Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan

ANNEX II

Deadline forJob positionDurationCountry

Submission

Ref. OA4943-SMO

SOFRECO has been shortlisted for a project in Mali, financed by the Millenium Challenge Account.

Title: AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY (ASDA) IN THE ALATONA REGION

Background:

The Alatona Irrigation project will develop up to 14.000 ha of new irrigated land in the Alatona perimeter in the Office du Niger zone.

The objective of the ASDA is to increase productivity and profitability of about 800 farm families living in or having rights to land in project area and another 900 farm families who will be moving in from outside of the area.

The Consultant for the ASDA will be responsible for:

1. Cooperative Development
2. Strengthening of Financial Services

Commencement date: beginning 2009

Duration ofthe contract: 4 years

Experts required:nationalities from West Africa are encouraged

Team leader

1. ASDA Team Leader (Chief of Party)

Functions: The person in charge of the team will have the following functions:

• Set up and manage the policies, the procedures, and the personnel necessary for the successful implementation of the Performance Results described above and for the achievement of the objectives of the contract;
• Maintain effective coordination and consultation with MCA-Mali and other actors engaged in the development of the zone of Alatona;
• Supervise the development of work plans and of annual budgets in conformity with the outputs and results foreseen by the ASDA contract, to supervise and report on operations (quarterly and annual report), and serve as a guide and support for the members of the team of ASDA;
• Represent ASDA to the public, donor community, and ASDA partners, subcontractors, actors and beneficiaries, in close cooperation with MCA; and
• Focal Person between the team of ASDA, MCA-Mali and all other Consultants of MCA-Mali.

Qualifications: Successful fulfilment of these tasks requires:

• At least 15 years of experience in project management in developing countries;
• Proven capacity to manage a multidisciplinary team successfully in a developing country;
• Strong skills in program and budget planning, human resources management, communication, team building and interpersonal skills;
• Formal training up to the graduate level in agribusiness, agricultural engineering (i.e., irrigation), agricultural economics or another relative field and at least 10 years of experience in design and implementation of rural development projects;
• Proficiency in French and English; knowledge of local languages (Fulfude, Bambara) is preferred; and
• A professional field experience in West Africa and/or experience of Mali.

1. Training Specialist

Functions: The responsibilities of the specialist will include:

• Development and implementation of all training schemes;
• Developments of manuals and training materials;
• Provision of technical support for the resolution of new complex problems which arise during the implementation of the training program; and
• Periodical monitoring, review and modification of the training schemes.

Qualifications: The successful implementation of these functions will require:

• At least 10 years of experience in the design of agricultural extension and training activities;
• Solid qualifications in adult education, writing, use of multi-media tools to deliver messages, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Expertise in social and gender analysis or experience working with women’s associations in a similar socio-cultural context;
• Demonstrated capacity to successfully manage and put in place a complex training program;
• Professional field experience in West Africa and/or Mali; and
• Proficiency in French and literate in local languages (Pulaar, Bambara).

1. Producers’ Organizations Specialist

Functions: The responsibilities of the specialist will include:

• Development of the suitable training schemes for the various groups of farmers targeted by the project;
• Development of operational manuals and training materials of high quality; and
• Implementation of a training program for target farmers in order to improve production and increase profits from agricultural production.

Qualifications: The successful implementation of these functions will require:

• At least 5 years of experience in the design of training programs for farmers organizations and the conduct of such a training;
• Strong qualifications in adult education, writing skills, use of multi-media tools to deliver messages, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Expertise in social and gender analysis or experience working with women’s associations in a similar socio-cultural context;
• Demonstrated capacity to successfully manage and implement a complex training program;
• West Africa professional field experience and/or Mali experience; and
• Proficiency in French and Bambara; Fulfulde literacy is a plus.

1. Agricultural Specialist (cereal and horticulture)

Functions: The responsibilities of this specialist will include:

• Development of manuals and training materials of a high quality;
• Development and implementation of suitable training schemes for the various groups of farmers targeted by the project (PAPs, NA) in farm and garden management, rights and responsibilities for land ownership, financial management, agricultural production including integrated pest management and marketing;
• Communication between the Consultant, MCA-Mali and the Beneficiaries of the Applied Agricultural Research Grants Program and to ensure the dissemination of the successful results of the grants to Alatona farmers;
• Working with groups of farmers, suppliers of inputs and other companies in the chain of value chain, in addition establishing links between producers, distributors, market buyers and consumers;
• Feasibility studies on market organizations, value added technology, effective operation and quality control; and
• Support to farmers to resolve certain constraints of operation such as: equipment problems, analysis of the flow of work, qualifications of work and other problems which can constitute immediate constraints or threats for producers groups.

