Since 1963 and in 145 countries, ACDI/VOCA has
empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the
global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit
international development organization that delivers technical and management
assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development,
community development and food security in order to promote broad-based
economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has 79 projects
in 39 countries and revenues of approximately $168 million.
Chief of Party, Ghana
We are currently seeking a Chief of Party for an
anticipated USAID-funded project, the Financing Ghanaian Agriculture Project
(FinGAP). Together with local and international partners and in support of
USAID/Ghana’s Feed the Future (FTF) initiatives, ACDI/VOCA’s program will
identify and develop socially inclusive agriculture-related finance and
investment. The first component, an Agribusiness Development Unit, will support
agricultural enterprises to develop their ideas and create well-managed,
financially sustainable operations, which will generate a pipeline of potential
investment opportunities. The second component, an Agricultural Finance Unit,
will provide capacity-building support and incentives to financial institutions
(FIs) to expand their capacity to undertake agriculture-related investment.
Together, these interventions are expected to mitigate perceived and actual
risks to agricultural lending and increase the availability of finance for agriculture-related
investments. Initial targeted value chains will include rice, maize, soya and
other crops being supported by other USAID/Ghana FTF projects.
anticipated USAID-funded project, the Financing Ghanaian Agriculture Project
(FinGAP). Together with local and international partners and in support of
USAID/Ghana’s Feed the Future (FTF) initiatives, ACDI/VOCA’s program will
identify and develop socially inclusive agriculture-related finance and
investment. The first component, an Agribusiness Development Unit, will support
agricultural enterprises to develop their ideas and create well-managed,
financially sustainable operations, which will generate a pipeline of potential
investment opportunities. The second component, an Agricultural Finance Unit,
will provide capacity-building support and incentives to financial institutions
(FIs) to expand their capacity to undertake agriculture-related investment.
Together, these interventions are expected to mitigate perceived and actual
risks to agricultural lending and increase the availability of finance for agriculture-related
investments. Initial targeted value chains will include rice, maize, soya and
other crops being supported by other USAID/Ghana FTF projects.
Responsibilities:
Provide
technical leadership and lead the overall planning, implementation and
management of all project activities, ensuring integration of the Agribusiness
Development and Agricultural Finance units
technical leadership and lead the overall planning, implementation and
management of all project activities, ensuring integration of the Agribusiness
Development and Agricultural Finance units
In
collaboration with the Agricultural Enterprise Development Specialist and the
Agricultural Finance Specialist, support the design and implementation of
technical assistance and grant mechanisms to (1) provide agribusinesses and
commercial farmers of targeted value chains with both pre- and post-investment
support, and (2) assist FIs in expanding their agricultural finance activities
collaboration with the Agricultural Enterprise Development Specialist and the
Agricultural Finance Specialist, support the design and implementation of
technical assistance and grant mechanisms to (1) provide agribusinesses and
commercial farmers of targeted value chains with both pre- and post-investment
support, and (2) assist FIs in expanding their agricultural finance activities
Build and
maintain the programmatic bridge between the Agricultural Finance and
Agribusiness Development units, supporting and monitoring deal flow between
units
maintain the programmatic bridge between the Agricultural Finance and
Agribusiness Development units, supporting and monitoring deal flow between
units
Manage
relationships with existing government bodies and development partner programs
where opportunities to facilitate agricultural finance exist outside of FinGAP
relationships with existing government bodies and development partner programs
where opportunities to facilitate agricultural finance exist outside of FinGAP
Establish
the administrative framework to monitor and ensure progress toward the goals
and objectives of the project
the administrative framework to monitor and ensure progress toward the goals
and objectives of the project
Represent
ACDI/VOCA to program stakeholders and at meetings, workshops and other events
ACDI/VOCA to program stakeholders and at meetings, workshops and other events
Provide
effective management and support to local partners and subrecipients
effective management and support to local partners and subrecipients
Communicate regularly and share program information with ACDI/VOCA
headquarters and local partners, as well as USAID personnel and project
partners
Communicate regularly and share program information with ACDI/VOCA
headquarters and local partners, as well as USAID personnel and project
partners
Ensure
compliance with, and staff understanding of, all ACDI/VOCA corporate and local
partner policies and procedures
compliance with, and staff understanding of, all ACDI/VOCA corporate and local
partner policies and procedures
Oversee
budgets, fund disbursal and financial records ensuring that project
expenditures are in compliance with ACDI/VOCA and USAID policies and
regulations as well as within the scope of the program budget
budgets, fund disbursal and financial records ensuring that project
expenditures are in compliance with ACDI/VOCA and USAID policies and
regulations as well as within the scope of the program budget
Qualifications:
Advanced
graduate degree, such as a master’s degree or Ph.D., in business, economics,
business administration, business management or related fields is required.
graduate degree, such as a master’s degree or Ph.D., in business, economics,
business administration, business management or related fields is required.
Minimum of
10 years of overseas experience managing donor-funded international
agricultural enterprise development and/or agricultural finance projects as a
COP, Project Director, or similar senior management position is required;
experience in West Africa is preferred.
10 years of overseas experience managing donor-funded international
agricultural enterprise development and/or agricultural finance projects as a
COP, Project Director, or similar senior management position is required;
experience in West Africa is preferred.
Prior
experience with USAID projects, procedures, policies and reporting requirements
is preferred.
experience with USAID projects, procedures, policies and reporting requirements
is preferred.
Strong
knowledge of agribusiness development and agricultural finance in Ghana and
experience managing relevant technical interventions in West Africa is
preferred.
knowledge of agribusiness development and agricultural finance in Ghana and
experience managing relevant technical interventions in West Africa is
preferred.
Experience
with credit guarantee mechanisms and familiarity with USAID’s DCA program are
preferred.
with credit guarantee mechanisms and familiarity with USAID’s DCA program are
preferred.
Effective
track record of building relationships with private and public sector actors is
required.
track record of building relationships with private and public sector actors is
required.
Ability to
manage a variety of program activities (including grant funds), evaluate
interventions and scale the most successful initiatives is required.
manage a variety of program activities (including grant funds), evaluate
interventions and scale the most successful initiatives is required.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate, willingness to innovate and ability
to think systematically are required.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate, willingness to innovate and ability
to think systematically are required.
Strong
communications skills (oral, written, cross-cultural) are required.
communications skills (oral, written, cross-cultural) are required.
Fluency in
English is required.
English is required.
How to apply:
Please apply online at http://acdivoca.maxhire.net/cp/?E55568361D43515B7E59192F77561A6306627B4D.
No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities
encouraged to apply. EOE.
No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities
encouraged to apply. EOE.
Closing Date: Sunday, 27 January 2013
