils Directors
- Control the Council’s budget and expenditure on both revenue and development accounts
- Ensure that the Council obtains value for money in the use of resources allocated to it
- Ensure that effective management systems, work procedures and financial controls are in place to make the most efficient use of resources
- Ensure that the Council’s manpower needs are met through appointments, promotions, and staff development
- Manage and Discipline staff of the Council
- Liaise with the Chairman of the Council on day to day running of the Council
Director of Planning and Development
Nkhotakota District Council
01.2020 - 02.2021
- Providing leadership in assessing projects based on viability and established Council policies
- Forecasting realistic project disbursement and development expenditure
- Designing and implementing the Council’s monitoring and evaluation system
- Developing sustainable strategies and techniques for mobilizing communities to participate in development undertakings
- Reviewing community Development programs technically and financially from time to time and making recommendations for appropriate actions
- Forecasting, mitigating and coordinating relief and disaster preparedness activities in the Council
- Ensuring that HIV/AIDS and Gender issues are integrated into all development programs of the Council
- Directing and supervising staff in the directorate to gain effective and efficient achievement of work programs
- Facilitating the formulation of Social Economic Profiles and District Development Plan for the Council
- Performing any other duties as assigned from time to time by Management
Acting Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Kasungu District Council
10.2019 - 01.2020
- The roles are the same as performed under Acting Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Machinga District Council above
Senior Nutrition, HIV/AIDS Officer (SNHAO)
Salima District Council, Machinga District Council, Kasungu District Council
11.2004 - 01.2020
- Provided secretarial services to the District AIDS Coordinating Committee and District Nutrition Coordinating Committee, which are sub committees of the District Executive Committee and making sure that these committees are functional
- Coordinated the consolidation of district annual work plan for the Nutrition, HIV and AIDS
- Ensured that there are proper linkages, networking and collaboration between the District Council, stakeholders, Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS and National AIDS Commission on issues of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS
- Provided technical guidance in assessment of food and nutrition, and HIV and AIDS problems affecting mothers, children and other vulnerable groups at District level
- Coordinated planning, implementation and monitoring of district Nutrition, HIV and AIDS response programs at district level
- Collaborated with other departments and organisations involved in implementation of food and nutrition, HIV and AIDS services at district level
- Interpreted the Nutrition, HIV and AIDS policies and strategies with various stakeholders at district level for implementation of food and nutrition, HIV and AIDS policies and programmes
- Monitored implementation of food and Nutrition, HIV and AIDS interventions and all relevant programmes at district levels
- Ensured integration of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS in sectoral plans at district level and visibility of nutrition, HIV and AIDS in the district implementation plans
- Produced monthly and quarterly Nutrition, HIV/AIDS activities reports
- Facilitated district nutrition, HIV and AIDS mapping to identify partners working in nutrition, HIV and AIDS at district level
- Performed any other duties as assigned from time to time by Management including delegated assignments
Acting Environmental District Officer
Machinga District Council
04.2013 - 03.2017
- Coordinated Environment Natural Resources and climate change issues in the district
- Promoted environmental awareness in the district on the protection and management of the environment and the conservation of natural resources
- Supervised the implementation of environmental related activities by lead agencies and non-governmental organizations
- Facilitated the environmental screening and ESIA
- Conducted environmental inspections and monitored implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPS)
Acting Director of Planning and Development
Machinga District Council
06.2012 - 12.2012
- The roles performed are the same as the Director of Planning and Development done at Nkhotakota District Council above
Acting Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Machinga District Council
03.2011 - 04.2012
- Maintained and updated the district databank
- Collected and collated data for producing reports for district projects
- Coordinated all monitoring and evaluation activities of different projects at the district level
- Provided technical support in monitoring and evaluation activities in all government sectors at the district and their implementing partners
- Built the capacity of implementing partners especially community-based institutions in project management
- Built capacity of sectors at the council in Monitoring and Evaluation
- Participated in district planning process, program implementation, and to take a leading role in monitoring activities of such programs
- Took a leading role in field verification exercise to ensure quality and consistency of data
- Implemented HIV and AIDS monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting System of the District Council
- Participated in project evaluation exercises of development partners –NGO
Teacher
Mangochi Secondary School
05.1999 - 10.2004
- Taught Geography, Social & Development Studies and Mathematics
- Patron, Democracy Club
Education
Master of Management Sciences - Supply Chain Management, Development Administration
Malawi School of Government
01.2024
Bachelor of Education - Geography, Demography
University of Malawi, Chancellor College
01.1999
Skills
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Internet Explorer
- SPSS
Websites
Accomplishments
- Led Nkhotakota District Council staff to score 62% on the current LAPA (previous score was 49%).
