Project Manager 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 x 1

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