In line with and in support of the Government of Liberia’s Food Security & Nutrition Strategy and Poverty Reduction strategy, CRS has been awarded a three-year grant funded by the African Development Bank through the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), to implement the
ON-FARM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT component of the Agriculture Sector Rehabilitation Program (ASRP). The goal of the ASRP is to improve food security and reduce poverty levels of 3400 individuals and their households in four counties in Southeast Liberia. CRS, under the guidance of and partnership with the PMU, works in close coordination with other PMU implementing partners Adventist Relief and Development Agency (ADRA), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), and local agricultural authorities to undertake the ASRP in one of the most isolated and underserved areas of Liberia. This position requires increasing farmer linkages to rice and other crop value chains and market sales. The project will include ensuring the introduction and dissemination of improved rice seed varieties, improved farmer productivity, linkages to input suppliers, and collective purchasing and market sales. Initially, the rice value chain will be the focus of the first years, with the prospect that other crops, such as cassava, maize and small scale livestock, including fishery value chain activities, may be undertaken. Complementary activities to improve labor efficiency will include gender mainstreaming, nutrition education, HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention through linkages to ASRP partners and/or other CRS projects in these areas.
Job Summary:
• The ASRP Project Manager (ASRP PM) – is a member of the ASRP team, based in Fishtown, River Gee, one of four of the targeted project counties in Southeastern Liberia, and is responsible for managing field staff located in micro field-offices in all four counties.
• The ASRP PM will be responsible for achieving the overall targets and objectives of the project. Under the supervision of the CRS Livelihoods Coordinator (LC), the ASRP PM will prepare annual and quarterly workplans and budgets, and work with staff to produce monthly workplans in line with the objectives of the project and CRS Program Manager Competencies.
• In line with CRS ProPak guidance, the ASRP PM will be responsible for supporting CRS County Field Officers and local partners to develop capacity in program implementation through training, technical assistance and budgetary management.
• The ASRP PM works closely with the other ASRP partners, including local agricultural authorities, to develop a comprehensive M&E system under the direction of the MOA.
• During implementation, with support from the M&E Coordinator, the ASRP PM ensures the development and roll out of M&E tools (including but not exclusively an IPTT, quality control tools) based on CRS’ M&E methodology to ensure evidence-based project progress according to project guidelines, farmer and partner learning.
• The ASRP PM works closely with CRS Finance Department and the Project Administrative/Finance Officer to put in place a tracking system for all project expenses in order to provide accurate information as per budget reporting requirements.
• S/he is responsible for providing accurate and timely information on major issues, achievements and challenges as well as sound recommendations to the Head of Programming and Livelihoods Coordinator.
• The ASRP PM is responsible for preparing monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports and other external reports as well as for maintaining close professional relationships with the Government of Liberia, international donors and other implementing agencies especially in Southeastern Liberia.
Specific Responsibilities:
Sets Goals and Manages Towards Them
1. Sets benchmarks and goals as well as procedures for monitoring progress. Focuses on goals and engages team to craft project strategies using annual plans and quarterly reviews.
2. Works closely with project and program support staffs to develop realistic annual, quarterly, and monthly work plans to achieve identified targets.
3. Ensures regular participation of MOA staff, especially the County Agriculture Coordinators and District Agriculture Officers, in project execution.
4. Updates key stakeholders on progress, especially through, emails, reports, quarterly reviews and field visits, and participates in MOA sponsored quarterly review sessions.
5. Models and encourages critical thinking and creative problem solving. Applies Program Quality Standards to Project Design and Organizational Learning
6. Anchors project design and processes in Integral Human Development (IHD), the Justice Lens, and CRS Partnership principles.
7. Ensures that CRS staff and partners receive the necessary training and technical assistance to achieve program objectives, especially to implement Farmer Field Schools, Agro-Enterprise, and SILC interventions.
8. Works with CRS staff, partner and MOA staff to implement planned agriculture, agroenterprise, and micro-finance project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines.
9. With Field Officers, supports the development of community based agro-enterprise plans along with appropriate capacity building.
10. Ensures implementation of nutrition and malaria interventions.
11. Ensures over 40% participation of women and gender mainstreaming in all activities.
12. Uses the three ProPack volumes to create, monitor and evaluate projects with stakeholders. 13. Ensures with the M&E Coordinator the development and roll out of M&E tools (including but not exclusively an IPTT, quality control tools) based on CRS’ M&E methodology to ensure evidence-based project progress according to project guidelines, farmer and partner learning.
14. Compiles and collects field data including photos to produce evidence based narrative and financial reports.
15. Holds quarterly reviews and other participatory processes to measure progress against targets.
16. Uses collaborative and structured evaluation processes to review data, reach agreement about findings, and apply learning and recommendations.
17. Keeps abreast of latest developments in their sector area (collaborates with regional/HQ technical advisors, learns new PQ tools, networks with outside technical experts, etc.).
18. In accordance with CRS ProPack and the CRS West Africa Regional Office’s proposal guidance, participates in the development of project proposals to improve impact on program beneficiaries.
