Country Director (F2F) – Zimbabwe 158 views0 applications

Program Description:

The USAID-support Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program combines volunteer consultancies with highly skilled local staff to deliver technical assistance and business development services to farmer organizations, and agricultural MSMEs. Our volunteer consultants are U.S. citizens (or permanent U.S. residents) and comprise of farmers, agribusiness professionals, cooperatives managers, bankers, agricultural educators, and others with expertise in agriculture.  The primary goal of the F2F program is to generate rapid, sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector; the secondary goals is to increase the American public’s understanding of international development issues and programs as well as international understanding of the US and US development programs.

Position Description:

CNFA is currently seeking a Country Director for Zimbabwe.  

 

The F2F Country Director is an employee of CNFA and reports to the Washington, DC based F2F Program Director. Working under the direction and supervision of the Program Director and Program Officer, the Country Director supervises F2F host country employees, travels frequently within the country to maintain active liaison with actual and prospective volunteer projects, is responsible for volunteers while in country, and oversees the country budget and deliverables. Additionally, the Country Director is responsible for maintaining a strong working relationship with the local USAID office and other key stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, public and private agricultural development organizations and the NGO community.

Position responsibilities include:

• Coordination of all F2F program activities within a country, including:
• Identifying, designing, and implementing the Country F2F Project to ensure volunteer targets are met, reports are prepared, and resources are allocated effectively;
• Coordinating any flexible assignments;
• Identifying potential partners and hosts, providing pre- and post-assignment technical / business assistance to hosts, and communicating closely with hosts to assess their needs, status changes, and satisfaction with the CNFA program;
• Developing volunteer scopes of work and facilitating volunteer assignments;
• updating sector and sub-sector analyses;
• Ensuring sound systems for monitoring and assessing impact from program activities;
• Coordinating work with other stakeholders;
• Preparing comprehensive and quality program documents and reports (including but not limited to weekly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports);
• Developing and maintaining working relations with the USAID Mission, keeping them informed of program progress or issues;
• Preparing for and facilitating the visits of other CNFA staff or official guests, including evaluation teams
• Updating or developing a security and health plan for volunteers and staff in country
• Providing training to personnel on project development principles and methodology;
• Conducting regular performance evaluations of staff and making recommendations for improvement and growth, providing close supervision of progress;
• With input from the Program Director and Program Officer, developing annual work plans in line with the overall regional program strategy;
• Supporting new business development efforts, as appropriate, including program design, proposal development, and donor liaison; and
• Maintaining annual country budgets to support program activities and monitor expenditures based on allowed budget allocations, and working within the parameters of the CNFA F2F budgeting, reporting, and administrative systems.
• Other responsibilities to be determined by CNFA and/or USAID.

Minimum qualifications include:

• University degree (preferably in agriculture or a related and relevant field); Master’s degree preferred
• At least eight (8) years professional experience in assignments relevant to the F2F Country Program;
• Fluency in English required and Shona is desired.
• Experience in agricultural production, marketing and/or development;
• Ability to network effectively with country agricultural sector stakeholders;
• At least five (5) years of experience with proven leadership in managing work teams and executing complex projects; and
• Demonstrated competence in managing administrative responsibilities.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. CNFA takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.