Project Manager 110 views0 applications

Background:

The international Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) have jointly designed the South Sudan Livelihood and Resilience Project (SSLRP). The overall goal of SSLRP is to ‘contribute to improved and resilient livelihoods for South Sudan rural smallholders”. The Project Development Objective is to ‘Empower communities to participate in decision making processes that will result in sustainable and resilient agricultural livelihoods.’ The project will be implemented in Eastern Equatoria State (Magwi and Torit counties), Central Equatoria State (Kajo-Keji and Terekeka counties) Jonglei State (Bor county) and Lakes (Awerial County). GoSS and IFAD agreed to a third part implementation arrangement and VSF-Germany was selected to implement two technical components, namely**: a) Community Driven Development Plans [CDDP]; and b) Agriculture Production and Rural Livelihood Support [APRLS]**. VSF-Germany will sub-contract the implementation of CDDP to AAHI, to provide technical leadership in ensuring that CBOs are formed and/or supported through a rigorous, guided, and inclusive approach, to generate development plans that will directly benefit the participating households. The second Component, however, will be implemented by the beneficiaries that will be organised as CBOs and/or sub-project committees. In some instances, APRLS are implemented by specialised SPs. For instance, the feeder roads will be sub-constructed to UNOPS but managed by VSF-Germany. While the other infrastructural sub-projects like community roads may be implemented through a combination of civil engineering experts – public or private – and intensive public labour-based work as an approach. To this end, sub-project committee or NGOs will carry the implementation.

Contract duration will be 12 months (with possibility of extension dependant on performance/ or funding).

ROLE OF THE POSITION

Job Summary

The Project Manager will ensure that the MAFS’s Agreement with VSF-Germany is implemented in line with the Grant Agreement between the Government and IFAD. To this end, s/he will ensure that both Component 1 and 2 of the project are implemented. S/he will recruit technical persons within VSF-Germany and outsource other activities to be implemented by specialized SPs like AAHI, UNOPS and others and monitor that activities meet the standards. S/he will work closely with the PCU in the MAFS, reporting to the SSLRP Project Manager in the component

Responsibility

The Project Manager, based in VSF-Germany will ensure that all these different activities are well coordinated, and that implementation are followed in line with the Contract Agreement and the Design Document of the project. The Project Manager is thus the counterpart to Project Manager located within the MAFS’ Project Coordination Unit. S/he is the overall responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the SSLRP that have been contracted to the third party. He/she will coordinate the implementation of all these activities on behalf of the VSF-Germany, reporting internally to the Country Programs Manager, VSF-Germany but externally to SSLRP Project Manager in the SSLRP Coordination Unit in MAFS, one one hand and on the other hand, to the Country Director, VSF-G South Sudan. To effectively implement the SSLRP, VSF-G in addition to outsourcing some element, will recruit and/or second additional technical persons that will be overseen by the coordinator. These include the Civil Engineer, M&E Officer, Finance and Procurement Officers. The coordinator will therefore undertake both technical and management role in the project.

Duty station________________________________________________________________________

The duty station is Juba, South Sudan; however, the assignment may require some travel to the project areas and such travel should be agreed upon and authorized

Specific Responsibilities

• Coordination of implementation – Overall responsibility for an efficient financial and technical implementation of the project and in accordance with IFAD/government procedures. To this end, s/he liaise closely with PCU and all Service Providers involved in the implementation of the project
• Prepare annual plans and reports – Lead the process of preparing SSLRP AWPBs and procurement plans for approval by the project’s oversight body. Hence, monitor the efforts of finance and procurement and ensure that plans, including those from SPs are included in the overall AWPBs sent to PCU
• In liaison with the Procurement Officer, ensure that contractors are meeting their obligations and are paid only for agreed deliverables.
• Manage collaborations – Liaison with other institutions for all aspects related to the project, especially the development and maintenance of partnerships with related programmes and projects.
• Final accountability for operation of project bank accounts.
• Provide overall strategic guidance to other project staff related to all aspects of SSLRP implementation.
• Coordinate and supervise functions and activities of the project staff, ensuring that work disciplines and ethics are adhered to.
• Coordinate and follow up on the activities of the officers responsible for implementation of Project technical components to ensure effective delivery of Project activities.
• Ensure timely and appropriate reporting on progress and problems of project implementation and submit progress reports to MAFS on agreed deadlines.
• Providing leadership, guidance, enthusiasm, and catalytic input to all levels of Project participants and activities, whenever appropriate.
• Ensure that the IA staff and all consultants and contractors engaged by comply with the project’s gender and targeting strategies.
• Approve all procurement and accounting transactions performed by the IA that are within the authorized threshold, and facilitate disbursement of project funds needed for the implementation of SSLRP; and
• Undertake any other responsibility that will ensure smooth and effective implementation of the project.

Qualifications/Experience

• The Project Manager will have at least 10 years of work experience in planning, management, administration, and implementation of rural livelihood improvement, agricultural or rural development Projects in the public, private or NGO sectors and specific exposure to commercial/private sector practice in service contracting, performance monitoring and financing.
• He/she should have at least a Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or a relevant technical area required. Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing moderate to highly complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Post qualification in Project Management will be an added advantage.
• Should have at least 2 years’ experience working in South Sudan.

Abilities and Competencies:

1. Computer-literate and well-versed in the use of Word, Excel and statistical program, such as SPSS, Stata, ETC.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
3. Excellent analytical skills.
4. Self-motivated, with demonstrated ability to take initiatives and work under a minimum of supervision, but also to work effectively as a member of a team.
5. Strong managerial skills and demonstrated capacity to manage people and interact with a wide range of private sector partners, public sector representatives, and development partners.