Richard Msowoya was born on August 28 1962 and comes from Mchekacheka village, Traditional Authority Mwilang’ombe, Nyungwe, Karonga. He has more than 20 years experience in national and international management operations and leadership. He has worked in Malawi, Botswana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Somalia during and after the wars, developing countries’ programs to successfully empower national counterparts to handle management operational systems and take over leadership.
He has experience in working on the restructuring of Central Medical Stores (CMS) to ensure efficient operations that provide a continuous supply of drugs in hospitals and rural health facilities. He has coordinated donor efforts in health commodities logistics and has trained various key cadres in supply chain management systems. Msowoya has extensive experience in articulating government policy; including Results and Logical Framework which he acquired during the period he served as Minister and deputy Minister in the Malawian cabinet.
He brings strong leadership, analytical, technical, and excellent communication skills to development; and excels in using these skills to define and facilitate processes for achieving strategic goals, managing complex relationships and resolving conflicts.
2007-2009: Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology (Higher Education) – he spearheaded the implementation of the private universities accreditation policy besides articulating government policy on higher education.
During this time the late Bingu wa Mutharika was the Minister of Education. He resigned from the Bingu govt in 2009
2006–2007: Minister of State (Poverty and Disaster Management Affairs- He implemented a cash transfer program to assist the vulnerable poor in some districts in Malawi. He also initiated and completed the relocation of flood prone habitants to upper lands in Chikhwawa and Nsanje
By default, Msowoya provided leadership, supervised programs and served as advisor to the Head of State in the two ministries he worked. In all these assignments Msowoya has supervised people of various cultures and backgrounds.
Education:
Master of Science, Supply Chain Management (Procurement/Logistics), 2009- University of Bolton, Greater London, UK
Professional Membership:
• The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
• The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
Work Experience:
• Feb 2011-Jan 2014 Country Director, Botswana: Supply Chain Management Systems
• April 2010–Jan 2011: Associate Director, Health Policy and Systems Strengthening/Logistics, Family Health International, Abuja, Nigeria
• 2005-2009: Political career (MP, cabinet minister etc)
• 1998-2004: Resident Logistics Advisor, JSI DELIVER Project, Lilongwe, Malawi
• 1995-1998: Associate Logistics Advisor, JSI/STAFH project, Lilongwe, Malawi,
• 1991-1995: Field/Logistics Officer, United Nations Development Program (UNV), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya and Somalia,
• 1986-1988: Assistant National Relief Coordinator, Malawi Red Cross, Blantyre, Malawi