19. Ensures that ASRP local partners have fully implemented M&E systems to measure the outcomes of the project intervention.
20. Works with Field Officers and Field Technicians to compile and collect field data, including date stamped photos to produce narrative monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports, as well as others, as required.
21. Documents meetings and trip reports providing timely circulation of resulting information/outcomes. Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
22. Conveys expertise in a humble manner, actively consulting and listening to project team members, fellow staff and partners.
23. Facilitates shared decisions that are mutually beneficial, balancing an ability to influence others with a commitment to subsidiary.
24. Demonstrates diplomacy, flexibility and resourcefulness, utilizing skills in conflict management, peace building and behavior change.
25. Coordinates with the other ASRP implementing partners the sequencing and execution of program activities.
26. Strengthens linkages with other organizations by attending meetings, especially those in the ASRP and funded by ADB to increase livelihood security interventions on targeted households. 27. Regularly takes stock of the situation, communicates with, and seeks appropriate advice/support as needed from the Livelihoods Coordinator, Head of Programs, RTA Agriculture, and other staffs in the region and headquarters related to Agro-enterprise and Agriculture.
28. Assists the Head of Programming (HOP) and LC to coordinate with other agriculture project activities in the target areas to ensure cohesive strategic programming approaches, program integration and complementarity.
Supervision and Development:
29. Mentors and coaches newly hired CRS staff, assisting them to develop performance and development plans in line with the CRS/Liberia Performance Management System.
30. Proactively seeks and promotes appropriate training opportunities for staff.
31. Provides leadership to and mentoring for CRS Field Officers and partner agronomists in FFS, AE, and SILC methodologies.
32. Supervises CRS staff to ensure efficient and quality implementation of project activities.
33. Ensures that CRS Performance Management tasks are routinely completed. Manages financial resources with integrity
34. Reviews CRS’ and verifies partners’ liquidations against planned budgets, working with CRS and partner finance staff to ensure accuracy of financial reports and to build partner capacities in financial management.
35. In conjunction with the HOP and LC, develops, review and monitor quarterly and annual budgets and facilitate cash forecasting, in compliance with audit principles and CRS’ financial management guidelines.
36. Facilitates an environment of mutual and informed decision-making for greater stewardship. 37. Ensures program compliance with donor guidelines and regulation.
38. Contributes to regular country program reports to HQ, the region, and in-country stakeholders.
Representation
39. Serves as the primary representative of CRS/Liberia in technical meetings, coordination bodies and working groups in SE Liberia.
40. Strengthens professional relationships with the line ministries: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, other line ministries, donors and non-governmental agencies as appropriate; attending local ACC meetings and including MOA staff on field visits on a monthly basis.
41. Participates as and when needed in CRS meetings, and the SPP process, as well as other regional and agency-wide initiatives.
COMPETENCIES
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Program Manager Competencies
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Sets clear goals and manages toward them
• Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
• Manages financial resources with integrity
• Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
Supervisory Responsibilities: 2 Team Leader Project Officers, 1 SILC Coordinator, 1 Administrative and Finance Officer.
Qualifications
1. Masters in International Development, or engineer in Agricultural Sciences or related field, required;
2. Minimum 4 years’ experience managing community based projects in several developing countries, in particular with a focus on project development, execution, working with donors and partner organizations, monitoring and evaluation, training and technical assistance and strong writing skills;
3. Proven experience in advanced agricultural and marketing techniques to improve agricultural productivity or agricultural sales;
4. Experience in facilitating Farmer Field Schools and savings and loan groups;
5. Understanding of and/or experience in agro-enterprise;
6. Ability to work independently and in coordination with a team;
7. Strong cross-cultural skills;
8. Knowledge in low-land / swamp ecology, rice production and seeds multiplication is desirable.
Personal Attitudes/Professional Skills
1. Ability to work independently, but also work effectively as part of a team;
2. Strong analytical and organizational skills;
3. Ability to implement adult education based TOT;
4. Representational and networking abilities;
5. Detailed, flexible and the ability to multi-task;
6. Demonstrated professionalism and high level of maturity;
7. Strong professional proficiency in spoken and written English;
8. Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and statistical packages, such as SPSS, EpiInfo);
9. Honest, responsible for achieving results, a self-starter;
10. Willingness to work in potentially stressful work environment.
Physical Requirements/Environment:
The position is based in the CRS Fish Town, River Gee office. The position requires a minimum of 50% travel among the four target counties and trips back to Monrovia. The location requires flexibility in the face of limited services and amenities.
Application Procedure
Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should send their application, including a cover letter with phone number and email address, Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant diplomas/certificates and contact details of three (3) professional references (one of which must be the current or last employer) to: The Country Representative, Catholic Relief Services, 19th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia.
DEADLINE FOR THE RECEIVING ALL APPLICATIONS IS June 8, 2012.
Catholic Relief Services reserves the right to accept or reject all applications, and only short-listed applicants will be contacted for tests and interviews.
