PROJECT OFFICER-MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

PROJECT OFFICER-MONITORING, EVALUATION AND

LEARNING POSITION DESCRIPTION 

OF GCS TANZANIA LIMITED, 

a Tanzanian Social Enterprise.

About Us:

Global Cycle Solutions is a social enterprise working to develop and disseminate affordable, quality technology for villagers around the world. Our subsidiary, GCS Tanzania Limited, is building a distribution network of local entrepreneurs who teach, introduce, and sell high-impact technologies to villagers in the most remote of places.  As we work deep in the villages with a demand-driven model, we are able to better understand the needs of our customers.

Where there is a need and a solution, GCS Tanzania Limited brings that product to these villagers. Where there is a need and no solution, Global Cycle Solutions as an umbrella organization develops these technologies in close collaboration with villages, universities, and like-minded partners.  Some technologies in development, which are currently being re-designed for global distribution, include a bike-powered 

Over the past two years, GCS has impacted the lives of over 20,000 families with the sale of its products.

Today, GCS grows to create a village ambassador network so that villagers throughout the country can have technology at their fingertips, whether as a service or as a product.  GCS already has trained over 100 entrepreneurs, building opportunities that not only economically empower individuals, but also improves the standard of life for the villagers we work with.

Job Summary

The Project Officer M, E&L coordinates the various Management, Technical, Business development, and Engineering aspects of the MCT Team. The successful candidate will provide overall data collection, synthesis, analysis and presentation to inform management in decision-making processes. Ensure information and data synergy and coordination for ensuring the accomplishment of the objectives of the MCT Project initiatives. The position will be responsible for providing strategic decisions making mechanisms on scaling up or sustaining key project initiative results and assist the Director of Product Development for effective implementation of the MCT’s project output – driven activities. In consultation with the DPD and CEO and in close collaboration with the MCT Product Fellows the Project officer will monitor timely implementation of project quarterly plans and design feedback mechanisms. The incumbent will assist the DPD to develop Annual Performance Agreement and Assessment (APAA) and budgets. Through working with respective components of the MCT the Project Officer will assist in the recruitment of qualified staff and ensures that a functional Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning plan is in place.  The PO will promote highest level of staff performance and that ensures that the learning function in project implementation strategies assists the management in the decision making process. He/she will also provide coaching, mentoring and counseling to product fellows assigned to the MCT project. The candidate is also expected to establish and maintain effective working relationships with key government partners, donors and NGOs working in the same geographic areas. The position also involves creating and strengthening relationships with partners, the community and local government agencies in the Product development and R&D loops.

The PO is also expected to assist in identifying funding opportunities for ongoing and new project initiatives and to initiate and participate in the design of new projects and program initiatives. 

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

Job responsibility # 1 Office and Staff management

·      Promotes and models a working style based on strict adherence to the organizational core values;

·      Completes all performance management activities for MCT including: performance planning, monitoring, and annual performance agreements and assessments, Personal activity reports and provides ongoing feedback to staff.

·      Assist in identifying capacity and skills gaps for MCT assigned staff and technical staff for MCT and facilitate staff capacity building initiatives using processes such as staff performance appraisal assessment and talent management assessment.  This includes finding ways to motivate staff.

·      Takes responsibility for new hire staff and product fellows’ orientation.

·      Ensure an equitable spread of work amongst staff

Job responsibility # 2 Project planning and implementation

·      Ensure quality and accountability for delivering project outcomes

·      With the MCT project initiative team, the PO analyzes past experiences to systematize and incorporate lessons learned into the planning process;

·      Based on lesson learned and past accomplishments and achievements adjusts project targets, strategies, resources and delegation of responsibilities to ensure appropriate progress toward project initiative objectives;

·      Assist in the development of quarterly and annual plans as per established project schedules

·      Assists in the implementation process of all set targets planned for each phase of the product development cycles;

·      Assist in the planning and execution of field activities and provide formal and informal feedback to the MCT Team in terms of adequate and inadequate progress as well as recommendations for improved performance;

·      Continuously assesses projects’ initiative’s context, assumptions and changes in the working environment to ensure that the focus, strategies and activities remain relevant and to propose adjustments when needed.

·      Manage and understand risks and offer problem solving advice to MCT Senior Management Team (SMT)

·      The PO collaborates with Project management team to make strategic decisions and defines strategies to execute the decisions reached.

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Job responsibility # 3 Budget and resources management

·      In collaboration with MCT team prepares activity based budgets based on value for money philosophy and ensures compliance with internal GCS financial expensing and retirement requirements;

·      Ensure adherence to GCS‘s financial and administration (including property and procurement) policies and procedures.

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Job description # 4 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

·      Maintains a database and ensure proper and effective data streams are established and maintained

·      Testing and adapting, in collaboration with other MCT project team members and partners, the MCT Product development theory of change; 

·      The PO ensures that MCT project initiatives include an appropriate log-frame and baseline design;

·      Develop and implement the initiative’s impact measurement system that includes: collection of baseline and periodic data for tracking project overall performance and decision making;

·      Prepare quarterly, semi-annual and annual quality project progress reports for informing management and learning

·      Plans and facilitates MCT quarterly project review meetings to assess progress, adjust plans, and draw/disseminate lessons learned;

·      In collaboration with product development director, coordinates the implementation of project periodic and quarterly evaluations.

·      Assist in formulation of most significant change repository by visiting project implementation sites to track progress, encourage recording of achievements and advise on ways to address challenges.

·      Facilitate documentation of achievements, lessons learned, and promising practices.  Assist staff to prepare human-interest stories.

·      Organize and conduct reflective learning forums (meetings, workshops, etc.) internally and externally with MCT initiative stakeholders including government.

·      Facilitate forward accountability mechanisms to monitor our program quality and impact with those we work with.

·      Keep up to date with developments in assigned technical/functional area, including best practice examples and ensure ongoing personal development and learning.

·      Ensure information requirements are met for all relevant stakeholders including preparation of ad-hoc reports when requested by donor

Job description # 5 Project sustainability and development

·      The position plays a role of identifying future funding opportunities for agriculture and food security programs.

·      Liaise with the CEO and DPD to work on concept notes and project and program initiative design related to agriculture, food security, climate change and health through operationalizing key approaches to women empowerment and labor saving technologies development and dissemination.

·      Take part in exploring strategic funding opportunities and proactively seek to address gaps in technology development and /or access to smallholder women farmers.

·      Assist in building GCS capacity in understanding and responding to underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability through rapid assessment techniques that impact group/sub-population and devise strategies to address them.

·      Advise on the need for any additional specialist input and oversee contracting and management of such input.

Skills and competencies

·      Agricultural Background – Above a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science or Related Field

·      Previous experience designing and implementing Monitoring and Evaluation tools and fieldwork.

·      Bilingual Ability – Able to communicate in both conversational and business English and Swahili

·      Computer Literacy – Able to use Microsoft Suite and other Programs

How to Apply

Application mode

·      Go to http://www.jobscore.com/jobs/gcstz and apply! (Most Preferable)

·      Alternatively, send your CV and relevant certificates to gcs-recruit@gcstz.com before noon 17^th February 2014.

Note: Only qualifying candidates will be contacted and invited for oral interviews