Project Officer – Climate Smart Agriculture and Livelihood Improvement
Greenlivelihoods
Job location
Kasungu
Job details
Greenlivelihoods (GL) is a Malawian-based non-for-profit organization that champions green development and value chains development and its commercialization processes for increased sustainable economic growth opportunities for the poor and marginalized but business-oriented communities and/or faming families via cooperative and/or group supported programming. With funding from Government of Flanders and in partnership with Heifer Netherlands (HNL) and Heifer International Malawi (HIM), Greenlivelihoods (GL) is co-implementing a five-year project entitled Smallholder Farmers in Groundnut and Beef Value Chain in Kasungu and Mzimba Increase Access to Markets (GAIN). GAIN project is expected to run from 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2026.Project Officer – Climate Smart Agriculture and Livelihood ImprovementThe Project Officer – Climate Smart Agriculture (100% FTE) will work with identified cooperatives (smallholder farmers) in collaboration with government staff to coordinate agricultural extension services on climate smart technologies, land acquisition, green technology trainings, and organic farming techniques plus development of related user-manuals and training packages plus many more roles aimed at boosting Groundnuts farming and product value chain quality assurance and management processes. S/He will work with the Business Development Officer to in facilitating market Linkages, Packaging, Labelling, Profit & Loss (Gross Margin Analysis) among others. In addition, the role will work to offer stakeholder linkages in supporting GL’s growing need to explore other social impactful investment options for growth of the green growth development philosophy. S/he will be supervised by the Program Manager, with co-supervisory reporting to the Executive Director. The Project Officer will be based in Kasungu District. Responsibilities:Programme ImplementationCoordinate implementation of agricultural extension and livelihood activities within the scope of the project with focus on climate smart agriculture and green entrepreneurship interventions.Be involved in community mobilization, targeting and monitor movement and distribution of agriculture inputs and project support to cooperatives and individual farmersIn consultation with the Project/Executive Director, the Program Manager and partners, organize and draw work plans.Where possible in liaison with the Program Manager link extension services to other existing institutions and organizations such as those responsible for providing credit, green technology climate smart technology packages, marketing facilities.Work with the green technology agro dealers in the Communities to explore indigenous Technical experiences and develop cropping calendars and farm Plans.Prepare cash request to facilitate field activities, budgets including monthly cash projections and properly keep records of field expendituresEnsure that due diligence is followed in distribution of Agricultural support to the community members’ Effective activity monitoring and evaluation processesConduct surveys, assessments to continually identify agricultural gaps and needs in groundnuts farming and marketing processesConduct regular field visits to project site and update the senior management with the progress of GAIN project activities in the field.Prepare regular and comprehensive project progressive monthly reports.Ensure that all the partners contracted by Greenlivelihoods and its partners render quality service the clienteles/beneficiaries as per the terms spelt out in the contractual agreements and give feed back to the Program manager and the DirectorIdentify training and development needs of climate smart community extension workers and make recommendations to managementCreate awareness to the communities and partners of the operational procedures of Greenlivelihoods with the aim of ensuring that the beneficiaries are optimally transformed while upholding the Greenlivelihoods and donor’s requirements.Facilitate agricultural trainings to staff, partners and farmers’ in respect of green development and climate smart agricultural technologiesAttend agricultural meetings with partners and stakeholders in the fieldPerform any other duties as assigned by project management unit (PMU) Other Competencies/Attributes:Demonstrates well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as negotiation skills.Ensure a gender perspective in the scope of work.Be a team player.Must have a clean and valid motor bike driver’s licenceRequired Qualifications and CompetencesMust at least have a first degree in Climate Smart Agricultural Sciences and related fields from highly reputable University or similar institutions of higher learning.At least 3 years; with prior experience in agricultural climate smart supervisory and field work position, with good understanding of principles of green development, climate smart-technological extension methods and proven problem solving and decision-making skills.Experience working with cooperatives and rural communities on community development, entrepreneurship, and value chain commercialization processes.Work experience RequiredOther knowledge, additional competencesDemonstrated ability to work independently and pro-activelyAbility to engage and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders including farmers, company senior management or professional staff, donor representatives and othersExcellent networking skillsGreat communication skills (in written and spoken English)Good computer skills in business and office softwares (Excel, MS Word and PowerPoint)Capacity to ensure timely and professional oriented resultsCompetency in contextual report writing and presentingAbility to identify own learning needs and engage in self-study for community business benefitAdvanced skills in working with digital communication formats and software (e.g. Skype for Business, MS Teams)Willingness to travel domesticallyHow to applyInterested and only qualified candidates should electronically submit their applications (cover letter and CV) to the following address no later than Friday 11th March, 2022.Executive Director Greenlivelihoods P.O. Box 338 Lilongwe 3Via email: [email protected]ds.org cc: [email protected]NB: Only applications submitted before the deadline will be considered and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews
