Background
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has applied for funds from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to implement the Ghana Agricultural Sector investment Programme (GASIP). The Programme provides a framework for a long-term financing engagement for private sector-led, pro-poor agricultural value chain development in Ghana. The objective of the programme is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in rural Ghana, ensuring that agribusinesses including smallholders increase their profitability and resilience to climate change. The programme is national in scope and governed by a demand  and market-driven approach that will provide a basis for scaling up investments in pro-poor agricultural value chain development led by the private sector. The strategic focus of GASIP will be on smallholder farmers, to make them more competitive by increasing their capacity to respond to market demand in terms of quality, price, time and volume thus contributing to METASIP objectives. At least 62,860 clients or direct beneficiaries will be targeted towards the end of project year 3 (PY3) and 86,400 clients by PY6, of which at least 50% will be women, 20% youth (15-24 years) and 30% young adults (25-34 years).

Job Description

Components of Programme
The Programme has three components;

Component 1: Value Chain Development - is central to ensuring strong business linkages among actors in the entire value chains of commodities to ensure they meet market or consumer and industry demands. It has three sub-components: Agribusiness linkage development; rural financial services and climate change resilience which needs to be mainstreamed in promoting value chains to reduce risks and enhance profitability and sustainable production systems.

Component 2: Rural Value Chain Infrastructure - aimed at providing the enabling infrastructure to catalyze value chain development. It has two sub-components: Productive Infrastructure and Facilities-aimed at encouraging investments in commercial infrastructure and facilities for the selected value chains and Enabling Public Infrastructure - aimed to finance enabling public infrastructure for the growth and viability of selected value chains.

Component 3: Knowledge Management, Policy Support and Coordination aimed at harnessing successful lessons for replication and providing an enabling environment for optimization of programme opportunities and benefits. The two sub-components are Knowledge Management, Harmonization and Policy Support- aims at creating an enabling environment for smallholders to participate in profitable and climate change resilient agricultural value chains and Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programme.

The Programme which is planned for six years is expected to commence in January 2015 under the responsibility of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). It builds on the achievements of some on-going and soon-to-complete projects such as Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) and Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP). GASIP will have a National Programme Coordination Unit in Accra and three Zonal Programme Offices (ZPO) in Kumasi, Tamale and Dodowa. The ZPCO shall be composed of (i) Zonal Programme Coordinator, (ii) a M&E Officer, (lii) a Zonal Financial Controller and (iv) a Zonal Infrastructure Engineer.

To enhance implementation readiness and smooth startup of the GASIP, MOFA intends to recruit qualified persons to fill the following Positions at the Zonal level.

The Zonal Programme Coordinator (NPC) will coordinate activities and ensure GASIP implementation according to the conditions of the loan financing agreement, the Programme Design Report (PDR) and the Programme Implementation Manual (PIM). S/he needs to ensure effective and timely implementation of the programme, with special attention to providing overall inter-agency coordination and facilitation at the zonal level. (S)he will have the initial responsibility of coordinating pre-programme activities and have overall responsibility of the day to day activities of GASIP when it becomes effective. S/He will report directly to the National Programme Coordinator of GASIP of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

Duties and Responsibilities include Programme Coordination

•   Oversee the effective and efficient implementation of the programme at the zonal level
•   Direct and supervise the day-to-day operations of the programme, guided by the PDR, PIM and the AWPB, proposing any necessary amendments to ensure smooth performance
•   Identify and engage Implementation Partners and relevant technical assistance.
•   Oversee the preparation of AWPBs of the Programme with the participation and inputs of all key stakeholders.
•   Ensure a participatory results based Monitoring and Evaluation.
•   Ensure that all contractual obligations are adhered to.
•   Regularly appraise staff and provide feedback and support to enable them perform their jobs.
•   Establish and maintain good working relationships with all programme participants and stakeholders - including MoFA and other Government agencies, development partners, private sector and NGOs at the zonal level.
•   Promote collaboration among Development Partners (DPs) and the private sector on value chain development at the zonal level
•   Ensure timely preparation and submission of mandatory reports e.g. M&E data and reports and their wide access and distribution.
•   Promote knowledge sharing and learning within the programme and with other partners.
•   Support external missions to foster joint learning process that improves programme implementation to achieve impact.
•   Undertake   any   other   responsibility   that   will   ensure   smooth   and   effective implementation of the Programme.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Advanced degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Project Management,Agricultural Economics or other relevant academic background (essential)
•   Other related professional courses
•   Proven expertise in rural value chain development (essential)
•   At least 10 years of relevant work experience in agricultural development issues including policy design and implementation of agricultural value chain programmes,
•   Experience working with the private sector (essential),
•   Experience in working for International  Financial  Institutions or donor-funded programmes or similar market-oriented rural development interventions (essential);
•   Knowledge of Government and IFAD or donor-funded policies and procedures on gender,   environment   and   general   programme   finance   and   administration management (essential);
•   Ability to develop and foster partnerships (essential);
•   Staff management experience including recruitment, appraisals and managing performance (essential).

Skills

•   Good level of proficiency in Microsoft Applications including MS Project;
•   Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others
•   Experienced in electronic data processing and analysis and data base development;
•   Strong analytical and market oriented skills

Location: Kumasi and Dodowa

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentation to:

The Chief Director
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
PO Box M 37, Accra, Ghana

For further information please contact:

THE NATIONAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
GHANA AGRICULTURAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (GASIP)
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (MOFA)
PO BOX MB.37, ACCRA

Email: rayariga@yahoo.co.uk

Closing Date: 05 March, 2015

Applicants are to include direct contacts (reliable telephone, fax numbers and email address) in their applications in order to facilitate early and easy contact

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.