Summary
Date Posted: Friday, October 21, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Skills:
Masters’ degree or higher in agriculture, development, finance, economics, or a related topic.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience of demonstrated and relevant project management experience.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience working with agricultural cooperatives, retailers, village based agents and other relevant supply chain actors.
• Experience with gender and social inclusion integration in agricultural projects/market systems.
• Experience with business management training for farmers.;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), in both English and Bemba (Zambia)/ Chichewa (Malawi).
• Demonstrated project management, coordination and operational experience, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new topics quickly.
• Ability to travel at short notice and work under pressure in difficult and remote locations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible, and to demonstrate the ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point) and scheme standard databases.
• The Consultant is expected to be based in Zambia/Malawi.

A. Background
The International Finance Corporation (IFC)—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
IFC’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (MAS) Advisory team offers a diverse array of services to private sector companies, assisting to improve productivity and mitigate risks associated with environmental factors and climate change. In agribusiness, MAS Advisory assists with the integration of smallholder farmers into food supply chains, improving agricultural productivity and food safety, optimizing the use of resources, saving energy and water, and reducing waste.
IFC management have recently approved a 3.5-year agribusiness advisory services project that is undertaking preparatory activities over the next few months before in-field activities commence in January 2023 in both Zambia and Malawi.
For this project, IFC has partnered with a large agribusiness input provider and trader and a regional NGO to pilot capacity building for producer organizations (POs), retailers and Village Based Agents (VBAs); ultimately enhancing the efficiency of the agribusiness input provider and trader’s maize and soybean supply chains by improving the last mile distribution of inputs, the productivity, and the market linkages of up to 200,000 smallholder farmers. The program will have pilot projects in four countries, starting in Zambia and Malawi, followed by Tanzania and Mozambique. The program will include SCOPEInsight1 assessments of all participating enterprises, as well as IFC’s Agribusiness Leadership program training and coaching. In addition to this, we will be providing Farming as a Family Business (FAFB) for PO members. In total, the program will include up to 60 producer organizations, 200 retailers and 200 VBAs – per country approximately 15 producer organizations, 50 retailers and 50 VBAs (in Zambia- 15 POs, 50 VBAs and 50 retailers, in Malawi- 10 POs, 40 VBAs and 40 retailers). Up to sixteen field staff (4 per country) from the agribusiness firm will serve as assessors, trainers, and coaches for the program.

1 SCOPEinsight, a Dutch rating agency, provides assessment tools, data collection, analysis, benchmarking and reporting for farmers, agents and businesses within agricultural value chains
2 In addition to training using the ALP model, the project will also include an inclusive component focused on gender and social inclusion training that will benefit smallholder farming families, targeting up to 35% of this population in Zambia and Malawi. The aspects of each component have been defined in an integrated country strategy, which includes an implementation plan with activities, roles and timeline.
IFC is seeking to contract two Individual Local Field Project Coordinators (“the Consultant”) to provide support to the projects in Zambia and Malawi each, under supervision of the project team leader, program coordinator and in collaboration with technical specialists leading the different components of the project.

B. Objective of This Assignment
The overall objective of the assignment is to ensure that the project activities are delivered on time, within budget, and with achievement of targets in the project Implementation Plan. The Consultant will regularly visit the client and target beneficiaries in the project and engage with the IFC, client and implementing partner project teams to help support implementation, supervise and monitor project timelines and targets in the implementation process.

C. Scope of Work
Project field coordination
• Follow-up on the day-to-day operational dialogue with the local client team, all counterparts including relevant local implementing partners, consultants, and all other relevant stakeholders, to ensure smooth and timely implementation of project activities.
• Undertake any other activities related to the implementation of the project, including carrying out regular supervision missions for all MAS components, alerting TTL and Global Program Coordinator of issues and problem solving as needed.
• Identify and promptly notify the project team of implementation risks, issues and challenges and provide advice and support in their resolution.
• Participate in meetings or events related to the project, including working with the communications team for promoting the project locally.
• Establish a strong professional relationship based on trust with the client and all other stakeholders, including sector players and staying abreast of key sector developments and keeping the project team informed.
• Support the TTL and Coordinator in preparation of semi-annual Project Supervision/Completion Report (PSR/PCR): provide inputs to the PSR/PCR document, collect all required documented evidence and ensure their quality and accuracy, follow-up all M&E indicators.
• Support the TTL and Coordinator in the organization of semi-annual Steering Committee Meeting (SCM): ensure the availability and quality of presentation/document required for the SCM.
• On an as-needed basis, provide information on the project for IFC’s internal or external communication and events such: donor’s reports, briefs for missions of World Bank Group staff, knowledge events and publications, information requests from government officials, research institutes, agribusiness companies, and similar.

D. Qualifications Criteria
The Consultant is expected to have a proven track record in managing development projects in agricultural supply chains. The Consultant should meet the following criteria:

TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Masters’ degree or higher in agriculture, development, finance, economics, or a related topic.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience of demonstrated and relevant project management experience.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience working with agricultural cooperatives, retailers, village based agents and other relevant supply chain actors.
• Experience with gender and social inclusion integration in agricultural projects/market systems.
• Experience with business management training for farmers.
SOFT SKILLS
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), in both English and Bemba (Zambia)/ Chichewa (Malawi).
• Demonstrated project management, coordination and operational experience, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new topics quickly.
• Ability to travel at short notice and work under pressure in difficult and remote locations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible; and to demonstrate the ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point) and scheme standard databases.
• The Consultant is expected to be based in Zambia/Malawi.

E. Reporting
The STC will primarily report to the MAS project Team Leader based in Cairo. S/he will be working under the technical guidance of the project coordinator for MAS, and in close collaboration with the pool IFC colleagues working on other components, including FIG.

F. Other
This is a consultant position, and as such, the consultant can be recruited for a maximum of 150 days per fiscal year. The consultant will be based in Zambia/Malawi. Field activities will primarily be conducted in French. Some farmer outreach may be conducted in local languages.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 84

Level of Education: Associate Degree

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