VECO East Africa Sustainable Agriculture Chain Development Officer

VECO East Africa believes that smallholder farmers can enhance rural poverty alleviation and feed a growing world population, while reducing the pressure on the planet. VECO East Africa enables and supports smallholder farmers to take up their role in rural poverty alleviation and to contribute to feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way.

VECO East Africa strategies and interventions in Tanzania that aim to:

Promote the business case for chain actors (buyers, traders, processors, distributors, retailers, ...) and smallholder farmers (and their organisations) to engage with each other and establish linkages;

Support smallholder farmers to organize themselves and build the necessary capacities to create economies of scale, guarantee quality, food safety and sustainability

contribute in creating an enabling environment for smallholder farmers, such as rules and regulations that stimulate farmers and protect them, smallholder friendly market mechanisms, extension services, well-functioning seed and input supply systems in place, credits for individual farmers as well as for farmer owned collective enterprises, smallholder-tailored-research, engagement and actions of societal actors (government, private sector, consumer's, civil society actors, funders, ... ) in favour ofsmallholders.

Our Field office in Chunya, Tanzania is in search of a qualified & experienced person to fill this position

Purpose

To enhance the development of strong Farmer Organizations and partner organizations and to support them with business, organizational and management skills to effectively develop and participate in selected market chains

Reports to Location Job size Travels.

Sustainable Agriculture Chain Development Field Coordinator Based in Chunya, Tanzania

100 % of full-time

Travelling is required within Chunya District a frequent basis

Responsibilities  

Support partners in the development of strong OFF (organized family farmer) groups in the area

Stimulate (Facilitate) and assist partners in the formation of Organized Family Farmer groups (commodity groups) involved in SACO

Strengthen the institutional, organizational and Sustainable Agriculture Chain Development capacity of partners

Give input to a monitoring system to allow planning, learning and accountability

Ensuring functional linkages between OFFs and other chain actors

Ensuring the development of business management skills of partners

Reporting tothe SACO Coordinator.

Main Tasks

Support partners in the development of SACD in the antenna! Field office.

Support partners and Ensure Mobilization, training, capacity building of OFFs.

Coordinate Program monitoring and report writing including best practices and lessons learnt.

Facilitate and coordinate capacity building of partners and OFFs!commodity groups in line with the objectives of sustainable agricultural chains, agri business, market development

Ensure implementation of the annual antenna work plan and budget as well as related reporting.

Provide appropriate support, advice and direction to partners and target group in aspects of business management.

Provide guidance, mentorship and handholding support to the partner staff in the field for effective implementation of SACO.

Continuously identify capacity development needs for partners in relation to SACD.

Coordinate and facilitate internal and partners mainstreaming processes of crosscutting issues (participation, gender, diversity, HIV Aids, intercultural)

Lead the implementation of planning learning accountability process in the given Antenna/ field office.

Profile Qualifications and technical knowledge

Minimum Bachelors degree in Agriculture generall agri-business, economist or equivalent. Or

Masters in: agriculture sciences, agricultural extension, agri-business, agro-economist or equivalent.

Languages

High level of proficiency in English

High level of proficiency in Swahili language

Several years experience with SACD development, marketing advice and -support of farmers and farmer organisations.

Experience with facilitating credit for small family farmers is an added advantage

Experience of living and/or working in East Africa

Skills and knowledge   

At least 3 years experience in facilitating Sustainable Agricultural Chains Developments programs

Minimum 4 years of work in development NGO/community development sector focusing on agribusiness and or produce marketing.

Experience in practical initiatives related to community development, agri business, training on contemporary Organizational Strengthening and Institutional Development methodologies .

Experience

Attitude     

Has a strong affinity with VE mission and values inclusive gender sensitivity

Has a positive attitude focused on win-win solutions

Acts with integrity and respects others (working together)

Constructively challenges self and others (making it happen)

Can be relied on to deliver commitments (accountable)

Inspires people to act (in accordance with the vision/plan of Vredeseilanden)

Is willing to learn and share lessons learnt

Application Instructions:

Send Motivation Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Salary Expectation & Availability Date to be mailed to The Country Contact Person; kain.mvanda@veco-eastafrica.org and cc majaliwa.hamisi@veco-eastafrica.org, ajuaye.sigalla@veco-eastafrica.org and Iinet.misiko@veco-eastafrica.org by the 17th of May 2013