Junior Expert (JE) Job description

Transcription

1 Junior Expert (JE) Job description I. DESCRIPTIVE PART OF THE JOB Application date 15 February 2018 Job title Junior Expert in Microfinance and Marketing Main job domain (sector of activity) Sustainable family farming and protection of natural resources. Job holder (name of JE) Job holder s (JE s) Signature + date (to be filled in after the selection of JE) General information Enabel or NGA Project/programme Enabel If Enabel : Navision code X NGA If NGA : NGA name Iles de Paix Full denomination of the project/programme Joint programme for the promotion of sustainable family farming and the social economy for a fairer world Mpanga Super Farmers Programme. Project/programme s Fort Portal, Uganda location Duty station of supervisor Fort Portal, Uganda Duty station of JE Fort Portal, Uganda JE will be assigned to X Project/programme Representation (Enabel) / Country Office (NGA) Project duration Start 01/07/2017 Expected starting date 01/10/2018 (dd/mm/yy) date: for the job (dd/mm/yy): End date : 31/12/2021 Requested JE contract duration 1 year 1 year with possible X 2 years extension Project/programme s contribution to the SDG s No poverty X Zero Hunger Health & Well-being Quality Education Gender Equality Water & Sanitation Affordable & Clean Energy Decent Work & Economic Growth Innovation & Infrastructure Reduced inequality Sustainable cities & Communities Responsible consumption & production X Climate X Life below water Life on land Peace & Justice X Partnerships for the Global goals Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 1

2 1. Context of project 2. Objectives 3. Beneficiaries 4. Main activities Working language(s) in the project/programme 1. The Mpanga river basin in the Rwenzori region is a predominantly rural zone with a very high population density. In this zone, the farmers are confronted with a rapid degradation of their environment, which is reflected at their level by a deterioration of living conditions, a loss of productivity of their farms, and increased malnutrition among children. Faced with this situation, the integrated management plan of the Mpanga basin (Ministry of the Environment) promotes a transition towards sustainable agriculture which is economically profitable and compatible with the management of natural resources. In this context, identifying and promoting adapted production techniques and the improvement of the position of producers and their organisations in the local economic circuits is a major challenge. 2. To improve economic, social and environmental performances of family farms in the Mpanga basin. 3. Direct beneficiaries: 600 families, Indirect beneficiaries: 2,400 families. 4. The programme is implemented by two local development organisations (JESE and SATNET). Within the framework of the collaboration with the Mountains of the Moon University and the Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the programme supports the implementation of farmer action research aiming at identifying sustainable agricultural techniques by local farmers, adapted to their needs. The programme also supports families to develop an integrated farm plan as well as to strengthen their storage, processing and marketing activities. Finally, the programme encourages the emergence of a favourable framework for sustainable family farming, by supporting the actions of regional and national platforms active within this domain (Rwenzori Framework, PELUM). French Portuguese X English Others: Position of the JE within the organisation The JE depends hierarchically on the supervisor (N+1). Besides the supervisor, one or more resource persons for technical support of the JE may be appointed in case the supervisor does not have the same technical background as the JE. If this person is already identified, please indicate below. Supervisor s name, job title & background Denis Hees, Country Director of Iles de Paix in Uganda, and Programme Manager for the Mpanga Super Farmers Programme, Management engineering (UCL), ten years experience in microfinance and the social economy. Resource person(s) for technical support s name, job title & background For Enabel JE, the follow-up will be assured by a Junior Programme Project Officer. For NGA JE: name & job title of the contact person from NGA headquarters that will assure the follow-up Martine Hansotte, Head of Finance, Administration and Human Resources. JE Job description Job objective Explain in one concise sentence the purpose of the job. What real need does this job fulfil? What s the added value of the job? Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 2

