CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: Counterpart International
Country: Senegal
Closing date: 17 Oct 2014

Counterpart International is a global development organization that empowers people and communities to implement innovative and enduring solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges. For nearly 50 years, Counterpart has been forging partnerships with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, food security and nutrition, and building effective governance and institutions.
For more information and to apply online visit www.Counterpart.org

SUMMARY:

Counterpart International is seeking a Capacity Development Specialist (CDS) for an anticipated four-year, USAID/Naatal Mbay project in Senegal. The project’s goal is to increase the agricultural sector’s contribution to economic growth through an inclusive, private sector-led value chain approach, supported by three key components: (a) increase agriculture productivity in the rice, maize and millet sectors; (b) improve agriculture markets; and (c) strengthen the agriculture policy environment. The CDS will be responsible for the provision and oversight of organizational capacity development (OCD) technical direction to local civil society organization (CSO) groups including sub-grantees. S/he will be responsible for maintaining excellence in our technical capacity building activities, providing training essential to strengthening the value chain’s component organizations, cooperative groups, processors, input suppliers etc., and linking them more fully with local organizations and small holder farmers to ensure a more robust overall supply chains for rice, maize and millet. The CDS will also ensure effective communication among the implementing partners, government actors and communities on capacity development opportunities and ongoing trainings. This position will work in close collaboration with the Value Chains Specialist to coordinate actions and trainings to link smallholder farmers to rice maize and millet markets.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the identification of strategic needs and approaches to agricultural value chain capacity building.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to the value chain’s component organizations, cooperative groups, suppliers, input providers and other local CSOs on organizational development efforts.
• Oversee the administration of organizational capacity assessments of the value chain’s component organizations and cooperative groups and develop capacity development plans focusing on areas including but not limited to: financial management, procurement, human resources, program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, outreach and communication.
• Work with program staff, consultants and trainers to deliver high quality training, technical assistance and mentoring to the value chains’ component organizations, local cooperative groups, suppliers, input providers, buyers and producers.
• Facilitate local organization outreach to, cooperation and linkages between small holder farmers to improve supply chains for rice, maize and millet.
• Ensure Counterpart’s OCD best practices are institutionalized within the program and adapted to the local context.
• Ensure that gender is integrated into all capacity building tools, methodologies and activities.
• Leverage and enhance existing strengths within the value chain’s component organizations, cooperative groups and local CSOs, facilitating synergistic opportunities to learn from each other’s effective strategies.
• Document implementation successes, challenges, and lessons learned and share them with Counterpart and USAID through regular program reports.
• Deliver technical presentations on program achievements to audiences, including implementing partner(s), civil society, government officials, USAID, and other relevant organizations.
• Facilitate communication between implementing partners, government officials, and communities and private enterprises to foster additional support for agricultural market capacities.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• A Master’s degree in business management, anthropology, or other similar social sciences.
• A minimum of six (6) years of demonstrated experience in civil society strengthening, including capacity development; organizational development and community mobilization.
• A strong background in civil society-related training and facilitation in one or more of the aforementioned fields.
• Prior experience in and knowledge of Senegalese agricultural markets, preferably rice, maize and/or millet.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory and organizational skills.
• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team environment, able to work effectively with cooperative groups, USAID, project staff, and other beneficiaries.
• Commitment to gender integration, experience with gender integration a plus.
• English and French fluency required.

How to apply:

http://www.counterpart.org/