ABOUT FARM AFRICA

Effective agriculture has the power to change lives. It underpins prosperity, food security and stability the world over. Farm Africa focuses on transforming agriculture and managing natural resources sustainably. We champion a holistic approach that boosts yields, protects the environment and connects smallholder farmers to thriving markets.

We work with different types of farmers in a range of regions. Their local situations vary, but the problems they face are all too familiar: lack of training and technology, inadequate inputs, no finance, vulnerability to climate change and poor links to markets.

We have an ambitious strategy to expand our work over the next five years. We’ll increase our impact. Lift more communities out of poverty. Work with more corporate partners who share our vision. Open up more agricultural markets. Provide more expertise.

We’ll make change happen

BACKGROUND

As part of the Growth for the Future program, Farm Africa Ethiopia has recently been awarded a grant from Sida to continue the market system entitled “Strengthening, Consolidating, and Sustaining/Scaling up the Market Systems Project for Improved Sustainable Livelihoods’ in Amhara.   The project will be implemented by a consortium of partners of Farm Africa (Lead), ORDA and Mercy Corps.  The overall goal of the project is contributing to food and nutrition security by developing a market system that works for the poor. Farm Africa will take a lead role for the project implementation, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, partner management and donor reporting. Farm Africa is looking for a qualified Project Coordinator

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Project Coordinator (PC) will be responsible for leading the overall implementation of the market system project, that is, to strengthen, and sustain the market systems for improved of small holder famers and market actors in Dewachefa, Tehuledere and Ambasel woredas of South Wollo and Oromo zones of Amhara region.

The PC will be undertaking project management, planning, implementation; lead coordination of implementing partner’s staff; playing leading role in internal and external project reporting, financial management, partners’ engagement, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, outputs and impacts. Responsibilities involve ensuring that the project activities are integrated effectively, and that all project relevant stakeholders at all levels are fully engaged

KEY TASKS AND RESPONISBILITES

Key areas of responsibilities are:

1.      Successfully manage the implementation of the project in accordance with the project’s agreed objectives, work plans and budgets

a.    Project planning:

• In consultation with the Programme Manager and local partners, review and prepare the project’s work plan and budget during the annual planning process.
• Manage monthly, quarterly and annual work plans for project logistics and activities, identifying and responding to the implications of interdependencies between different sub-project work stream activities.

b.    Project delivery, implementation and internal reporting:

• Ensure that project activities are implemented and outputs achieved as planned and within the agreed budget, including the development of robust value chains for spices and chickpeas.
• Review progress regularly, submitting quarterly internal progress review reports outlining progress, issues and actions being taken in the standard format.
• Participate in quarterly internal project progress review sessions including: in-depth review of financial spend/burn rate; achievement against activity and output plan, and a forward look on whether the project is achieving against its objectives, indicators and beneficiaries.
• Proactively identify and monitor any risks to non-delivery and, where required, develop and implement action plans to address issues identified;
• Ensure the timely submission of narrative and financial reports to the donor as per the reporting requirements indicated in financing agreement

c.    Financial management and governance:

• Manage the project within the agreed budget
• Undertake re-forecasts, where required, to reflect changing financial context (e.g., inflation, exchange rates) and the project’s activity
• Identify and analyse the causes of spend variances to the budget and act as needed
• Implement internal project financial controls, ensuring that financial management in the project field office follows and exceeds the basic standards contained in the Farm Africa finance procedures manual.
• Review budget monitoring reports, and provide timely explanations and corrective actions for any significant variances
• Ensure that all procurement of goods and services follow the donor financial requirements.
• Ensure compliance of the project to the new ACSO guideline
• Work with the PM to monitor financial risks, developing and implementing mitigation actions as needed

d.    Monitoring and evaluation of the project’s outcomes and impact

• Working with the programme’s MEL expert and Farm Africa’s Head of Impact and other stakeholders, develop and implement a project monitoring and evaluation process that meets the basic internal and donor monitoring and outcome reporting requirements.
• Work closely with partner organisations to contribute to lessons learned, ensure dissemination and maintain dialogue on key project findings
• Ensure that project’s log-frame and data collection plans are regularly reviewed and refreshed, and the project is collecting the breadth of indicators required at a frequency and timing in line with reporting purposes
• Lead the project’s annual self-assessment process ensuring that necessary evidence is collected and all staff are actively involved in the process
• Ensure that the project is regularly (at least quarterly) conducting beneficiary surveys, collecting other data through relevant sources, developing case studies and collating photos
• Oversee baseline, mid-term, final evaluation and other external evaluations, ensuring that learning and recommendations from those evaluations are explicitly incorporated into the project’s future implementation activity