Qualifications: The successful fulfillment of this set of competences will require:

• At least 5 years of experience in the design and implementation of training programs of for farmers activities and the execution of such training; and support to farmer organization activities;
• Academic training in agricultural extension, including agronomy, integrated pest management, soil nutrient management, irrigated rice production, shallot and vegetable production, farm management, financial management qualifications, among others. It is knowledge of cattle management is also preferred;
• Strong qualifications in adult education, writing skills, use of multi-media tools to deliver messages, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Experience in agribusiness, food technology, agricultural engineering or a relative field (for example, irrigation);
• At least 5 years of work experience with companies and projects on the ground in the the fields of production, processing (value chain) and marketing;
• Expertise in the design and execution of hands-on training programs, and a proven capacity to work with the contractors and the producers' producer organizations;
• Proven capacity to manage successfully and to implement a complex training program;
• West Africa professional field experience and/or Mali experience; and
• Proficiency in French and Bambara; Fulfulde literacy a plus.

1. Monitoring and Data Management Specialist

Functions: The responsibilities of the specialist will include:

• Design and implement a beneficiary tracking database system to collect, process and manage ASDA project data, including incorporation of MCA Mali M&E indicator definitions and methodology;
• Quarterly and annual project reporting;
• Coordination with MCA-Mali for the design and the implementation of a methodology to choose the eligible communities for activities of training; and
• Work in close cooperation with the MCA Mali M&E unit to carry out other tasks and responsibilities as asked.

Qualifications: The successful fulfillment of this set of competences will require:

• Formal training in economics (with an emphasis on econometrics or micro economics), financial management, or statistics;
• At least 5 years of experience in database development and management;
• Demonstrated experience in implementation and management of transparent and objective M&E systems, including data collection, data quality control, and reporting,
• Preferably at least 7 years of experience in rural agriculture or development and excellent data analysis skills; and
• West Africa professional field experience and/or Mali experience; Fluency in French and proficiency in Bambara; Fulfulde literacy and proficiency in English a plus.

1. Water Users Associations Specialist

Functions: The responsibilities of the specialist will include:

• Development of an irrigated water management method at the Secondary and Tertiary level;
• Development of manuals and training materials of high quality;
• Development and implementation of a suitable training program for the installation and the sustainable operation of water users in techniques and standards of maintenance and water use, in procurement procedures, and in water user rights;
• Technical support for water management in the new perimeter;
• Facilitate communication between the various actors implied in water management; and
• Administrative support for the installation and registration of a union of water users.

Qualifications: The successful fulfillment of this set of competences will require:

• At least 5 years of experience in the design and conduct of training programs in the field of the water users;
• Strong qualifications in adult education, writing skills, use of multi-media tools to deliver messages, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Proven capacity to manage successfully and to implement a complex training program;
• West Africa professional field experience and/or Mali experience; and
• Proficiency in French and Bambara; Fulfulde literacy a plus.

1. Rural Credit and Financial Services Specialist

Functions: The responsibilities of the specialist will include:

• Evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses and training needs of financial institutions, including MFIs;
• Design and supervision of a program of credit risk sharing; credit information sharing; and direct support to new borrowers’ programs.
• Design and implementation of training programs for financial institutions, and a training which will develop relationship between the farmers, institutions financial and input suppliers; and
• Provision of continuous support to farmers, financial institutions and input suppliers to ensure profitable links between all the actors.

Qualifications: The successful fulfillment of this set of competences will require:

• Formal trainings in credit, finances, rural development or a relative field (for example, irrigation) with at least 5 years of experience in the rural financial services, including the supply of technical assistance to the financial organizations;
• At least 5 years of experience in projects promoting best practices in financial services;
• Expertise in the design and the implementation of the training and technical assistance programs for financial institutions;

• West Africa professional field experience and/or Mali experience; and
• Proficiency in French and Bambara; being able to read and write Fulfulde is a plus.

In addition to these key personnel, the team could also obtain certain additional positions such as:

1. a specialist in cattle breeding,
2. a specialist in agricultural marketing,
3. a specialist in communication,
4. a specialist in environment,
5. and a specialist in gender.

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