- Successfully led a team that wrote a proposal to UNDP for a multi-million-dollar climate proofing project award in 2014.
- Successfully led a team that wrote a proposal to Local Development Fund for a multi-million dollar Machinga District Council Office Complex Project in 2015.
- Successfully steered the District AIDS Coordinating Committee to mobilise over 40 Community Based Organisations to write winning proposals.
- Successfully led a team that produced key planning documents for Nkhotakota District Council for the period 2017-2022.
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 01/06/74
- Gender: MALE
- Nationality: MALAWIAN
- Religion: CHRISTIAN
Hobbies and Interests
- Reading a variety of literature
- Playing volleyball
- Watching sports
- Playing board games
Trainings Workshops Attended
- Training on Local Socio-Economic Planning Development, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, 11/16/20 - 11/26/20
- International Training on Planning and Management of Rural Development Programs, National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, India, 09/24/18 - 10/22/18
- District Development Planning Framework and System Training, LGAP, Grand Palace, Mzuzu, 08/01/17 - 08/04/17
- Landscape management training, Washington University, Washington State, Seattle, USA, 06/01/17 - 06/30/17
- Scaling Up Nutrition Trainer of Trainers training, DNHA, T&D Lodge, Zomba, 03/13/17 - 03/23/17
- SPSS training workshop, NAC-Chancellor College, Victoria Hotel, Blantyre, 06/16/14 - 06/21/14
- Regional Training of Trainers workshop on Reducing Women Vulnerability to HIV/Infection, VSO-RAISA, Johannesburg, South Africa, 05/28/14 - 05/30/14
- Data Quality Workshop, MEASURE Evaluation/USAID, Nkopola Sunbird Hotel, Mangochi, 05/12/08 - 05/15/08
- Management and Administration for HIV/AIDS Program/Project Managers in Africa, Regional AIDS Training Network, Malawi Institute of Management, Lilongwe, 09/11/06 - 10/06/06
- Democracy, Human Rights, Leadership and Participation, Centre for Youth and Children Affairs, MEDI, Mponela, 05/09/04 - 05/13/04
Affiliations
- Board Chairperson and Founder,Centre for Integrated Rural Development(CIRD),Chairperson,Trojan General Dealers,Board Member,NAWIRA,Board Member,Thriving Community Foundation
Farming,swimming,social gathering
I love small scale farming,ie fish farming,banana farming,fruit trees farming bee farming,livestock farming,crop farming(maize,vegetables, apple)
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
District Commissioner
Nkhotakota District Council
02.2021 - Current
Director of Planning and Development
Nkhotakota District Council
01.2020 - 02.2021
Acting Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Kasungu District Council
10.2019 - 01.2020
Acting Environmental District Officer
Machinga District Council
04.2013 - 03.2017
Acting Director of Planning and Development
Machinga District Council
06.2012 - 12.2012
Acting Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Machinga District Council
03.2011 - 04.2012
Senior Nutrition, HIV/AIDS Officer (SNHAO)
Salima District Council, Machinga District Council, Kasungu District Council
11.2004 - 01.2020
Teacher
Mangochi Secondary School
05.1999 - 10.2004
Bachelor of Education - Geography, Demography
University of Malawi, Chancellor College
Master of Management Sciences - Supply Chain Management, Development Administration
Malawi School of Government
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