Applications are invited for the following post:
PROJECT MANAGER- COMESA and NEPAD/Spanish Fund Business
Incubator for African Women Empowerment (BIAWE) Project
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Background.
COMESA and NEPAD both harbor the ideals and objectives of the African Union (AU) to attain economic prosperity which encompasses full participation of women. It is on the basis of this common understanding that the two institutions entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2009. The established collaboration focused on the implementation of activities under the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) project.
The BIAWE project is an initiative that intends to support women entrepreneurs in Africa and in particular the COMESA region. The concept has been birthed following numerous studies and field experiences that have shown varying degrees of challenges encountered by women in their entrepreneurial operations. Moreover, the concept is also perceived as an instrument adopted to address these challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in both formal and informal business activities.
The BIAWE project has been realised under the sponsorship of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), with support from the Government of the Kingdom of Spain. The project is being implemented as part of the Empowerment of African women initiative, known as NEPAD-Spanish Fund. With the main aim of promoting gender equality and
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increasing the capacities and autonomy of African women, the initiative is also undertaken with the goal of accelerating efforts towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (in particular MDG 3).
The funding under the initial phase is intended to support the implementation of activities for women entrepreneurs in the areas of agri-business, agro-processing and handicrafts. Based on the initial assessment carried out, eight countries have already been identified for the piloting of the project, namely, Burundi, Djibouti,
Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Three of the indicated countries, being Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe have since submitted country specific proposals for implementation of the activities under the first phase of the BIAWE project. It is hoped that with possible additional funding for phase two, the project can be implemented in the rest of the COMESA region.
The profile of direct beneficiaries of the project will be mainly women entrepreneurs, especially those operating small scale business enterprises in the areas of agro processing, agribusiness and handicrafts. Other indirect stakeholders will be non-governmental organisations working with women entrepreneurs, micro-finance lending institutions, national business management and investment training institutions and civil society organisations.
The COMESA Secretariat will steer the implementation of the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) project, in collaboration with Member States and the Federation of National Associations of Women in Business
(FEMCOM), a specialised agency on the promotion and capacity building vehicle of women in business within the COMESA region. Furthermore, the Secretariat will also engage the participation of private sector such as micro-finance lending institutions and entrepreneurial capacity building centres both at national and regional levels, to ensure the sustainability of the project.
The project is expected to run for 24 months. The Project Manager’s position is to be a full-time post for the duration of the project life, commencing from the start date of the assignment. The Project Manager will be operating from the COMESA Secretariat Headquarters. He/she will be responsible for the direct coordination and facilitation of the implementation of the project. He/She will report to the Project Coordinator (being the COMESA Director of Gender and Social Affairs).
2. Deliverables
(i) Quarterly Financial and Technical reports;
(ii) Detailed Semi-annual Technical and Financial reports;
(iii) At least one Project Steering Committee convened bimonthly or as otherwise agreed upon by the Committee;
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(iv) Project summary reports for presentation at the Project Steering
Committee meetings;
(v) Other reports or documents as required; and
(vi) Final Project Report, which includes, but not limited to, an overview of the project stating technical achievements and final financial status, lessons learned and best practices.
3. Responsibilities
(i) Develop monthly operational plans of the implementation of the project with clear outputs according to the project document and the procedures in the COMESA “Guidelines”;
(ii) Ensure all implementation activities are undertaken according to plan in collaboration with FEMCOM Secretariat and NPCA ;
(iii) Prepare and update monthly work plans in collaboration with the project sites;
(iv) Establish good rapport with women entrepreneurs and FEMCOM focal persons in selected project sites/countries
(v) Organise and manage project activities according to the work plan in order to attain the envisaged outputs;
(vi) Ensure timely preparation and submission of financial reports and settlement of advances;
(vii) Prepare promotional materials about the BIAWE Project
(viii) Secure proper use of project budget;
(ix) Monitor and evaluate the project activities.
(x) Identify and resolve implementation problems; with the guidance of the Project Coordinator.
(xi) Prepare and submit the Annual Progress Report (APR) and any other substantial reports required by NEPAD and COMESA
Specific Tasks
(i) Assume operational management of the project in consistency with the project document and procedures for nationally executed projects;
(ii) Ensure that the project outputs are achieved as identified in the Project
Document and as advised and instructed by the Project Steering Committee and Project Coordinator;
(iii) Review Work plan in accordance to output delivery;
(iv) Oversee the financial management of the project in consultation with the Project Coordinator;
(v) Set tasks and deadlines for experts and subcontractors and oversee their performance;
(vi) Prepare all necessary documentation for Steering group meetings
(vii) Prepare and submit all necessary reports (including financial) as required by COMESA regulations;
(viii) Ensure that financial procedures are followed;
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(ix) In collaboration with Finance Officer, prepare mandatory and any other budget revisions or Project Document revisions as required by COMESA rules;
(x) Facilitate and cooperate with audit processes at all times as required;
(xi) Organise and undertake consultations with experts and stakeholders;
(xii) Organise and oversee any missions set during the period of the project lifespan;
(xiii) Prepare mission statements/reports;
(xiv) Prepare and maintain meeting minutes;
(xv) Carry out and manage any procurement under the project in compliance with COMESA rules of procurement;
(xvi) Manage the project resources e.g. office equipment, furniture and stationary procured under the project;
(xvii) Develop and maintain a database of project regional and local experts as well as database of project stakeholders and beneficiaries; and
(xviii) Plan, organise and coordinate evaluation of the project.
Specific tasks will be subject to review after the feasibility study has been finalized with recommendations for additional responsibilities for the Programme Manager.
4. Duty Station: COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka Zambia
5. Qualifications
(i) Masters Degree in Business Administration, Strategic Management, Economics or any social science discipline.
(ii) Has knowledge and experience in project management
(including business incubation and finance management), project planning, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) , research and entrepreneurship.
(iii) Excellent communication and organisation skills (experience working with the private sector and women entrepreneurs will be added advantage);
(iv) Full computer literacy and experience in working with PC-based equipment
(v) Has at least 8– 10 years work experience
(vi) Full proficiency in English (knowledge of other languages will be considered an advantage)
6. Duration and Fees
The consultant will be paid a lump sum fee of US$ 7,000 per month for the duration of 2 years (24 months).
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Languages:
Fluency in English French or Arabic. Working knowledge of one of the other two languages would be an added advantage.
Applicants should use the COMESA Application form from COMESA website www.comesa.int and submit the applications to:
The Director of Administration
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
COMESA House,
P.O Box 30051,
Lusaka
Zambia
Email: recruitment@comesa.int
Closing date: 13th April, 2012.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.
PROJECT MANAGER- COMESA and NEPAD
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