3 The position of Junior Expert in Microfinance and Marketing aims to: Promote the development of skills of common local partners of Iles de Paix, BD and Protos for research in these domains Actively contribute to creating inventories of existing and in-depth studies on these topics at the heart of sustainable agriculture, and particularly to promote the establishment of linkages between MFIs and family farmers/ farmers cooperatives. The results from the research should allow Iles de Paix and its partners to be particularly innovative in the domain of the economic performance of family farmers. This economic dimension is decisive for introducing the desired changes with regard to the other dimensions of environmental and social performance. The inventories and studies will be shared in the exchange platforms of Belgian actors in the sustainable agriculture sector, so as to contribute to the identification of areas of collaboration and synergy between these actors. As such, it will allow for the concrete implementation of intentions identified as important in the Common Strategic Framework. Result areas Give the most important results to be achieved in the job. Limit yourself to stable, permanent job elements. Start with the most important ones and work your way down. Select a maximum of 5 to 6 result areas. Please consider the following for each result area: Why does the JE do this job? What will be his/her share of responsibility? What must (s)he achieve (objective)? Then list the activities that are to be performed to achieve the result. Ultimately list the final and tangible products that the JE is to produce. Please also indicate for each responsibility the importance (percentage of time) at a scale of 100. Please find an example below Result area n Time in % : 50 % [as ] As trainer On the level of the project, help the colleagues in the data-processing field and give formations in this field. [objective] in order to make so that the data-processing tool is used better and to Most important tasks [What activities (= verbs) are to be performed to achieve the objective?] [What final and tangible products the JE is to produce?] improve work and to make it easier Identify the necessary formations Give trainings Help the colleagues with specific or systematic problems Develop a training course Inventory of the team s training needs regarding ICT Basic ICT manual for colleagues Training plan for colleagues for a one year period X trainings given Operational training course + training of some key-staff members in its use In order to Result area n 1 Time in % : 45 As a researcher/coach/trainer in microfinance To support SATNET to conduct research and develop tools within the field of microfinance Define the strategy for linking programme beneficiaries, savings groups and microfinance institutions (MFI) to promote productive investment by family farmers Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 3

4 Most important tasks - Assess the microfinance needs of family farmers - Assess the microfinance needs of producer organisations and cooperatives within the areas of production, storage, processing and marketing of agricultural products. - Document successful approaches in microfinance targeting family farming in rural Uganda, including the valorisation of the Trias approach and the role of mobile banking and other new information and communication technologies (ICT) - Create an inventory of savings groups and MFI s providing services to the agricultural sector in the programme s intervention area (VSLA, SACCO, ), capitalising on the work that Gaetan Stassart, Junior Expert currently working for Protos, has already completed - Identify existing tools for analysing MFI performances in relation to family farming stakeholders, and according to the results, adapt or develop a tool - Train partners on the use of the MFI analysis tool - Create a guidance note to guide MFIs in the development of products adapted for actors in family farming - Share the results of the research among the 30+ member organisations of the SATNET network - Share the results of the research through the platforms of Belgian nongovernmental actors, including the new discussion platform on agriculture - Analysis of microfinance needs of the family farming actors - Description of microfinance approaches and the role of ICT in the sector in Uganda - Inventory of savings groups and MFIs in the intervention zone - Tool for capacity and performance analysis of MFIs - Group of SATNET staff and its member organisations trained on how to use the MFI analysis tool - Guidance note for the development of sector-specific products - Syntheses and presentations of the resulting documents for an effective sharing of research results - Results shared among SATNET members and through coordination and synergy mechanisms between the 3 concerned NGOs and the other Belgian and non-belgian actors active within the agricultural sector in Uganda. Result area n 2 Time in % : 40 As a researcher/coach/trainer in the domains of processing and marketing Support SATNET and JESE to conduct economic research in the domains of processing and marketing of food and cash crops Enrich the strategic reflection of the programme in its economic dimension with regard to profitable value chains (bananas, pulses, maize, coffee, etc.) through the introduction of innovations which can facilitate the desired environmental and social change. Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 4

