Website International Development Enterprises
Job Opportunities – iDE Zambia
Project name; FtMA – Farmer Service Centres
Background
Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) through the World Food Program has made resources available to iDE Zambia for implementation of a One Year Farmer Service Centres program in selected districts of Central, Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces. FtMA is a consortium of six organizations (World Food Programme, AGRA, Bayer, Rabo Bank, Syngenta, and Yara), with a shared mission of making markets work better for smallholder farmers (SHFs). FtMA is envisioned to be an inclusive, open platform that seeks to leverage existing structures to catalyse solutions and coordinate partners across the agriculture and food system using the Farmer Service Centre (FSC) model.
This (FSC) program will continue to build on the investments already made by the Alliance Members and FtMA in Zambia. The FSC approach will directly engage the private sector to better support last mile services to smallholder farmers thus increasing their access to market linkages, inputs, finance and improved technologies, knowledge of relevant agri-technologies and cultivation techniques, such as conservation farming, and will improve our farmers’ produce quality and standards with farmer data capture and value add services through digitization.
FtMA’s Planned Results
Impact: Improved livelihoods and resilience of rural smallholder farmers in Zambia and enhanced agribusiness efficiencies
Impact Indicators:
1. Increase in farmers’ average household-level income
2. Increase commercial viability of Farmer Service Centres
Outcome:
Smallholder farmers increase their uptake in quality services to increase productivity, resulting in an increase in value of their outputs being marketed through the Farmer Service Centre.
Interventions
1. Farmer Service Centre (FSC) identification and network building.
2. Market linkages and aggregation via the Farmer Service Centre Model
3. Farmer mobilization/on boarding and service provision through FSC model
4. Data management and Digital solutions
iDE Zambia is inviting applications from qualifying candidates for the following positions.
1. Project Manager x1
Location: Kabwe
The Project Manager will lead the implementation of all components of FtMA-Farmer Service Centres, providing technical and business advisory on agriculture enterprise components that are appropriate to eligible project clients.
EDUCATION
- Minimum of a university degree or professional equivalent in Agricultural economics, Agribusiness management, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Marketing or a business-related field with a good understanding of project management.
- Formal training in the Market System Development approach is preferable
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
- At least 7 years’ working experience developing small businesses particularly promoting agriculture entrepreneurs, 3 of which should be at the management level.
- Knowledge of value chain development approaches and private sector experience will be added advantage
- People management skills: coaching and mentoring skills, team goal structuring, and performance management skills
- Excellent reporting, presentation and negotiation skills
- Ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines as well as collaboratively with a team
- Class B driving licence – manual vehicles
2. Market and FSC Business Development Specialist x 1
Location: Kabwe
Key Responsibilities
Shall be responsible for capacity building and oversight to District based project staff to effectively provide business training and mentorship to FSCs and to create support environment for FSC enterprises to sustainably deliver market value services to target farmers
Education
- A degree in agribusiness, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration or equivalent rural economic development related discipline.
- At least 5 years private sector work experience in Business/ Entrepreneurship skill development among rural SMEs.
- Understanding of project management and the market-systems development approach to will be added advantage
Preferred skills and attributes
- Training/coaching/mentoring/ Facilitation skills
- The ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work effectively within a team
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proficient in relevant Office software such as word, excel, and PowerPoint.
- Exceptional networking and relationship-building abilities.
- A valid Driving license (Manual Vehicles).
3. District Business Coordinators (DBC) x5
Location: – Masaiti, Mpongwe, Mumbwa, Chisamba, Chongwe
Key Responsibilities
Network building of Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) and to promote their services in order to enhance productivity of SHF
Education
- A degree in agribusiness, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration or equivalent rural economic development related discipline.
- At least 2 years work experience in agriculture among rural smallholders in the area of Business skills development.
- Understanding of project management, the market-systems development approach and experience with the private sector to will be added advantage
Preferred skills and attributes
- Training/coaching/mentoring/ Facilitation skills
- The ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work effectively within a team
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proficient in relevant Office software such as word, excel, and PowerPoint.
