Istituto Oikos Tanzania PROJECT MANAGER MESULA

Oikos East Africa (OEA) is a non-profit Tanzanian organization started in 1999 and working for the promotion of environmental conservation as a tool of socio-economic development. OEA is managing 6 projects in Northern Tanzania, in partnership with Istituto Oikos (www.istituto-oikos.org), and is now looking for a Project manager for the project “MESULA Ltd - Mount Meru Sustainable Land: a social enterprise for the production of horticultural quality, food safety and protection of the territory in the area of Mount Meru (Tanzania)”.

Assignment Period: 15 January 2013 for one year with possibility of extension for another year.

Base of job: Oikos East Africa office in Arusha and Mkuru Training Camp, according to the project needs.

General Supervision: He/She will work in close collaboration and under the supervision of the Project Scientific advisor and will report to Oikos East Africa Managing Director and Istituto Oikos Country Representative in Tanzania.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Technical aspects

• Start-up of Mesula ltd, a non-profit company Limited by Guarantee. The activity will include: constitution and registration of the company; setting up of an office and a store; provision of equipment; staff training; preparation of a business model; design and management, in collaboration with the Meru District, of the Brand “Mount Meru Sustainable Land”.
• Awareness rising among farmers on the value, significance and potentials of organic horticulture and on the opportunity offered by MESULA Ltd.
• Training and technical assistance to selected partners on organic horticultural production according to MESULA guidelines.
• Facilitate the marketing relationship and the accessibility to medium scale buyers and groups of consumers establishing fair commercial linkages between the parts.
• Networking with similar initiatives in Tanzania and abroad.

Management/institutional aspects

• Ensure team work and coordinate closely with Oikos staff.
• Prepare technical reports on project implementation, according to OEA procedures.
• Manage, under the supervision of OEA administration, the project financial resources.
• Ensure the proper participation of the communities and project beneficiaries to the project activities, in order to achieve the targeted results.
• Facilitate communications and sharing of information with communities, farmers, women groups and school staff.
• Promote community awareness and mobilization for active participation and in kind contributions to project works and trainings.
• Plan and organise training for farmers and ensure that project training guidelines are fulfilled (list of participants filled, training materials kept and inventoried, technical reports, evaluation, pictures, etc.).
• Provide technical assistance during training, follow-up and monitoring of farmers activities.
• Carry out surveys and monitoring activities with the project team, participate to internal project activity review.

Requirements: - Degree in Agricultural sciences or equivalent - Knowledge of organic horticulture - At least 10 year experience in managing similar projects - Knowledge of No-profit sector, strong commitment to teamwork; - Effective communication, motivating leadership and interpersonal skills. - Reporting capacity. - Proficiency in English is a must. Knowledge of local languages is an added value.

PROJECT BACKGROUND PROJECT TITLE "MESULA Ltd - Mount Meru Sustainable Land": a social enterprise for the production of horticultural quality, food safety and protection of the territory in the area of Mount Meru (Tanzania). DONOR Lombardy Region and Cariplo Foundation (Italy) LEADING AGENCY ISTITUTO OIKOS ONLUS (Italy) IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS OIKOS East Africa in the implementing partner, in close collaboration with Honeyguide Foundation and the involvement of the following key actors:In Tanzania: MERU DISTRICT COUNCIL, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Centre, Mkuru Training Camp, Tan-cert, TBS (Tanzania Bureau of Standards), TFDA (Tanzania Food And Drug Authority), Responsible Tourism Tanzania, Essential Destination Ltd.From Italy: AIAB (Association for Organic Agricolture),Fondazione Legambiente DURATION 1st January 2013 – 31st December 2014 OVERALL BUDGET Euro 280.000 (additional funding under research) LOCATION Arusha Region - Meru and Arusha District Councils OVERALL OBJECTIVES i) Increase the benefits of horticulture and the production of tomato in particular, for the rural population of Mount Meru in terms of food security, income, health and environmental quality. ii) Promote the socio-economic development of the area of Mount Meru and highlight the elements of excellence in the area in the agri-food sector, focusing on research and development of quality in its products and typical activities. iii) To develop the market potential of horticultural products through diversification and qualification of production. iv) To contribute to environmental conservation and upgrading of agricultural systems and natural area of Mount Meru. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE To increase the income of small farmers in the area of Mount Meru through the creation of a social enterprise in the horticultural sector (MESULA Ltd - Mount Meru Sustainable Land) able to reconcile the fight against poverty, workers' health, protection of agro-ecosystems and food security BENEFICIARIES Direct beneficiaries: i) 160 members of four local organizations of farmers, ii) 12 primary and secondary schools (20 operators and about 4500 students), iii) the farmers in the area of Mount Meru (about 5,000 people). Indirect beneficiaries and final: i) the families of 160 farmers trained (about 1,000 people), ii) the officers of the District of Meru iii) the training center Mkuru Training Camp iv) end-users of MESULA Ltd, or consumers local sensitive to the quality of food and tourist accommodations (about 1300-1500 or 40-60 families lodge) RESULTS RESULT 1: Social Enterprise MESULA Ltd - Mount Meru Sustainable Land started and horticultural products of quality products manufactured and placed on the local market, with economic benefits for small farmers. RESULT 2: Technical skills required to differentiate horticultural production, use land in a sustainable manner and produce quality vegetables acquired and applied by small farmers in the area. RESULT 3: Networking and partnerships Italy-Tanzania on sustainable agriculture promoted and strengthened. ACTIVITIES 1.1. Creation (start up) of social MESULA Ltd. 1.2. Design and management, in collaboration with the District, of Mount Meru Brand Sustainable Land. 1.3. Promotion and placement on the market of branded products MESULA. 1.4. Data monitoring economic performance of social enterprise. 2.1. Presentation of the project at the local farmers. 2.2. Technical training of 160 small farmers belonging to 4 groups. 2.3. Support field to farmers cooperatives selected. 2.4. Improvement of irrigation systems. 2.5. Provision of equipment for the management of the phases of the post-collection and distribution of the vegetables. 2.6. Feasibility study for the construction of a small pilot plant for processing tomatoes. 3.1. Networking. 3.2. Awareness. 3.3. Media. 3.4. Search.

How to apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to selezione@istituto-oikos.org indicating ‘Vacancy Notice No TZ/13/PM01’ in the subject line. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.