5 Most important tasks - To develop an inventory and assess approaches, studies, tools and the use of ICT in relation to the marketing of agricultural products by Belgian NGOs represented in Uganda (depending on the results of this assessment) - Organise and host trainings for local partners on feasibility and market studies - Identify appropriate methodologies and tools for conducting these studies - Carry out a study on the feasibility of maize processing and marketing in the Kabambiro intervention zone (in collaboration with JESE) - Conduct market research on food and fruit crops, focusing on local markets. Specific topics can be identified through participative action research with beneficiaries - Share the research results among the 30+ member organisations of the SATNET network - Share the research results through platforms of Belgian non-governmental actors, including the agricultural discussion platform as discussed during the last Strategic Dialogue in Uganda - Inventory of existing approaches, studies, tools with regard to the marketing of agricultural products (depending on the results of this assessment) - Market study on food and fruit crops identified during farmers action research - Support the local partners staff in conducting feasibility and market studies - Synthesis and presentation of studies for effective sharing of results - Assessments and studies shared within the SATNET network and through coordination and synergy mechanisms between the 3 concerned NGOs and other concerned Belgian and non-belgian actors within the agricultural sector in Uganda Result area n 3 Time in % : 15 As a researcher/coach/ social marketeer Support SATNET and JESE to define a social marketing strategy focusing on the promotion of appropriate new storage technologies identified by the VLIRUOS project within the framework of the programme To promote the appropriation and dissemination of improved storage techniques for rural households, thus contributing to the reduction of postharvest losses Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 5

6 Most important tasks The project Strengthening capacities of family farmers to improve crop storage and reduce food losses in Rwenzori region implemented by VLIRUOS in collaboration with Mountains of the Moon University and Iles de Paix, will lead to the identification of new adapted technologies for storing harvests by the end of This task can therefore be carried out from the beginning of 2020 onwards. - To familiarise oneself with the conclusions of the above-mentioned VLIRUOS project. - To identify relevant private sector actors interested in the dissemination of new agricultural storage technologies - To develop a plan for the dissemination of these technologies to programme beneficiaries, prioritising a collaboration with the private sector and/or IMF s - To share the conclusions concerning storage solutions and the dissemination plan within the SATNET member network and through the platforms of Belgian non-governmental actors, including the new discussion platform on agriculture - List of actors from the private sector who may be involved in storage technologies - Dissemination plan for new storage technologies - Conclusions and plan shared within the SATNET network and through coordination and synergy mechanisms between the 3 concerned NGOs and other Belgian and non-belgian actors active within the agricultural sector in Uganda. Besides these tasks mentioned above in the result areas, we can ask the JE, depending on the needs of the Junior Programme, to accomplish any other tasks that might be considered necessary for the correct functioning of the programme and that are in line with his/her profile. JE s contribution to the Junior Programme priorities Innovation What space does the function offer for experimenting with innovative tools/approaches? E.g : action research, testing & roll-out of new technologies, etc. As an identifier/promoter Identification: - New approaches linking microfinance institutions and family farmers or family farmers cooperatives - Technologies for innovative transformation adapted to family farmers or family farmers cooperatives Most important tasks Promotion of new storage technologies identified within the VLIRUOS project Strengthen the innovative character of the intervention with regard to enhancing the economic performance of beneficiaries - Integrate the analysis on the role of ICT in the documentation of successful rural microfinance approaches targeting family farming in Uganda (microfinance result area) - Integrate the analysis on the use of ICT in the assessment of the marketing of agricultural products (marketing result area) - Develop a dissemination plan for the new adapted storage technologies identified by the VLIRUOS project (storage result area) - Description of approaches in microfinance and the role of ICT in the agricultural sector in Uganda - Assessment of the marketing of agricultural products including ICT - Plan for the dissemination of available storage technologies Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 6

