Country: Cameroon
Closing date: 05 Dec 2018
The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a Project Coordinator to lead an anticipated two-year GIZ- funded agricultural project in Cameroon.
The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
The Position: Within the project the selected candidate will facilitate creative partnerships across public and private sectors to strengthen the contribution of potato to incomes and nutritional health through uptake of new varieties and other production technologies, seed systems development, value chain innovation and in particular in knowledge transfer through Farmer Field and Business Schools. The successful candidate will be expected to travel frequently in the project region. She/He will report to CIP’s Seed Potato for Africa program leader and the regional director for sub Saharan Africa and will be expected to liaise closely with GIZ-ProCISA, local project implementation partners and potential resource organizations. The position will be based in Yaoundé, Cameroon and hosted by the GIZ-ProCISA project office.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Management of research and development activities
- Refine the content and timelines for the work plan through interactions and dialogue with partners and other stakeholders and define responsibilities and commitments for its implementation.
- Ensure compliance with the agreed work plans through implementation of a monitoring, evaluation and learning system.
- Facilitate the establishment of a cohesive, proactive project team and a strong, mutually respectful partnership of implementing organizations with clear accountability, transparency in its operations and efficiency targeting towards food insecure and poor households.
- Ensure longer term viability of the partnership implementing the project through frequent interactions with senior managers of the participating organizations.
- Ensure the timely preparations and high quality of all reporting requirements to GIZ.
- Develop partnerships and propose resource mobilization strategies such as training programs and other joint activities to strengthen CIP’s potato program in Cameroon.
- Stakeholder sensitization and engagement to develop a sustainable national potato strategy in the framework of the GIZ Green Innovation Centers project and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) potato crop programs.
- Technical training and backstopping of partners implementing Farmer Field and Business School training.
- Ensure improved access to quality seed of high yielding, disease resistant, and market demanded varieties for increased productivity and resilience.
- Evaluation and implementation of innovative cropping, storage, and marketing methods with farmer cooperatives and model farmers.
- Provide agronomic advice to potato stakeholders in Cameroon.
- Active engagement in CIP’s: Seed Potato for Africa program.
Project Management
- Provide management in all aspects of project implementation.
- Supervise and lead the technical team (three junior field coordinators in the project implementation regions).
- Ensure that project implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with CIP’s principles, values and strategic plan.
- Work with administrative and finance units at CIP and other CGIAR partners, oversee the development of sub-agreements and works plans.
- Monitor adherence to grant agreement, CIP policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations.
- Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building
- Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
- Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees,and ensuring that all staff members are effectively using the performance planning and management system.
- Contribute to project team-building efforts,and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
The successful candidate will have:
- PhD level degree in relevant discipline in in agronomy, seed technology, virology, plant sciences, pathology or a closely related discipline. MSc degree in relevant field with formal training in innovation systems will be considered.
- Strong experience of at least 2 years in project management, preferably within an international development context.
- Good to excellent knowledge in potato cropping systems in particular in Africa would be an asset.
- Experience working in Cameroon or other sub-Saharan countries is an asset.
- Experience with agricultural marketing and/or food security issues an advantage.
- Knowledge of international agricultural research for development desirable.
- Ability to prioritize responsibilities.
- Demonstrate leadership, integrity and versatility.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Fluency or at least good working knowledge in English and French required.
- Willingness to travel frequently and work under field conditions.
How to apply: