ICRISAT seeks: Project Management Officer
ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi-arid tropics is home to over 2 billion people, with 650 million of these being the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower those living in the semi-arid tropics, especially smallholder farmers, to overcome poverty, hunger, malnutrition and a degraded environment through more efficient and profitable agriculture. ICRISAT, established in 1972, and is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. For more details, visit www.icrisat.org
ICRISAT is seeking applications for the position of Project Management Officer to work in the HOPE II project. The position will be based at ICRISAT, Bamako, Mali with responsibilities at the participating centers and all target countries.
The HOPE II project is implemented by ICRISAT with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for a period of five years in three countries in eastern Africa (Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia) and three countries in western Africa (Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso). This second phase of the project builds on the achievements in the first phase and will have a strong component of collaboration with National Research Systems for scaling out successful technologies.
Responsibilities:
The Project Management Officer will be a nationally recruited staff who will be responsible of the following tasks:
Assist the Project Coordinator to successfully implement technical, financial and administrative activities of the project;
Lead the preparation of annual budgets and financial reports;
Draft sub-agreements with implementing partners, consultancy agreements and other documents needed;
Assist the Project Coordinator to monitor and manage the execution of sub-agreements;
Assist the Project Coordinator in preparation and implementation of strategic and annual work plans, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of performance and impact assessments.
Review project financial plans and budgets and made suggestions for adjustments as needed.
Track and monitor the effective use of project funds in the overall implementation of the Project;
Engage with project implementing partners for the development, monitoring of and reporting on grants and sub-contracts;
Assist the Project Coordinator to process and make available on a timely basis all information necessary to fulfil project reporting requirements
Ensure timely technical and financial reports to donor; Compile monthly, quarterly, midterm and annual reports and other reports as required and in compliance with donor and ICRISAT policy;
Assure a smooth collaboration with partners for achievement of the project objectives.
Additional tasks and/or responsibilities that may be assigned/delegated as appropriate by the Project Coordinator.
Requirements:
MBA, or relevant experience with development projects/programs, with a minimum 5 years of progressive management responsibility;
Prior experience in assisting to manage bilateral development programs or other agricultural value chains or agri-businesses transformation programs. Prior management experience of USAID/WB/ADB, BMGF, EU, etc. programs is an advantage;
Prior experience managing and reporting against budgets to donors required;
Proven track record experience in agro-business, farmers’ cooperatives, development of public private partnership and business development;
Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams;
Fluent in both French and English
The appointment will be for a period of two years, inclusive three months’ probation, with a possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
How to apply:
Applicants should apply before February 24th, 2017 to Mrs. Traoré Kadiatou Yéna at k.yena@icrisatml.org.
Applicants need to include cover letter and motivation to do the work, current curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short listed candidates will be contacted.
ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer and is especially interested in increasing the participation of women on its staff. ICRISAT has a flexible approach to international appointments and welcomes dual-career couples.