7 Networking & partnerships Does the working environment offer opportunities to create/stimulate certain networks or partnerships (contribution to SDG 17)? E.g.: organise a Good Practices workshop on a local level on a theme the JE is working on; represent the project in local thematic meetings/platforms, etc As a facilitator/presenter/promotor Share the results of the joint work with local partners in relevant exchange mechanisms Identify areas of collaboration and synergy between the Belgian and other actors within the sustainable agriculture sector Most important tasks - Identify relevant private sector actors who are interested in the dissemination of agricultural storage technologies (storage result area) - Share the research results on microfinance and marketing and the storage technology dissemination plan within the exchange and coordination meetings with Iles de Paix, BD and Protos - Share the results and the plan through the platforms with Belgian nongovernmental actors, including the new discussion platform on agriculture, and others - List of actors within the private sector who may be implicated in storage technologies - Synthesis and presentations of research concerning microfinance and marketing for an effective sharing of results - Results and plan shared via the organisation of an event and through coordination and synergy between the 3 concerned NGOs and other Belgian and non-belgian actors within the agricultural sector in Uganda. Capacity building How will the JE contribute to the capacity building of the local partners, of the hosting partner team, etc? Will (s)he have the possibility to work in pairs with a young local professional? Most important tasks As a trainer/coach Stimulate and support the development of skills in the field of in-depth economic studies with the common local partners of Iles de Paix, BD and Protos Guide partners interventions for an economically viable sustainable agriculture - Organise trainings on the MFI analysis tools and on feasibility and market studies for the staff of local partners - Host and participate in regular meetings on the subject with the local partners staff - Support the SATNET and JESE professionals in carrying out studies - SATNET and organisation members staff proficient in using MFI analysis tool - Capacity within SATNET and JESE to conduct in-depth feasibility and market studies Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 7

8 Required training/degree > Remark : these criteria will be eliminatory on CV. Required knowledge > Remark : these criteria will be eliminatory on CV. Language skills Indicate which language skills are essential or preferable for the job with possible comments on the expected level of knowledge and/or an argumentation. Preferred assets > Remark : these criteria will be not eliminatory on CV. Requested profile Master or professionalizing Bachelor in * Economics / Commercial Engineer Experience in microfinance or business development (min. 6 months) Languages Knowledge Comments English - Knowledge of microfinance - Interest in digitalisation: mobile applications - Analytical mind Driver s licence for motorcycle & car Motorcycle Car Country context information Living conditions Capital / rural area Fort Portal, secondary town semi-rural Security context Good general security. Intervention zones are situated away from the Congo border. Access to services Correct. Occasional power cuts. Several well-stocked food stores in the centre. Regional hospital. Isolation / social life Limited social activities. Attractive natural environment. Programme intervention zones are relatively isolated. Location suited for families (with children) Yes No Other useful observations Work context and conditions Work location Field exposure? (Direct contact with beneficiaries & local reality, frequency field missions, ) Accessibility of the supervisor Teamwork / isolated work What transport arrangements will the project consider in order to insure the JE s professional travels/journeys? What transport arrangements will the JE consider in order to ensure his/her private travels/journeys? Fort Portal, Iles de Paix offices shared with Protos High with direct contacts with beneficiaries in collaboration with local partners (weekly). Supervisor available at the duty station Team work with regular interactions with programme managers and partners. Motorcycle from the project at disposal of the JE Borrow a car belonging to the project/programme when required Local transport? What? : Other, please specify : Motorcycle Car Local transport? What? : Several bus companies linking Fort Portal to other major cities. Other, please specify: Car-sharing between Fort Portal expats via a whatsapp group. Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 8

9 Other useful observations? The proposed position is particularly interesting for a young professional as (s)he will be involved in the management and implementation of the programme. This will give him/her experience permitting thereafter to apply for functions relating to the management of development programmes. Junior Programme_Junior Expert Job description I. Descriptive part (January 2018) p. 9