Overview

Job Title: Project Coordinator

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

 

RE-ADVERTISEMENT OF VACANCY

Through an intervention centered on smallholder dairy producers, the Government of the Republic of Tanzania (GoT) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have entered into a collaboration agreement aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural people. The project’s objectives are to enhance food safety, boost lives, and lessen the dairy industry’s negative climate change effects by helping to modernize the dairy value chain. The development goal is to increase smallholder dairy producers’ income, nutrition, and ability to withstand climate change while also enabling them to participate in a safe and competitive value chain. With the support of efficient project management, monitoring, and evaluation, the project seeks to achieve the following two interconnected development outcomes: (i) boosted the productivity, resilience, and climate-smart output of dairy smallholder production systems; (ii) enhanced smallholder farmers’ access to markets and decreased the environmental impact of the dairy value chain;

The targeted geographical areas for the Climate Smart Smallholder Dairy Transformation Project (C-SDTP) are: Morogoro (Mvomero, Kilosa, Morogoro rural); Mbeya (Rungwe, Mbeya, Mbarali); Iringa (Mufundi, Kilolo, Iringa); Njombe (Njombe, Makete, Wanging’ombe); Tanga (Lushoto, Muheza, Korogwe, Pangani, Tanga); and Zanzibar, in Unguja (West A, West B, Central, North A, North B, and South Districts); and Pemba (Wete, Micheweni, Chakechake and Mkoani districts). The project will directly benefit 120,000 homes, or 600,000 individuals; women will make up 40% of the direct beneficiaries, while youth make up 30%.

In addition to representatives from the private sector and farmers’ organizations, the C-SDTP will be overseen by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF), which is in alignment with the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Vice President’s Office (VPO), and President Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) for the mainland; and the First Vice President Office in Zanzibar (VP1), the Ministry of Finance and Planning President’s Office for Zanzibar.

For the following roles in the project that is funded in part by an IFAD grant, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Office is seeking qualified applicants.

He or she will be in charge of all things related to the efficient implementation, management, and coordination of activities for the successful achievement of the project’s objectives. They will work within the C-SDTP and report to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. In addition, he or she will be in charge of providing technical assistance to the District teams. He or she will have a base at the PCO headquarters, MLF in Dodoma, and make frequent trips to Zanzibar (PCT) and the intervention regions (Iringa, Mbeya, Morogoro, Njombe, and Tanga).

The goal of this highly demanding professional role is to achieve the intended C-SDTP results. It is necessary to have seasoned experts with good managerial and organizational skills. It is really impressive that you have a thorough awareness of both the dairy industry and the project location.

The Project Coordinator will work under the direction of the MLF, who also serves as the chair of the national steering committee of C-STDP.

The principal duties of this role will be:

  • Give instructions on the project’s methodology and strategy.
    supervising and directing the project team and fostering a sense of unity among the PCO project personnel, which includes the PCT in Zanzibar, implementing partners, MLF, and district employees.
  • With results-based management, make sure that the project is carried out in compliance with the finance agreements and the different connected procedures.
  • Make that the project is implemented on schedule and in accordance with the annual work plan and budget.
  • Gain a thorough understanding of IFAD’s project performance indicators throughout the first three months of the assignment, and make sure that each indicator is rated at least satisfactorily.
  • Create strategies to obtain objectives more quickly, foresee implementation hazards, and create countermeasures.
  • To increase the project’s effect, make sure its components work together harmoniously.
  • As the project’s ultimate accountable officer to the Tanzanian government and the funders, oversee the monies allotted to the project by the various donors. Report on the project’s financial and physical development to the authorities specified in the funding agreements.

 

Academic credentials, background, abilities, and dispositions:

  • Possessing a master’s degree in agriculture, animal science and production, veterinary medicine, agriculture extension, agriculture economics and agribusiness, or related studies. Having a PhD in one of these areas will be beneficial.
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of expert expertise in the design, administration, and tracking of agricultural or rural development initiatives supported by bilateral or multilateral (international) funding sources.
  • It will be advantageous to have professional monitoring, evaluation, and/or financial management experience.
  • Shown aptitude in public relations, corporate negotiations, communication, and human resource management.
  • Dedication to the values of ethics and good government.
  • Flawless proficiency in both Kiswahili and English.
  • Excellent familiarity with Office, the primary office program.

 

Duration:

  • A six-month probationary phase precedes a five-year contract that is yearly performance-based.
  • The selection and employment of the Project Coordinator will be predicated on a competitive hiring process including external candidates and/or government employees on secondment.

Dairy Value Chain and Market Specialist (DVCMS)

In the area of the dairy value chain, the C-SDTP’s field execution of its operations will be assisted by the Dairy Value Chain and Market Specialist (DVCMS). He or she will assist the specialist in the dairy industry in implementing the program in all its facets, with an emphasis on the value chain.

 

The principal duties of this role will be:

  • Assess the target groups’ training needs for the dairy industry, taking gender into account, as part of the baseline survey.
  • Determine potential new business models, such as the Dairy Hub and productive alliances models, for the dairy input services provided by the milk MCCs.
  • Assist in creating the yearly work plans and budgets (AWPBs).
  • Make sure the dairy industry integrates and mainstreams the idea of an enterprise approach and market-oriented smallholder dairy growth. Promote the execution and display of market-oriented initiatives that assist smallholder dairy farmers. In order to create and deliver training modules that are appropriate for smallholder dairy farmers, transporters, processors, distributors/retailers, women, youth, and other target groups, it is necessary to seek for, evaluate, counsel, and oversee contract service providers.
  • Identify the main issues with hygiene standards, quality and safety control, equipment, packaging, branding, and marketing of dairy products, and provide solutions for using current technology and practices.
  • Provide suggestions for improvement (new technology, tools, TA, training, etc.) based on the study to strengthen the value chain actors’ ability to generate more revenue and add value.
  • Help the project’s procurement officer locate and acquire the new technology, tools, training, and assistance that participating businesses across the dairy value chain require.
  • Help the Director with regional reporting and program implementation for the development of the dairy value chain.
  • As instructed by IFAD and the project coordinator, prepare the needed reports.
  • Make sure gender-related initiatives pertaining to young and female involvement in the dairy industry are implemented.

 

Academic credentials, background, abilities, and dispositions:

Background in Education:

  • A minimum of an MSc in Animal Science and Production, Agricultural Economics, Dairy Technology, or Agribusiness Animal Science and Production (with a major in Dairy Science) is required.

Experience:

  • Ten  (10) years or more of expertise in the field coordinating rural development initiatives.
  • A minimum of five years’ experience in the dairy industry working in the packaging, quality and safety control, and dairy processing and marketing departments.
  • A minimum of five years’ experience developing dairy production.
  • Three years of minimum hands-on experience implementing projects.
  • Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases using computers.
  • Strong communication skills both in writing and speaking.
  • Capacity to fulfill deadlines and operate well under duress.
  • Able to establish and maintain a collaborative environment with peers; meticulous and detail-oriented.

Time / Duration:

The assignment will last for five (5) years, with a six-month probationary period and an annual performance-based contract. The Dairy Value Chain and Market Specialist (DVCMS) will be chosen and hired through a competitive hiring process from external candidates or government employees on secondment.

Applications must be submitted by August 8th, 2024. Interested candidates should send their application to the following address, together with a letter of interest, a copy of their certified academic qualification, and their full curriculum vitae:

Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries,

P.O BOX 2870 – Dodoma,

Email: barua@mifugo.co.tz