The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) seeks an Assistant Country Coordinator in Mali for the project entitled West Africa Cotton Improvement Program (WACIP). This USAID-funded project will work in four countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali plus to some extent Senegal – in nine intervention areas clustered under:
· Cotton productivity
· Value added operations in cotton processing and transformation
· Cotton sector policies and institutions
The objectives in these countries are to: (1) Increase cotton and related system crop yields and incomes of cotton producers; (2) Improve the competitiveness, quality and value addition of the cotton sector; (3) Increase producers’ share of marketing margins, and (4) Improve the longer term environment for sustainable income growth through better policies, institutions, research and technologies.
To ensure the project responds to national priorities and is sustainable, nearly half the project funding will be incorporated in a sub-grant program. The objective is to strengthen the capacities of national and regional partners though trainings, workshops, study tours, local consultants, rapid assessments and business plan development. Moreover, the project team will work with national and regional partners to leverage the resources and influence of other donors.
The Assistant Country Coordinator will support the Country Coordinator in the implementation of the project activities in Mali. Together they represent the front line in organizing and facilitating project activities in collaboration with West African partners and in serving as liaison for national partners with the project. The assistant country coordinator will report to the Country Coordinator.
Duties
· Provide advice and information to facilitate strategy development and decision-making related to the project in Mali.
· Help develop and monitor sub-grants with partner institutions at the national and sub-national level.
· Help ensure that the project meets its performance indicators and targets in Mali, in cooperation with sub-grant recipients and other partners.
· Assist the Coordinator in implement approved work plan project activities, which will include:
o Help organize training activities, study tours, participatory learning and field demonstrations, etc.
o Facilitate up- and down linkages along the cotton system value chain
o Help arrange field visits for WACIP staff and consultants
o Write country level financial and technical reports.
· In the absence of the Coordinator, represent WACIP project in relevant national and regional meetings and workshops.
· Help the coordinator to leverage the resources of other donor programs in cotton and agricultural development in the country
Job requirements
· Dynamic mid-level cotton specialist, with knowledge of the entire sector in Mali
· Ability to communicate effectively with actors, stakeholders at all levels involved in the project and to stimulate a genuinely participatory process
· Experience in the private sector, and a private sector orientation
· Degree in an agricultural or business field
· Ability to coordinate training programs and other events
· Ability to speak and report in English and French
· Ability to take initiative
· Excellent skills to work in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment
· Demonstrated success in agribusiness and agricultural development
Qualified and interested candidates are asked to send a curriculum vitae together with a cover letter to (ifdc@malipages.com) by March 02, 2007.