CARE works in 87 countries around the world to support over 900 poverty-fighting development and emergency projects.

Our Mission
To serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world

Our Vision
We seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.

CARE International in Ghana is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of a Project Officer – to support the implementation of the Household Economic Security for poor women smallholder farmers Project (HESP) funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The HESP project aims to improve the economic security of women smallholder farmers and their households in Northern Ghana by increasing their productivity and access to inputs and markets The project approach focuses on increasing incomes using value chains that have an identified market opportunity by linking (i) Sustainable agricultural practices and (ii) Market development and business tools with (iii) Gender equity and women’s empowerment

Job Summary:

The Project Officer for the Household Economic Security for poor women project (HESP) willl coordinate the implementation of project activities in the Garu Tempane in the Upper East District. And Lambussie District in Upper West. The Project officer will play a lead role on the project providing technical support and facilitating the implementation of project activities in relation to input and output market linkages for smallholder women farmers in the project communities. S/he will also ensure the documentation and dissemination of learning from project locations among key actors, and keep them engaged in advocating for increased attention to women and agriculture and the use of models appropriate to particular segments of smallholder farmers. The project will also make use of tested CARE models such as Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), Community Based Extension Agents (CBEAs), Community Based Land Administration systems  and other appropriate models aimed at providing economic opportunity for women in the soy and groundnut value chain

S/he will report to the project Manager. The project officer will be based in Tamale with frequent travel to project districts in Upper East and Upper West.

Key Responsibilities:

•   Lead in Commodity Value Chain Development Promotion and Integration relevant to the needs of Women
•   Facilitate the implementation of an effective commodity value chain that supports the livelihood enhancement and empowerment of smallholder farmers in the two districts, particularly women.
•   Provide technical support to partners and communities to effectively engage with key actors within the specific value chains.
•   Support and facilitate partners to review methods and community plans on commodity value chain promotion.
•   Strengthen Input supply systems to address needs of smallholder women farmers.
•   Identify and establish linkages between producers, agro input dealers and specific private sector stakeholders who are interested in providing services for small holder women farmers.
•   Work with input suppliers, technical service providers, equipment suppliers, processors and traders to understand the production and post harvest requirements of the commodities that are being promoted.
•   Lead in providing support, guidance and advice on possible input credit schemes that will be developed between input dealers and producers.
•   Ensure increased access to markets for small holder women farmers.
•   Facilitate the development of contracts between producers and purchasers.
•   Facilitate and support the documentation of processes and achievements on marketing component of the project e.g. case studies/ Most Significant Change stories (MSCs) for use in the dissemination of best practices.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   A minimum qualification of a university degree, in a relevant discipline such as Agricultural Economics, Marketing or Development Studies. The candidate must have practical experience in community facilitation and of working with diverse teams.
•   S/he must be an experienced and mature officer; capable of working largely independently. He /she will be supervised by a Project Manager
•   At least five years of relevant working experience, including a minimum of three years working on market driven approaches to increase food security and income for women small holder farmers.
•   Strong experience and knowledge of sustainable livelihoods and commodity value chain approaches
•   Strong practical experience in market analysis and planning
•   Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to gender and diversity
•   Well developed written and oral communication skills in English. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders.
•   Basic computing skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook; and, advanced internet searching skills.

Location: Tamale

How To Apply For The Job

Interested candidates should submit their applications and detailed CVs to the HR Officer, CARE International in Ghana or electronically to:-

hr.ghana@co.care.org

PLEASE INDICATE CLEARLY IN THE SUBJECT LINE THE POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR.

Closing Date: 27 February, 2015

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH; WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, TO APPLY