Junior Advisor for Cooperatives Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is the implementing agency of the Federal Republic of Germany for technical and international cooperation. It offers flexible, sustainable and effective solutions in political, economic and social change processes. Most of the work of GIZ is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ also operates on behalf of other German ministries as well as public and private bodies in Germany and abroad. These include the European Commission, the United Nations, the World Bank and governments of other countries.

As part of its support to the agriculture sector in Africa, in 2014 the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH was commissioned by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to implement a multi-sectoral Special Initiative “ONE WORLD – No Hunger” that aims to sustainably eradicate hunger and malnutrition. Under the framework of this Special Initiative, the project Green Innovation Centers for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIC) in Zambia aims to boost the incomes of small-scale farmers, create employment opportunities and increase local food supply through the promotion of and training in innovations. Among the project’s target beneficiaries are small scale farmers (including youths and female farmers), farmer-based organizations and rural agricultural processing, trading and marketing enterprises

In this context, GIZ is seeking a suitable candidate to fill the following position:

Junior Advisor for Cooperatives – (Based in Choma)

REF: GIZ_GIC_JRAC

Main tasks and responsibilities:

The position holder is responsible for:

• Assisting the Regional Coordinator / project advisors with the design, implementation, monitoring of project activities and taking up relevant tasks related to Cooperative Development in Southern Province.
• Implementing the Project and Activity Monitoring for Southern Province, especially training registries, in close collaboration with the respective M&E officer based in Lusaka and technical team in Choma and supporting the Project Team at the Choma Office in all operational activities and documentation.
• Assuring the Knowledge Management, including public communication of the project in close collaboration with the communication focal person in the team.
• Participating in a set of additional activities including supporting the project implementation and synergies with other projects of the GIZ AgriFood Cluster.

In this context, the position holder fulfils the following tasks:

Tasks

Cooperative Development and Agribusiness

• Provides demand driven training and coaching/advice to selected cooperatives in areas such as governance, management and enterprise development.
• Supports cooperatives in developing and delivering services for members and member mobilization.
• Supports the initiation and closing of consulting contracts in close consultation with the cooperative advisor.
• Supports the preparation, coordination and logistical support of events (trainings, workshops).
• Supports the development and improvement/adaptation of training materials.
• Supports the provision of training and coaching to selected cooperatives in close collaboration with the cooperative advisor.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Supports the implementation of an operational monitoring system under guidance of the M&E focal person in Lusaka and the technical team in Southern province
• Assists in filing training registries and documenting trainings/workshops that are being co-organized with the extension structure of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development
• Regularly enters data into a digital Activity Monitoring tool and ensures quality of data collected, especially avoiding double-counting of trained individuals, under guidance of the M&E focal person in Lusaka
• Supports the roll-out of the digital Activity Monitoring tool to different partners and offers capacity support where relevant
• Identifies and documents good practices and lessons learnt in M&E.

Knowledge Management, Research and Communication

• Supports the knowledge management of the project, including collecting and sharing reports and other relevant information, and up-loading them to the project’s data management system.
• Assists in communicating, updating and collecting information under the guidance of the team.
• Does practical oriented research in regard to specific implementation relevant topics, such as extension structures and systematises information before sharing with the project team.
• Identifies and documents good and innovative practices and lessons learnt.
• Contributes to the preparation of periodical reports.

Other duties/additional tasks

• Represents the GIC project in regular exchanges and discussions at AgriFood Cluster level.
• Effectively networks in the livestock and cooperative extension structure in Zambia.
• Attends meetings and events of partners and relevant stakeholders.
• Performs any other duties/tasks as agreed with management.

Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications

Formal Education

• A bachelor’s degree in (agricultural) economics, agribusiness, development studies, or related field.
• Certification in Cooperative development, M&E or relevant work experience is a distinct advantage.

Other Qualifications

Professional Experience

• At least 3 years’ professional experience in the field of cooperative development, agribusiness, or business development of rural enterprises.
• Ideally, a minimum of 6 months experience in planning or monitoring and evaluation.

Other Knowledge, additional competences

• Experience with approaches for empowering youths and women
• Good facilitation skills.
• Very good working knowledge of computer technologies (related software, email, the internet) and computer applications (standard Microsoft Office: Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint); ability to learn other tools will be added advantage.
• Good understanding of the Zambian cooperative movement.
• Good knowledge of online data collection tools and databases.
• Experience in the organization and logistical support of events.
• Fluent written and oral knowledge of English, very good knowledge of Tonga is an added advantage to communicate well with the local farmers.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills and be able to work effectively in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team.
• Able to work responsibly, effectively and target- oriented.
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed.
• Driving license, preferably manual cars.