The Government of Ghana has received a loan from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in various currencies towards the cost of implementing the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP). The programme is expected to be implemented across 90 districts in Ghana.

RTIMP is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Ghana (GoG) for a period of 8 years (2006-2014). The Programme commenced in November, 2006 and is supposed to end in 2014. The programme is in its sixth year of implementation.

The Goal of the RTIMP is to enhance income and food security in order to improve livelihoods of the rural poor. The main purpose of the programme is to build a competitive market-based Root and Tuber Commodity Chain (RTCC) supported by relevant, effective and sustainable services that are available to the rural poor.

RTIMP is being implemented through four (4) components as follows:

•  Support to Increased Commodity Chain Linkages
•  Support to Increased Root and Tuber Production
•  Upgrading of Root and Tuber Processing, Business and Marketing
•  Programme Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation

Under the overall supervision of the National Programme Coordinator (NPC), and in close collaboration with other specialists of RTIMP, the primary role of the MES is to be responsible for guiding the overall M&E strategy and implementation of related activities within the programme and via partners, plus providing timely and relevant information to programme stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the National Programme Coordinator, the MES will be responsible for guiding the overall M&E strategy and implementation of related activities within the project and via partners, plus providing timely and relevant information to project stakeholders. Specifically, the MES will be responsible for the following nutrition's:

A - Setting Up The System:

•  Help revise the project log-frame matrix, particularly in the areas of the objective hierarchy, indicators and monitoring mechanisms
•  Develop the overall framework for project M&E, including annual AWPB reviews, participatory impact assessments, process monitoring, operations monitoring and lessons-learned workshops
•  Guide the process for identifying and designing the key indicators for each component (with zonal coordinators and component heads), to record and report physical progress against the AWPB
•  Ensure that the M&E system is effectively implemented by key stakeholders (BACs, DAs, FBOs, GPOs etc)
•  Develop and manage the RTIMP MIS to ensure a proper flow of information to and from the operational level to PCO (eg. DADUs and -field-units of IPs), ZOs and PCO, and especially the provision of timely and adequate information for decision taking by Programme management
•  Develop the process of decentralizing the M&E system to the Zonal, District, community and IA levels using participatory methods
•  Engendering RTIMP activities by identifying and accounting for gender issues in planning, monitoring and evaluation
•  Ensure that appropriate M&E procedures are prepared, established and implemented so as to provide sufficient basis for review of programme progress and for recommendation for changes in the emphasis which may be found to be necessary

B - Implementation of M&E:

•  Support in developing the AWPBs
•  Based on the AWPB and in particular the programme budgets, design the framework for the physical and process monitoring of project activities
•  Provide guidance to staff and implementing partners on qualitative monitoring to provide relevant information for ongoing evaluation of project activities, effects and impacts
•  Foster participatory planning and monitoring by training and involving primary stakeholder groups in the M&E of activities
•  Liaise with PCO staff and their respective Zonal coordinators in monitoring and evaluating the activities of the Technical Service Providers
•  Review on regular basis the status of Programme implementation with a view of adopting corrective measures and bringing to the attention of the NPC any problem/issues arising thereof  which may impede he implementation for the Programme;
•  Responsible for the process to prepare Annual and Quarterly Work Programmes/Budgets for activities by the programme implementers (eg. DADUs and -field-units of IPs), and, with the support and inputs from other technical specialists, for the consolidation and preparation of the final RTIMP AWP/B;
•  Prepare Quarterly Monitoring Reports on all aspects of programme implementation and progress with special regard to the activities of the DADUs and -field-units of IPs, and including services in the areas of training, marketing, financial services, technology promotion and policy consultations
•  Undertake field surveys and give technical backstopping to ZO Coordinators for their M&E task as well as Programme implementers
•  Coordinate and consolidate periodical reports from Implementation Partners/Technical; Service Providers, and Zonal Officers
•  Responsible for the timely preparation of the RTIMP Annual Report which will contain evaluation of project progress in relation to the Programme's objectives. S/he will have similar responsibility in regard to project Mid-Term Review and Project Completion Reports
•  Responsible for Programme Start-up Workshop, Annual Review Workshop and other such relevant activities aimed at assessing project progress
•  Carry out any other activities that are assigned by the National Programme Co-ordinator

C - Communication:

•  Excellent knowledge of English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions;
•  Capacity to communicate fluently with other disciplinary specialists and different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff);
•  Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed
•  Guide the regular sharing of the outputs of M&E findings with project staff, implementing partners and primary stakeholders
•  In collaboration with the accountant, provide the programme coordinator with management information that she/he may require
•  Computer skills: Full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, power point) and common Internet applications will be required

Note: The assignment will require frequent travel within the country
Duty Station: Kumasi

Qualification Required & Experience

Professional Requirements
Qualifications and Experience:
The candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of experience with the following skills and knowledge:

•  M.Phil/M.Sc in Social Sciences, Planning, Agricultural Economics, Socio-economics or related field
•  Experience in donor-funded project related M&E;
•  Must be familiar with IFAD's Framework for a Results and Impact Monitoring System (RMS) for IFAD-Supported Country Programmes;
•  Excellent writing and presentation skills;
•  Willingness and ability to work in a team;
•  Willingness to work extra hours and sometimes on weekends;
•  The logical framework approach and other strategic planning approaches;
•  M&E methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory);
•  Planning and implementation of M&E systems;
•  Training in M&E development and implementation;
•  Facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of M&E data with multiple stakeholders;
•  Information analysis and report writing

Competencies:

•  Team-worker and team-builder: you have the capability to foster and coordinate teamwork; and establish harmonious working relationships in a multicultural environment;
•  Self-developer/Innovator: you are willing to learn, share and acquire new competencies and seek new challenges by exploring new approaches;
•  Performer: You will be able to work against an agreed outcome and priorities;
•  You will seek performance feedback from supervisors and support staff in the performance review in a constructive and objective manner;
•  Negotiator and communicator: You will work effectively with others to meet mutual goals. You will negotiate to align parties and build networks. You will engage in audiences, commanding attention and respect and inspiring credibility. You will write clearly, succinctly and convincingly as well as listen and communicate effectively to engage others

How To Apply For The Job

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters enclosing copies of their curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documents to:

National Programme Coordinator
Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P. O. Box 7728
Cadbury Hall
Asokwa - Kumasi

Closing Date: 17 December, 2012

Please include telephone and fax numbers and email address to facilitate early and easy contact. Only short listed applications will be contacted.