DAI is seeking experienced candidates for an upcoming Food Security programme in Zimbabwe. The programme will look at developing markets and private sector to better support rural livelihoods; facilitating links between commercial markets and farmer groups to increase farmer productivity and income.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of all programme outputs, and:
- Lead efforts to develop and implement innovative activities aimed at strengthening markets and private sector to improve rural livelihoods, applying the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) methodology
- Lead the overall programme strategy to identify and facilitate appropriate interventions for the development of targeted market systems, for different regions as required
- Lead programme networking and institutional outreach, strategic planning, policy engagement, and project troubleshooting
- Manage all staff in locations across the country to deliver results
- Coordinate effectively with key stakeholders and partners to strengthen programme participation
- Ensure Value for Money and delivery of results
- Guide the team to develop effective monitoring and evaluation plans and disseminate results to influence policy
- Ensure quality of the programme delivery through mentoring the programme team and through providing feedback on their performance as well as areas for improvement
- With substantial support from the Fund Manager and Project Accountant, ensure project finances and management practices are in compliance with DAI and donor contractual rules and regulations
- Act as primary point of contact with DAI head office on programme implementation, budget, and personnel issues
- Direct and collaborate with programme partners on issues of overall programme strategy
- Direct risk mitigation measures
- Authorise all short-term technical assistance required by the project
- Oversee delivery of key reports and workplans
- Act as primary liaison with the client, other donors, and projects
Requirements:
- Advanced degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Economics, Business or Development Studies
- Minimum 15 years of experience working on agriculture and agribusiness/ private sector development projects, preferably with significant Southern Africa experience in market development/ value chain development
- Minimum 10 years of strong experience and demonstrated competence in managing teams under complex donor-funded programmes, ideally DFID or USAID
- Significant networking and relationship management skills at senior leadership levels
- Proven track record in facilitating catalytic change that benefits poor people
- Working knowledge of DFID’s Value for Money approach preferred
- Strong strategic mindset and planning abilities, particularly with regards to the management of development projects
- Experience in addressing gender inequality and promoting women entrepreneurship and employment would be an added advantage
- Excellent communication skills and report-writing
- Fluency in English (both written and oral) is essential; and fluency in local languages highly desirable
Project Location: Harare based with occasional travel within Zimbabwe Length of the project: 5-7 years Anticipated
Project Start date: April 2014
Deadline for Applications: 30th November 2013