- Exceptional networking and relationship-building abilities.
- A valid rider’s license.
4. Monitoring Evaluation and Learning OFFICER
Location: – -Kabwe
Key Responsibilities:
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will be responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation, research, and learning framework of the FtMA Project. He/she will develop a systematic monitoring framework to improve the qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered by the Project. He/she will also provide technical assistance to the implementing projects, particularly in relation to monitoring, reporting and use of Monitoring feedback.
Education:
i. First university degree in agriculture, Agriculture economics, statistics, demographics, or related field.
ii. Added advanced certificate in M&E preferred.
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
i. Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in a position responsible for project management or implementing M&E activities of smallholder agriculture.
ii. Experience in designing, implementing, and operating project M&E systems from project initiation to closeout stages.
iii. Experience in designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.
iv. Experience in planning and performance measurement, including indicator tracking, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
v. Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies.
vi. Experience in planning and managing surveys.
vii. Experience in developing and refining electronic data collection tools.
viii. Experience with data quality assessments and supervision.
ix. Ability to facilitate and serve as project liaison for externally-managed evaluations.
x. Languages: Excellent written and spoken command of English. Knowledge of Local language in FTMA project areas preferred.
Method of application.
i. Application should be in e-mail with the CV as the only attachment.
ii. Clearly reference the project and position you are applying for.
iii. Only applicants with the necessary experience and qualifications should respond to this advert.
iv. Female candidates are encouraged to apply
v. Applications should be mailed to [email protected] by 24th June 2022.
5. District Coordinators – Scaling Up Nutrition Phase II – (SUN II)
iDE Zambia is a branch of the larger International Development Enterprises structure that employs market-based approaches and the power of entrepreneurship to create competitive, resilient and inclusive income and livelihood opportunities for poor rural households in the Agriculture and WASH subsectors. iDE Zambia has been contracted by the World Food Programme (Wfp) to be an implementing partner on the ‘Support for Scaling Up Nutrition Phase II – SUN II for the First 1,000 Most Critical Days program II (MCDP II)’. The assignment contributes to the following MCDP II results:
CSP Outcome 2 – Vulnerable people in Zambia have improved nutritional status in line with national targets by 2024
- Output 1 – Smallholder farmers benefit from enhanced financial services to increase their income and resilience
- Output 3: Targeted communities benefit from increased access to nutrition products through strengthened private sector value chains for nutritious foods
CSP Outcome 3 – Smallholder farmers in Zambia, especially women, have increased access to markets, enhanced resilience to climate shocks and diversified livelihoods by 2030
- Output 2. Smallholder farmers benefit from knowledge and technology in postharvest management to enhance their resilience to shocks and increase their incomes
To achieve the stated results iDE Zambia will coordinate and support implementation of the following activities at district level working under a multi sectoral team approach:
Economic empowerment for women of reproductive age (WRA) with a focus on promoting aligned and productive Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLA) and access to financial education, services and products;
Support the integration of Nutrition SBCC in VSLA and it roll out.
Food safety and preservation to increase availability, access, quality and safety of nutritious foods at household level.
Support private sector engagement to promote local and community based nutritious food development, processing and marketing;
iDE Zambia now seeks to recruit staff at the level of District Coordinators in the following district:
a) Luapula Province; Chiengi
Qualifications
i. Minimum of a degree in one of the following: – Development studies, Nutrition, Agriculture entrepreneurship or their equivalent.
ii. Minimum of 3 years working experience in promoting sustainable livelihoods among the rural in the area of food and nutrition security and/or agriculture entrepreneurship among the rural poor
iii. Experience in training and working with multisectoral teams will be added advantage.
iv. Those who do not meet the above minimum qualifications need not apply as they will not be selected.
Mode of application.
i. Application letters and CVs to be sent via e-mail to the following address: [email protected]
ii. Letter of application should clearly be referenced as Application for position of District Coordinator’ specifying the district of interest’
iii. Closing date for receiving applications is 17th June, 2022.