2.  Line manage the project staff

• In liaison with partners and the PM, lead on the recruitment of new staff to the project team.
• Hold (at least) monthly staff meetings and send minutes and key action points to the relevant stakeholders
• Provide leadership and motivation to all project staff, building values-based team working and individual staff skills relevant to the project.
• Regularly provide both informal and formal coaching and feedback to all project staff
• Effectively and promptly deal with any poor performance and actively recognise and encourage strong performance
• Actively seek feedback on own performance and effectiveness from both country leadership as well as own project staff.
• Hold in-person supervision sessions with all line-managed staff at least once per quarter (to discuss progress against their personal development objectives and work targets) and carry out in-person annual appraisals with all line-managed staff

3. Internal and external stakeholder management including local government, as well as donor

• Conduct joint progress review and planning meetings with relevant implementing partner’s staff. programme staff and local partners: set agenda, take minutes, ensure all partners are up to date and inputs are translated to project implementation;
• Participate in internal Farm Africa learning and review sessions to assess any adjustments needed to the project implementation plans and budget allocations
• Ensure timely narrative and financial reporting is secured, in good time for submission to the donor
• Proactively identify and raise with the PM (and others as appropriate) any delivery risks related to implementation partners, and work with partner staff to implement action plans to resolve identified issues
• Proactively identify any required changes to donor-agreed work plans, objectives and/or budgets, working with the PM to agree and implement any necessary contract revisions or renegotiations
• Ensure compliance with donor procurement and other contractual requirements
• Provide formal representation of the project with respect to key signatory government parties, and ensure periodic reports are submitted to them on a timely basis.
• Ensure that the project is represented at relevant Zonal, Regional and (where relevant) Federal level government meetings and forums
• Act as an ambassador, promoting the project, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops and conferences, and meeting donors and other officials when required.

4.      Play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Country team

• Contribute to the development and implementation of Farm Africa’s strategy
• Identify and explore opportunities to grow and expand the country project pipeline, both in relation to the current project (e.g., potential scale-up opportunities to take existing work to meso- or macro-level, replication in other geographies/regions) or related to new project opportunities
• Work, where appropriate, with the Country Director and the UK Programme Funding Unit to prepare funding proposals where requested, ensuring that any lessons learned during implementation are documented and built into future project design
• Participate in country-level or pan-Farm Africa programme meetings with other project coordinators, as and when requested

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

DURATION: One and half year

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• MSc qualification or equivalent in either of the following fields: agri-economics, agriculture, business, agricultural business, international development, rural development, or any other relevant discipline
• Knowledge of climate smart agri-value chain development
• Good understanding and firm belief in gender equality and issues in rural communities

Desirable

• Certificate, diploma or degree in project management
• Demonstrated professional and personal attitude towards gender equality

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive and relevant experience as a senior project manager in an NGO evidencing knowledge and understanding of project strategy, design, implementation, monitoring and reporting
• Hands on experience in agri-value chain development or market system
• Experience in developing, implementing and reviewing participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation processes. Demonstrated ability to incorporate results of these activities into project design and implementation
• Demonstrated independent and proactive attitude towards project management
• A deep understanding of participatory community-based project approaches, gender mainstreaming in development and economic opportunities
• Experience in financial management, including the ability to develop, read and manage budgets; and rapidly spot potential issues and solutions

Desirable

• Proven track record of establishing and building strong and effective relationships with partners, donors, government and private sector organizations
• Experience in M4P approach
• Experience in managing M&E studies
• Experience working in the region or area
• Demonstrable experience in facilitating farmers to access profitable markets

Skills & abilities

• Excellent skills in project management with the ability to develop and translate plans into cost-effective operations and activities, in line with identified and available resources and budgets, and donor and other conditions
• Demonstrated leadership, line management and team building experience - including appraisal and managing under-performance.
• Proven experience in stimulating successful delivery of the project by all team members as well as staff development, creating open and collaborative team environments that encourages the contributions of the whole team
• Strong ability to identify problems and solve complex issue strategically
• Proven experience and ability in co-ordination, management and negotiation within partners and other stakeholders (government and donors
• Excellent information management, networking and communication skills
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa
• Experience in combining coaching with effective and insightful feedback on strengths, development areas and ways to grow

Desirable

Other skills

• Good knowledge of MS Office packages
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills with the ability to work with Government, donor and Private Sector stakeholders
• Excellent record of writing including briefs, project reports, communication and dissemination materials
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Knowledge of local language is an advantage
• Ability and willingness to travel widely and frequently to rural areas

Our VALUES

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.

BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.